Conservative activist Justin Shores said the Santa Barbara County Republican Party lacks leadership, and that leaders need to focus on local issues, not national talking points.
Shores is a formerly registered Republican who believes that the party has lost touch with the issues that matter to conservatives.
He talks with journalist Josh Molina in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks.
Shores is working quietly with several local conservative candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Shores started up StandUp Santa Barbara to organize conservatives and political power.
“Conservative politics have kind of morphed into a bunch of different groups fighting for similar causes,” Shores said. “There’s a lot of parent groups, obviously the Republican party is still around, but I don’t see a lot of leadership from it. They seem really hidden.”
Shores talks about the contests for state Assembly, Congress, and the battles over Santa Barbara Unified School Board seats in Goleta and Santa Barbara.
He offers analyis on candidates such as Christy Lozano, Efigenia Banales, Dan La Barge, Gabe Escobedo, Gregg Hart, Mike Stoker, and others.
Shores said conservatives should focus on issues and not national politics, and work together to develop a new group of leaders.
“Christy can take the baton and she can run with it,” Shores said. “She’s capable of it. Obviously she’s controversial in terms of what she has come out against, but it does connect to a lot of people. People need that. People need a leader.
He has been an activist for medical freedom and a frequent commenter at the Santa Barbara Unified School Board, speaking out against vaccine mandates and masking.
Shores said he is looking to work with conservative candidates to build a greater power base now and for the 2024 elections.
In this podcast, Shores also talks about his compelling personal story and what has shaped him into the person he is today.
Consider a donation to this podcast by clicking here. Subscribe to this podcast by clicking here. Josh Molina has been a journalist in Santa Barbara for 20 years. He also covered City Hall for the San Jose Mercury News. In addition to working as a reporter at Noozhawk, he teaches journalism at Cal State University, Northridge and Santa Barbara City College. Please subscribe to his You Tube channel for more content.