Guest:

Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner

Guest Bio: 

Don Wagner is the Mayor of Irvine and a former California State Assemblyman, known for his long-standing public service across multiple levels of government. With deep experience in state and local politics, Wagner is now running for California Secretary of State in 2026. His campaign centers on restoring voter integrity, cleaning up voter rolls, and ensuring secure, transparent elections in the Golden State.

Show Summary

What if your dog could vote in California? In this eye-opening (and yes, partly hilarious) conversation, Don Wagner sits down with Jon Slavet to reveal what he calls “the quiet crisis” in California elections — a system flooded with ballots, outdated rolls, and slow results. Wagner shares why he’s running for Secretary of State, his plans to implement voter ID, and what he sees as the public's overwhelming demand for election reform

From the story of a dog who allegedly voted in a recall, to the legal battles between state officials and cities like Huntington Beach, this episode exposes a side of California politics that’s both urgent and surprising. Wagner argues that fixing our voting system is step one in restoring public trust, accountability, and the California Dream.

Chapters

00:00 – Running for Secretary of State

00:32 – California’s Broken Voting System

01:10 – Voter ID, Ballot Integrity & Legal Reform

02:00 – A Dog Voted in Orange County?

03:00 – Rapid Fire: Fixing CA, Reagan's Legacy & Hope for the Future

Connect with Don Wagner

• X: https://x.com/DonWagnerCA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donwagnerca/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonWagnerCA/

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Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
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• Website: www.stateofgold.com