WI: Upton Sinclair becomes Governor of California

[Bomster]

In 1934 Upton Sinclair, the famous socialist muckraker who wrote The Jungle, ran for the governorship of California, running as a progressive Democrat against the incumbent Republican Governor Frank Merriam. In the midst of the Great Depression, Sinclair had some radical ideas for re-starting the economy and helping the impoverished. This was part of his campaign as EPIC (End Poverty In California). Although he lost he still had a large amount of votes, so I ask, what if Upton Sinclair successfully won that election? How would Californian, and American history, be affected?

 

[David T]

My guess is that he will be frustrated by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats in the state legislature, and will accomplish little.

 

[AussieHawker]

Maybe avoid the third party splitting the vote who easily took more then the difference, or have the split take more Republicans with it while Sinclair does better. He was a Republican who failed to get the nomination. And of course if Roosevelt gives him the endorsement, instead of making deals with the Progressives and Republicans it could tip it. There likely isn't much that could stop the dirty tricks tried by the Republicans and Establishment Democrats in the campaign.

Olson did win 4 years later and he had worked as part of EPIC, and won office in the assembly as Sinclair lost. 27 in total pro EPIC and New Deal state legislators. The State House was in 1937 47D, 33R. Of course the thoroughly undemocratic Senate was still Republican at 25R, 15D. And Olson spent his entire time in office fighting them, so Sinclair would be doing that too.

If Sinclair won a second term, then how he deals with WW2 and the Japanese residents in California would be interesting. Olson tried for tolerance, but then flip flopped over to Roosevelt's side. Even if Sinclair did get a endorsement from him, I bet he wouldn't be so easily cowed.