(PNS reporting from AUSTIN) Rick Perry told a crowd of press and supporters here Monday that he will not seek another term as Texas governor when his term expires in 18 months.
Instead, the longest-serving governor in Texas’ history said he was going to do the unthinkable: move to California to turn the state back into a Republican stronghold.
“Now that Democrats have set their sights on Texas, I want to return the favor and head to the Golden State and bring a brand of compassionate conservatism that ruled the state in the good ol’ days,” the former GOP presidential nominee wannabe said.
The governor’s time in office has been marred by intense party and racial politics, and his presidential campaign was derailed when he flubbed several presidential debates, most notably forgetting the third governmental department he would like to dissolve.
California’s history with Republican politicos, most recently former action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, begs for a return to better times, he said.
“The 1980s and 1990s were a great time in California — for white Republicans. I remember back when people could legally racially target Latinos with legislation and suppress their votes, and so not have to worry about courting the ‘Hispanic vote,’” the governor told PNS.
“Good times! That’s what we should get back to in Texas.”
Perry told supporters he was working on part of a larger Republican strategy with the Turn California Red initiative, but neither the RNC, nor any other major Republican group, would return PNS’ calls for confirmation.