photo credit: Michelle Marques
State Senator Mike McGuire speaks at the No Kings rally in October 2025

Former State Senate President Mike McGuire had some choice words for the chair of the state Democratic Party at the recent party convention in San Francisco.

According to reporting by CalMatters, McGuire and Rusty Hicks got in a heated exchange over a last-minute move by Hicks to block McGuire’s endorsement for the 1st Congressional District race. At issue was a challenge by Democratic primary opponent Audrey Denney.

McGuire was quoted as saying, "What the hell is going on here?"

Ultimately, Hicks voted with others to endorse McGuire.

KRCB News reached out to McGuire to get his take on what happened and what Democrats need to do to unify the party.

“On the issue of the convention and Democrats in general… so here’s what I’ll say. I was honored to earn the support of the California Democratic Party. We earned that endorsement, 74 percent of the vote," said McGuire. "This is what I believe, nationally, needs to happen with Democrats in Washington D.C. I think Democrats need to grow a damn spine.”

McGuire says his party needs to stand up and fight.

“To be able to provide healthcare, and reproductive healthcare. Fight for good jobs, a stronger middle class, raise wages, and once and for all, get rid of these damn Trump tariff taxes that are making our lives more expensive," said McGuire. "And if Democrats fight for that, I think Democrats are going to win. If they don’t, shame on us.”

McGuire officially entered the June 2nd special election for the 1st Congressional District after the sudden death of Doug LaMalfa. He had already announced his candidacy for the seat in the general election on November 3rd.