Beached party: Beach Cities Republican numbers tumble over Trump
When newly elected Congressman Steve Kuykendall arrived in Washington, D.C. in January 1999, the Palos Verdes Republican made a point of visiting Tom DeLay as soon as possible. DeLay, a Republican from the Houston area then entering his eighth term in the House of Representatives, had served as the majority whip since 1995. In a legislature, the whip is responsible for ensuring that party members fall in line for upcoming votes. For those on the fence, DeLay would threaten to support primary challenges in an upcoming election, or to cripple a representative’s fundraising with unfavorable calls to influential donors. His reputation for intolerance of even occasional lapses earned him the nickname “The Hammer.” Kuykendall had been the majority whip while representing the South Bay in the California State Assembly, after Republicans took control of that chamber following the 1994 elections. He wanted to reassure the Texan that he understood the importance of party discipline. Then came the hard part, when he had to tell DeLay, “‘There are going to be times I’m not with the party.’” Kuykendall represented California’s 36th Congressional District, which at the time contained much of…
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