I can assure you that unions are not as important in the west cost politics as they are in the rust belt.

I don't think that's the case in California.

Perhaps the main budget issue facing California is underfunded retiree and pension benefits.

The California Teachers Association is particularly large and influential politically, construction unions are one of the biggest donors to campaigns, and the showbiz unions are big and influential.

Jerry Brown got a lot of cash from the unions but was elected b/c he was seen as willing to take the unions on, which he did. And LA's Mayor Garcetti was largely elected because unions hate him and he was (is?) expected to take them on.

The SEIU has 700,000 members in CA.