Election 2024
A California Republican won a seat he didn’t want. Now taxpayers are paying for a new election
Kern and Tulare county taxpayers are on the hook for a special election after Republican Vince Fong won his Congressional seat along with an Assembly seat he no longer wanted.
‘A pivotal moment?’ Why many Latino voters in California chose Trump
In part due to economic and border security concerns, Latinos in California appear to have moved toward Donald Trump. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re abandoning the Democratic Party.
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.
Why no one spent more than Google to lobby California officials this summer
The tech giant spent $10.7 million lobbying the Legislature and governor from July through September during a media bill fight. It also showered elected officials with $107,500 in campaign cash on one day in September.
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.
A message to Gen Z Californians: Let’s make history not for what we faced but how we overcame it
As California confronts what another four years under President Donald Trump means, Gen Z should respond not with exasperation but courage to lead.
Anti-slavery measure Prop. 6 fails, allowing forced labor to continue in California prisons
Other states, including Nevada, are deleting references to slavery in their constitutions and banning forced prison labor. California voters rejected that path when they turned down Prop. 6.
Here we go again: California prepares to battle Trump over environmental policies
A lot is at stake with the new Trump administration: California’s water projects, its unique authority to clean its air, federal support for offshore wind and disaster aid for wildfires.
How Proposition 36 convinced Californians to vote against their political views
Many are asking: Is the movement for criminal justice reform in California dead? The answer is no.
With Measure A, Los Angeles voters embrace a bigger response to homelessness
As a red wave overtakes the nation's political system, Los Angeles County voters sent a signal that liberal policies to address homelessness are still desired with Measure A poised to pass.
Trump’s deportation plan brings fear and sadness at California’s border
The president-elect’s border policies could hit trade, privacy, and immigrant families living in California.
California beat Trump in court his first term. It’s preparing new cases for his second
California sued the Trump administration more than 100 times in his first term and secured some major victories on the environment, immigration and health care.
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.
Don’t expect Kamala Harris’ loss to boost Gavin Newsom’s presidential prospects
California’s governor faces a lot of obstacles to a plausible run for president in 2028, even if he does help lead the resistance to Donald Trump.
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.
Why Californians got tougher on crime: Bleak downtowns and attention-getting retail thefts
Californians overwhelmingly backed Prop. 36 to lengthen criminal sentences for certain theft and drug offenses, and to direct more people to drug treatment after convictions. Voters’ views changed on public safety after the COVID-19 pandemic.
California voters give Medi-Cal doctors a raise by passing Prop. 35
California's health care industry mostly united behind Proposition 35, which would bolster Medi-Cal by dedicating money for it from a tax on health insurance plans.
Big spenders: These companies are giving the most to California legislative candidates
Independent expenditure committees have put nearly $100 million into legislative races, funding ads to support, and often attack, candidates. The outside, unlimited spending is increasing with each election.