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Monterey County Elections & Politics Articles



Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Pacific Grove City Council Takes First Step Toward Switch to District Elections.

The City of Pacific Grove is on its way to switching from at-large to district elections, after the P.G. City Council voted 5-0 on Wednesday, March 6, to hire a demographer to study the makeup of P.G. residents—the first step…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
The Weekly Gets Up Close and Personal With Local Candidates for Elected Office.

There’s more to Election Day than campaign platforms. While candidates run on policy ideas and promises, they are human beings behind all those glossy mailers. The Weekly has made a tradition of asking about some of that behind-the-scenes work of…

CalMatters logo STATE NEWS
CA Legislature Could Set a New Record for Women

State Sens. Aisha Wahab (left) and Shannon Grove speak during the Senate floor session at the Capitol in Sacramento on Jan. 22, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Monterey mourns the loss of its "champion," former mayor Peter Coniglio.

Peter Coniglio described himself as a "Monterey guy," and he was, with deep roots that run back to his Italian immigrant grandfather who came to Monterey and found success as a fisherman and founder off the first cannery. Coniglio branched…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
A Hartnell board appointment is scuttled by residents demanding a special election.

The trustees of the Hartnell Community College District Board were faced with filling a vacancy last fall after former chair Erica Padilla-Chavez resigned and moved out of the area. They could fill it by an election, maybe during the primary…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Our endorsements for the March 5 primary election are out. Whether or not you agree, please vote.

Sara Rubin here, examining my vote-by-mail ballot that arrived earlier this week. It’s a heavy piece of mail but good news—postage is prepaid, one of several steps designed to make it easier than ever to vote.

Image caption: If there’s one thing Donald Trump supporters hate more than “liberal” San Francisco, it’s Taylor Swift. So they’re now 49ers fans for the Super Bowl.
Taylor Swift Has San Francisco-Hating Trump Fans Rooting for the ’49ers

Taylor Swift is so hated by fans of Donald Trump, they’ve set aside their hatred of San Francisco to root for the ’49ers in the Super Bowl, because Swift’s boyfriend plays for their opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Campaign fundraising for county supe candidates ranges from zero to over a quarter-million.

Primaries can be relatively quiet elections. In a two-way race – like that of Wendy Root Askew and Jeremiah Pressey in District 4 – it will be decided outright, no need to go to a November runoff. (Pressey reports zero…

Image caption: As residents continue to exit California, the state’s political power at the national level is at risk.
California Exodus, Housing and the State's Political Future

The California housing crisis is not only weakening the state politically at the national level, it could shift the political balance in Washington, D.C., as Republican-led states add population while California’s exodus continues.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Salinas City Council approves increasing council compensation.

On Tuesday, Jan. 23 Salinas Salinas City Council voted 5-1 to approve increaes to councilmember compensation, with Steve McShane opposing.

Image caption: Former baseball star Steve Garvey, a Republican, will take a political debate stage for the first time Monday night, squaring off against three seasoned Democrats.
Schiff, Garvey Lead Senate Race Ahead of Monday's Big Debate

Former Major League Baseball star Steve Garvey, a political rookie, faces off against veteran U.S. House members Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee in the first 2024 California Senate race debate Monday evening in Los Angeles.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Cristina Medina Dirksen to resign from Marina City Council before the end of her first term.

When Marina City Council meets Wednesday night, Jan. 17, at 6:30pm, Councilmember Cristina Medina Dirksen plans to announce her resignation, effective Jan. 28. She has just under one year remaining of a four-year term and would have been up for…

Image caption: The roundabout joining Highway 12 and State Route 113 in Rio Vista, just south of the site for a proposed new city of 400,000 people.
Solano County May Get to Vote on New City in November

California Forever, the company behind a proposed new city in Solano County, will submit a ballot measure seeking an exemption from local laws to allow development on the massive project to proceed.

Image caption: Los Angeles voters can take a step toward reducing traffic violence with a measure on the March ballot.
Can Traffic Deaths in Los Angeles be Reduced With a Ballot Measure?

With traffic deaths now regularly topping 300 per year, Measure HLA on the March 5 ballot gives Los Angeles voters the opportunity to force their reluctant city to implement new traffic safety measures.

Image caption: Former Los Angeles Dodgers great Steve Garvey could become California' first Republican Senator elected since 1988.
Republican MLB Star Steve Garvey Rises in US Senate Race Poll

Retired Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Steve Garvey is running for Senate as a "moderate" Republican and could be the first GOP U.S. Senator from California in 35 years, if a new poll is any indication.

Image caption: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas chats with Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer on the first day of the new legislative session Wednesday.
California Legislature Opens 2024 Session With Packed Agenda

State lawmakers reconvene with a lot of problems to fix, but not a lot of money to spend on solutions with a projected $68 billion budget deficit.

Image caption: Kevin McCarthy's hand-picked potential successor, Assemblymember Vince Fong, had previously been ruled out of the race.
Judge Says Vince Fong May Run for Kevin McCarthy's House Seat

A judge rules that the Bakersfield Republican is eligible to run in the 2024 election for Congress even though he had already filed to run for his state Assembly seat.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Salinas City Council will address a proposed increase in compensation for council members.

The cost of rent, groceries and mortgage payments have steadily increased over the past four decades, but there is one figure that has remained stagnant: city council compensation.

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