Sacramento County Elections & Politics Digest

A suite of five bills introduced this weeks seeks to protect election integrity from bad actors using AI, especially on social media.

Companies and organizations spent more than $480 million on lobbyists who sought to influence the Legislature, the governor’s office and state agencies.

Some Sacramento County voters will be asked to weigh in this March on who should represent them on two local school boards, the Sacramento County Office of Education and Twin Rivers Unified School District.

Why she’s running for reelection: “There is clearly still have a lot of work to do. I want to keep working on solutions that will keep people housed, build more access to opportunities, and prepare us for the future.”

“We must be able to provide a city that we want to continue to invest in and be a place that our children want to raise their families,” Phil Pluckebaum says.

The new top Democrat in the state Senate announces his leadership team and new committee chairpersons. He rewarded some allies, and filled five of seven leadership posts with women or legislators of color.

The funds would help California ports expand to handle giant wind turbines and other equipment. California’s first offshore wind farms are on a fast track off Humboldt County and Morro Bay.

One California Assembly seat representing Sacramento is open for the first time in a decade, meaning voters in the city’s urban core, Natomas and Arden will choose a new representative.

Two Sacramento County Board of Supervisor seats are up for grabs, and voters living in Districts 3 and 4, both located in northeastern parts of the county, will weigh in.

Here’s where they stand on the economy, crime and the border.

In Sacramento County, there are a number of local races that will have a big impact on your day-to-day life. Residents will vote for Sacramento mayor and City Council, state legislative seats, and more.

California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock bucked his party to vote against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus announced plans to introduce a package of bills this year designed to address recommendations the California reparations task force made in its final report.

California voters this spring are considering a $6.4 billion bond to house people with serious mental health conditions. A similar 2018 ballot measure offers lessons about the obstacles that stand in the way of construction.

There are different rules for the presidential contest and state races on the March 5 ballot. And each party has its own rules.

Sen. Mike McGuire of Healdsburg takes over as Democratic leader in the state Senate from Sen. Toni Atkins. He terms out in 2026, so has limited time to push his agenda.

Immigration is among the most wrenching political questions of the 2024 election. Yet, as Congress debates border security, the Congressional Black Caucus has an obligation to act on behalf of its base.

A sweeping change to California elections took a step forward. The proposed constitutional amendment aims to allow the lieutenant governor to be installed if a governor is recalled.

Lawmakers introduced a package of bills designed to tackle some forms of reparations. The measures may face budget constraints and opposition.

The California Legislative Black Caucus released a list of 14 bills as a first set of reparations for the descendants of African Americans who were enslaved.

Here is your guide to the 2024 California primary election.

Gov. Gavin Newsom crafted the measure to reform California’s mental health system, including a $6.4-billion bond for new facilities.

Faced with a huge budget deficit, legislators are on warning not to expect bills with a high price tag to pass. But that’s not always the goal of introducing bills.

A bill would let state legislators, who say they fear for their safety, shield their property holdings from disclosure forms. But critics say that could conceal potential conflicts of interest.

Rates of routine childhood vaccination hit a 10-year low in 2023. That, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, puts about 250,000 kindergartners at risk for measles.

Longtime Galt teacher Rosella Rowlison has thrown her hat in the ring for the 9th Assembly District race, but she will not be appearing on the March 5 ballot.

Lauren Hammond, the first Black woman elected to the Sacramento City Council, died in her sleep Jan. 18 at the age of 68. Representing District 5, Hammond served from 1997 to 2010.

City leaders in Rancho Cordova have voted to change a street name they didn’t even want a city clerk to say aloud during last week’s City Council meeting.

The four leading U.S. Senate contenders in California tried to use 90 minutes of free air time to solidify their pitches to voters—and also to set themselves apart from their opponents.

More than two years until the first votes are cast, Senate leader Toni Atkins becomes the fourth big-name Democrat to jump into the governor’s race. She is seeking to become the first female and openly gay chief executive.

Prop. 1 would funnel more money into housing and treatment for homeless Californians struggling with mental illness and addiction. But it’s far from a one-stop solution.

The five major contenders have different track records and proposals on some of California’s biggest issues. They’re trying to position themselves to appeal to sizable voting blocs.