Sacramento County Elections & Politics Digest

THREATS AND HARASSMENT are pushing some politicians out of office, scaring off some would-be candidates and even compelling some elected officials to change their vote.

Those in California who’d like a latte with a side of weed have gotten their wish now that a new law goes into effect that permits licensed cannabis dispensaries to add sit-in cafes to their sites.  

After winning a costly legislative battle last year, California’s casino-owning tribes have sued their rivals in the gambling business. Cities could lose money if the tribes prevail in court.

The Sacramento Bee looks back on its most impactful stories from 2024.

The increase in lobbyists means there’s now at least one lobbyist for every legislative staff member.

Here are some of the most noteworthy 2025 laws that go into effect on Jan. 1.

The first order of business of the December 11 Elk Grove City Council was the swearing in of the re-elected mayor and two council members to their new term of office. Read on to learn more about their remarks at the ceremony.

California recorded historically high numbers of deaths in county jails for the past six years. Now, counties expect to house more prisoners as Prop. 36 takes effect.

An introduction to newly sworn in assembly member Rhodesia Ransom who represents Stockton in the California Assembly.

Read on to learn more about Rich Lozano and Daniella Zehnder, newly elected to the Cosumnes Community Services Board of Directors.

Read on to meet the new member of the Citrus Heights City Council.

Pledging to take on the affordable housing crisis and bring down health care costs, Adam Schiff was sworn in Monday by Vice President Kamala Harris as California’s junior U.S. senator.

A look at the issues to be considered by the newly elected Sacramento Mayor and City Council members.

Learn what comes next now that Citrus Heights voters have passed Proposition 36.

As a new mayor takes office, a look back on former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg's terms in office.

In a November 27 news conference, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty declared victory in the election for Mayor of the City of Sacramento. Read on to learn what he had to say.

The California Voter Foundation launched a tool tracking daily vote counts in 18 close contests for Congress and the state Legislature. The tracker aims to show how counts change over time and dispel misinformation about election fraud, the group says.

Voters in California’s farm belt, stretching more than 400 miles from Kern County on the south to Tehama County on the north, delivered solid majorities for Donald Trump in this month’s presidential election.

Between the summer session of the California Legislature featuring hot topics like AI regulation and money for journalism, and a special one focusing on gas prices, powerful corporations poured in record-setting money to influence lawmakers.

President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on implementing a sweeping border crackdown and undertaking the largest-scale deportation effort in history. If carried out, his proposed initiatives will have profound consequences in California, which shares a 140-mile border with Mexico.

A look at provisional election results as of November 8 for candidates and ballot measures in the Sacramento County region.

The latest provisional results from the Sacramento County elections office shows the Elk Grove Unified School District's $542 million bond measure heading toward voter approval.

California’s Senate will reach gender parity, but depending on the outcome of some close contests, that could extend to the whole Legislature.

Newsom wants the new Legislature to ‘protect’ California from Donald Trump on civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families. The session will start Dec. 2.

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.

Adam Schiff has won the race for a seat in the U.S. Senate over challenger Steve Garvey.

THE SALINAS VALLEY is the setting for fecund soil, labor rights movements and John Steinbeck novels.Squeezed into one 90-mile-long wedge between the Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountains, the valley’s residents constitute less than 1% of Californians but have shaped the identity of the whole state.

Homeless Californians face many barriers to casting a ballot, even in elections that affect their lives. Some counties and nonprofits are trying to boost turnout.

A look at what's revealed in the latest campaign finance filings by candidates running for the office of Mayor of Sacramento in the November election.

Proposition 33 on local rent control and the related Proposition 34 are attracting the most campaign cash by far of the 10 ballot measures. But the amount pales to what was spent on dueling sports betting measures in 2022.

An introduction to Stephen Walton who is running for the District 2 seat on the Sacramento City Council in the November election.

A look at reported finances from campaigns for Sacramento County school board candidates in the November election.