The Huntington Beach pier cuts through a wide grassy beach, attracting tourists and surfers. It breaks up the waves that help the city earn its name as “Surf City, USA.”

The scene is as calm as the name suggests, and it’s very different from the political anger coming from City Hall, which is only a short drive inland.

A little more than a year ago, a conservative majority took over the Huntington Beach City Council. Since then, the council has worked hard to push a plan that aligns with the policies of former President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement.

The resistance has been just as determined. Protect Huntington Beach is a movement comprising moderate Republicans, Democrats, and independents. City Council meetings have become very heated because of fights between fans of the two sides.

Last week, the conservative group that has a 4-3 majority on the City Council talked about security along the U.S.-Mexico border, which is a big problem for people who support Trump. The debate was heated, with people on both sides cheering and booing. Conservatives yelled at liberal speakers, “You’re done!” and “USA baby!”

About 194,000 people live in Huntington Beach. This city has become a picture of a divided America under Trump. Due to the perception that the beliefs of the opposing side are un-American, the focus has shifted from maintaining civility to a competitive mindset where everyone strives to come out on top.

“Being in Huntington Beach is like a blood sport,” said Tony Strickland, who is part of the council majority of conservatives. “A lot of people are busy.” It’s a good thing, not a bad thing.

Richard Nixon was born in Orange County, also the home of Huntington Beach. Ronald Reagan was greatly admired. Historically, this area has been more conservative, with many Republican wins in a primarily Democratic state. There are more Democrats than Republicans in the county today.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, a more active form of conservative politics grew in Huntington Beach. People against mask and vaccine laws started to meet at the pier for protests.

VOTERS TO HAVE THEIR SAY

Three measures they pushed for on the March 5 ballot will put their move to the test. These include a planned voter ID law and a ban on flying the LGBTQ pride flag over City Hall. Of course, Trump will also run for president in the state’s Republican election.

Conservatives on the council say that three of them back Trump, but the fourth, Pat Burns, who put the question of border security on the agenda, wouldn’t say.

Some Republicans on the council, like Casey McKeon, said their colleagues were trying to bring city politics “back to the middle.”

“We’re not going to follow the Republicans’ and Trump’s ideas.” “We’re taking care of problems that affect Huntington Beach,” McKeon said.

As a reaction, the Protect Huntington Beach group is trying to stop the election measures and stop other cities and towns from making the same partisan split.

“Other counties and cities are watching us,” Cathey Ryder, one of the group’s leaders, said.

Ryder said she doesn’t understand Surf City’s politics these days. “Before about five or eight years ago, I had no idea whether anyone on my city council was a Republican or a Democrat.” It wasn’t necessary.”

One of the three Democrats on the council, Dan Kalmick, called what the majority did “nihilism.”

“It just seems to be spite and trying to own the libs,” said Kalmick. “Taking this level of national politics down to the local level breaks local government, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Before she was elected to the council with three other conservatives, Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark became famous as a mom who pushed to get the book “Gender Queer” taken out of the teen area of the library.

She says the council can take care of infrastructure and funds for the city while “also addressing other issues.”

Librarians moved dozens of books with sexual content from the children’s section to the adult section last week at the council’s request, according to Natalie Moser, a liberal city council member, and Carol Daus, a board member of the Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library. Both women took pictures of the move to show proof. Moved were books on potty training, sex education, and one called “Cargo Ships.”

Van Der Mark said the council would select an advisory board to review the books taken out and return any deemed proper for children. However, she said she would still filter out material that she finds too explicit.

“Most of California has turned left-wing.” “Why can’t we have our own space?” This is what Van Der Mark said. “I’m just fighting for the residents that want a place that represents their values.”