Dan Walters

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California’s political clout will fade as long as population growth remains slow

California’s clout in both presidential and congressional elections is shrinking. It’s a stark reminder of the old adage that demography drives destiny.

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How three Trump policy decrees could affect California’s agricultural industry

There are three policy areas President-elect Donald Trump wants to change that are particularly important to California farmers. If he does what he has promised, one might benefit the industry and two might hurt it.

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Los Angeles County approves historic governance reform. San Francisco backs a study

Los Angeles County voters approved a ballot measure to overhaul the Board of Supervisors. San Francisco, on the other hand, picked a new mayor but voted down a more meaningful reform.

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Let the games begin: 2026 campaign for California governor now looms

The next political cycle begins with no clear frontrunners for California governor. There are at least a dozen potential candidates, plus one huge unknown factor: Vice President Kamala Harris’s career plans after losing her presidential bid.

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Democrats still dominate California, but their voters have drifted to the right

Decades ago, Republicans and Democrats were evenly matched in California until the latter became the dominant party in the late 1990s. Last week's election moved the state's ideological needle a little to the right.

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Newsom uses a stunt to position himself as a leader of the anti-Trump resistance

Gavin Newsom called a special session of the Legislature “to safeguard California values" from a Trump administration. The false declaration of urgency achieves what Newsom likely wants: national media coverage that probably wouldn’t happen otherwise.

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In deep blue California, voters don’t always march to Democratic drums

California is one of the nation’s bluest states. However, the state’s voters engaged in some serious ticket-splitting this week, implying that they are not as wedded to the dominant party and its ideological causes as widely assumed.

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California will likely feel the consequences of Donald Trump’s decisive victory

There's no reason to believe that Donald Trump will not continue using California as a punching bag during his second stint as president. But many may wonder what Kamala Harris's defeat now means for Gavin Newsom's ambitions.

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A century later, salmon again spawning in Klamath River after dams removed

The Klamath River used to be the West Coast’s third most productive salmon fishery, until four hydroelectric dams built in the early 20th Century blocked salmon spawning.

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Newsom provides welfare to the wealthy, skimps on anti-homelessness programs

This week Gov. Gavin Newsom promised $750 million to a few already wealthy entertainment producers and $827 million to cities and counties helping homeless people gain shelter.

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Why Newsom wants California taxpayers to spend millions more subsidizing Hollywood

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants the next state budget to more than double a tax credit for the entertainment industry, despite its overstated value to California's economy.