Senate Democrats introduce measure condemning Donald Trump, Ted Cruz

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives at a fundraising event at a golf course in the Bronx borough of New York on July 6.

July 8, 2015 5:43 PM PT

Reporting from Sacramento — Republican presidential contender Donald Trump’s inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants have stoked the ire of Democrats in the state Senate, who have introduced a measure denouncing Trump and fellow GOP candidate Sen. Ted Cruz.

Sen. Isadore Hall III (D-Compton) has offered a resolution blasting Trump for calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and drug-runners during his campaign kickoff last month.

“We certainly cannot stand in California to have a president who is representing California, [which has] the largest population of immigrants, calling immigrants rapists and thugs and criminals,” Hall said in an interview. “We don’t have a place for that. California is a place of inclusion.”

Hall said he included a denunciation of Cruz in the resolution after the Texas senator defended Trump’s comments.

The resolution, which does not have the force of law, starts by lauding the contributions that immigrants make to California’s economy and culture. It goes on to lambaste Trump and Cruz for recent comments about immigrants.

“Presidential candidates including Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have unfairly demonized and falsely blamed undocumented immigrant families for a range of problems and challenges facing the United States,” the measure reads.

The resolution, SR 39, also calls on the state and private companies to divest and disassociate from Trump-affiliated businesses. A number of companies, including NBC and Univision, have already cut ties with Trump. On Tuesday, PGA of America announced it would not hold its Grand Slam of Golf tournament at a Southern California golf course owned by Trump.

A number of Democrats, including Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), have signed on as co-authors of the measure. Hall predicted that many of his Republican colleagues would vote in favor of it.

“Californians, Republicans and Democrats alike don’t feel like it’s a place where racism and prejudices should be allowed,” Hall said.

Last week, Assembly GOP leader Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) issued a statement that subtly rebuked Trump, without naming him.

“We call on every person — including politicians and wannabe politicians — to join Californians and embrace and respect immigrants and their contributions to America,” Olsen said.

Follow @melmason for more on California government and politics.