In the current social and political divisions in California, there is often a visible presence of the younger generation engaging in more extreme ways. Adrian Ayub, a young entrepreneur active in campus and community activities in California, points out that many young people are influenced by socialism and communism. What’s even more concerning is that these ideologies have spread widely across American college campuses.
Ayub has observed that the mindset of university students is shifting towards socialism and communism, with factors such as disrupted family structures, expulsion of faith in schools, and excessive promotion of transgender issues. Student organizations are being taken over by “communists”, with the school authorities standing by, and some student groups are backed by funding from the Chinese Communist Party and Soros. In this campus atmosphere, young people are actively pursuing socialism in many issues, resisting the fundamental values of America.
For example, last month, a campus club founded by Ayub held a debate at a community college in Southern California on the topic of “Is socialism true or false?” During the event, a political science student boldly stated, “Socialism is the next step for us to take, where all resources belong to the public, people like you and me.”
Such rhetoric and trends have left Ayub deeply concerned, leading him to decide to run for public office as a state assembly member in California’s 67th district, aiming to prevent California from gradually moving towards communism.
Born in California, Ayub is a Gen Z entrepreneur who holds multiple positions as a real estate and insurance broker, investment adviser, and public speaker. During his time at Cerritos College in Los Angeles County, he was elected as a student senator, established student clubs, and served on the budget and safety committees.
Even though he has graduated, his club remains very active on campus. The debate events they host have prompted some individuals to start discussing or reconsidering their views on socialism.
Last month, the student club invited Westminster city council member and congressional candidate for the 45th district, Amy Phan West, to debate on campus about the feasibility of socialism. West’s entire family are Vietnamese immigrants who fled communist rule. The debate drew not only students but also outsiders to the venue, creating a tense atmosphere.
Ayub mentioned that from studying in school two or three years ago until now, he has witnessed some students indeed yearning for socialism, while many others are either indifferent or unwilling to engage in the topic. “We just want to do something to bring different voices to the campus,” he said.
“Seeing some people at the venue disdainful of debate, shouting and not allowing others to speak, and how crazy they are, it’s clear to ordinary students,” Ayub said, noting that while extremists are a minority, most people lean left.
Organizing such activities on campus is not easy, as they have also held debates on sensitive topics such as border openness and immigration, abortion, crime, and will be hosting a debate on transgender issues this month.
Ayub initially focused on establishing businesses and proving his self-discipline and diligence after leaving school, with no plans to venture into public service. However, during the pandemic, while managing his entrepreneurship endeavors in his hometown, he encountered numerous challenges and realized the gap between policies and reality in dealings with the government and public institutions.
Ayub previously ran for council member in Cerritos, focusing on housing, small business development, and public safety issues. His current candidacy for state assembly has received endorsement from the California Republican Party through the “California GOP Convention.”
The 67th district has Democratic and Republican voters at 40% and 30% respectively, with the remaining 30% consisting of other voters. The majority of the district is in Orange County, with a small portion in Los Angeles County, and includes a significant population of Mexican, Asian, and Indian descent, with six candidates participating in the primary.
Ayub noted that the district is neither a bustling city center nor vast farmlands but a typical suburban community with houses lined up. Voters are mainly concerned about the cost of living and community safety issues, such as instances of store robberies where police struggle to respond in time, homelessness, drug activities, and prostitution in certain areas.
Coming from a family of veterans, with some members having served in the Marine Corps and Army, including veterans of World War II and the Korean War, Ayub as a member supporting the Veterans Association is committed to advocating for veterans’ interests such as tax reductions, housing security, and smooth reintegration into civilian life. He stated, “For those who have bravely defended freedom, we should respect and treat them better.”