California Republican: Wokism Poses Greater Threat Than WWII, 9/11 Attacks

In Orange County, California, Scott Baugh, a Republican attorney seeking to win a Democratic-held U.S. House seat, controversially claimed that “wokism” poses a greater threat to the country than significant historical events such as the 9/11 attacks, both world wars, and the Civil War.

Baugh, a former GOP leader in the California State Assembly, made these remarks during a speech at the International Christian Ambassadors Association, an ecumenical Christian nonprofit organization.

Baugh further added, “What’s the greatest threat to religious freedom? We’ve endured and overcome numerous wars like the Revolutionary War, the civil wars, World War I, World War II, and even 9/11. However, none of them compares to the war we are currently fighting. This war is about wokism and the erosion of common sense.”

He continued, “This wokism, whether you call it communism or wokism, has infiltrated our churches. I often remind our pastors that Jesus came to challenge and provoke. His purpose was to make us aware of our sins and the need for a savior. Unfortunately, our churches are failing to do that.”

In modern culture, “wokeness” and “wokism” generally refer to a leftist perspective that recognizes racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice as pervasive sources of oppression in American society. Overcoming these forces requires constant vigilance and policies that acknowledge identity. However, conservatives often use these terms to criticize a broader range of liberal ideas, which they see as unfairly discriminating against historically privileged groups or undermining meritocracy and religious freedom.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats’ campaign arm, condemned Baugh’s statements and dismissed him as a perennial loser who would not succeed in 2024. The committee highlighted Baugh’s previous unsuccessful runs for the seat in 2022 and the primary for a neighboring seat in 2018.

Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for Baugh’s campaign, Zach Freimark, clarified that Baugh was specifically referring to the threat of “wokism” to religious freedom. The campaign emphasized that Baugh acknowledges the tragedy and significance of loss of life in traditional wars.

With the backing of House Republican leadership, Baugh is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination in California’s 47th Congressional District. House Republicans view this district, which includes Irvine and surrounding suburbs, as one of their top pickup opportunities in their bid to regain control of the House.

In 2024, Democrats will not have the advantage of an incumbent in the race for the 47th District since Rep. Katie Porter is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein. State Senator Dave Min and attorney and Democratic activist Joanna Weiss are the two prominent candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the 47th District.