The first quarter of the 21 st century has been, in a sense, a test of whether California — a state enormously blessed but enormously troubled — can be effectively governed.

For decades, California’s two political parties had struggled for dominance. Control of its governorship, its Legislature, its congressional delegation and its presidential electoral votes had shifted back and forth as the mood of voters oscillated.

However, by the turn of the century, Democrats had captured all the levers of political power. And over the last 25 years their dominance has grown ever stronger, interrupted only by the performative seven-year governorship of action film actor and nominal Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The disappearance of inter-party competition means Democrats have been free to

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