Dan Walters: As Californians’ stance on crime hardens, Republicans try to regain relevance

Over the last dozen years, Democrats have gained, lost and finally nailed down supermajorities in the California Legislature. Now they hold more than 75% of its 120 seats.

Having achieved total control, Democratic leaders could — and did — completely ignore the dwindling numbers of Republican legislators, now just 18 in the 80-member Assembly and eight in the 40-seat Senate.

Republicans have been allowed to carry only minor pieces of legislation and are completely frozen out of budget negotiations...