What's wrong with the Democratic Party? Just look at California

Opinions differ on the cure to what ails Democratic electoral prospects two years from now, assuming their 2020 opponent is President TrumpDonald Trump Biden heading to Kansas City to promote infrastructure package Trump calls Milley a 'f---ing idiot' over Afghanistan withdrawal First rally for far-right French candidate Zemmour prompts protests, violence MORE.

Is it a hard-charging progressive to rebuild the Obama coalition, a more measured moderate that plays better in the Rust Belt, or an approach more laissez faire — i.e., to assume Trump-brand populism will collapse under its own weight?

My suggestion: rather than wait until the winter of 2020 to begin the elimination process, why not hold a “beta test” in the summer of 2019 in America’s biggest and arguably bluest state featuring a slate of California Democrats, each of whom offers a narrative the party might want to embrace.

That Californians-only field would include:

Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Harris Biden cannot allow his domestic fumbles to transfer to the world stage Joe Manchin should embrace paid leave — now The Hill's 12:30 Report: Biden defends disappointing jobs report MORE. Less than one Senate term under her belt with little to show in actual accomplishments, but what she lacks in legislative heft she more than makes up for with charm, telegenics, and multi-racial appeal — plus a willingness to embrace hard-left policies like single-payer healthcare. Sound familiar?

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Already presidential in his verbosity (this year’s State of the City address was wordier than all but one of the last 60 State of the Union addresses), Garcetti touts tuition-free community colleges, a higher minimum wage, 11,000 miles of repaved road, tens of thousands of green jobs, expanded rail lines and the Summer Olympics a decade from now. Never mind that Los Angeles county’s estimated homeless population (58,000) would overwhelm most any NBA arena. On paper, the City of Angels is Blue Heaven.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. By next summer, the eloquent and carefully-coiffed Newsom could be California’s 40th governor thanks to a decade-long run of high-profiled fights over same-sex marriage, gun control and marijuana legalization. And he rarely misses a chance to tweet-slap Trump. Few other Democrats can claim as much ahead-of-of-the-curve progressive turf.

Tom Steyer. The San Francisco-based hedge-fund billionaire is the godfather of the Need to Impeach movement, at present nearly 5.4 million online signatures and growing (many of them, let’s assume, from registered Democrats in early primary states). If Steyer passes on the beta test, California Reps. Adam SchiffAdam Bennett Schiff Jan. 6 panel faces new test as first witness pleads the Fifth Jan. 6 panel releases contempt report on Trump DOJ official ahead of censure vote The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden to update Americans on omicron; Congress back MORE or Eric SwalwellEric Michael Swalwell GOP infighting takes stupid to a whole new level The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden to update Americans on omicron; Congress back GOP eyes booting Democrats from seats if House flips MORE can fill void of Democrats who long for a Trump perp walk.

Rep. Ro KhannaRohit (Ro) Khanna Khanna advocates for 'honest and reflective patriotism' in America Democrats call on Education secretary to address 'stealthing' at federal level Showdown: Pelosi dares liberals to sink infrastructure bill MORE. The Silicon Valley congressman didn’t merely read “Hillbilly Elegy”, he’s ventured from the land of knit-wool loafers and wood-grilled avocado (with ponzu and wasabi) to meat-and-potatoes Rust Belt Trump Country to sell the MAGA crowd on the virtues of the New Economy. Ignoring Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton Republican Ohio Senate candidate slams JD Vance over previous Trump comments Budowsky: Why GOP donors flock to Manchin and Sinema Countering the ongoing Republican delusion MORE’s downfall in 2016 — he’s not.

Oprah Winfrey. It wouldn’t be a California conversation without at least one celebrity reference. Setting aside the “free car”/government giveaway jokes, Oprah gets at the heart of whether Democrats should fight fire with fire in 2020 — i.e., challenge Trump with his celebrity equal, if not superior.

Gov. Jerry Brown. The “old dudes rule” choice (Brown will turn 82 in 2020; by then, Bernie SandersBernie Sanders WTO faces renewed scrutiny amid omicron threat Overnight Health Care — Presented by March of Dimes — Abortion access for 65M women at stake Hospitals in underserved communities face huge cuts in reckless 'Build Back Better' plan MORE will be 78 and Joe BidenJoe Biden China eyes military base on Africa's Atlantic coast: report Biden orders flags be flown at half-staff through Dec. 9 to honor Dole Biden heading to Kansas City to promote infrastructure package MORE will be 77). Few Democrats are as vociferous town criers when it comes to climate change. And should Clinton decide on a third presidential run, Brown one-ups her: A 2020 bid would be his fourth, dating back to America’s bicentennial.

So there’s your field of seven prominent Californians to help define what it is to be a Democrat in 2020. No need for the party to hold a cattle show, next summer, on the backroads of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Such a “beta test” may not solve the Democrats’ inner angst, but it would be good political theater. And isn’t that what America expects from California? Entertainment?

Bill Whalen has been a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution since 1999, where he analyzes California and national politics. Prior to joining the Hoover Institution, Whalen served as chief speechwriter and director of public affairs for former California governor Pete Wilson (R).