Sacramento County Elections & Politics Digest

Proposed California legislation that would ban tackle football for kids under 12 had gained momentum until Gov. Gavin Newsom made it clear he’d veto the bill.

In mainstream accounts of the Civil Rights Movement, names like King, Parks, and Du Bois are synonymous with resistance. But if other names like Hamer, Diamond, and Colvin sound less familiar to you, you’re not alone.

On the campaign trail, former President Donald Trump is again promising to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act—a nebulous goal that became one of his administration's splashiest policy failures.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for a March 19 primary to elect a replacement for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who resigned from Congress in December. If a candidate doesn’t win outright, a runoff will be held on May 21.

Sean Loloee, a first-term Sacramento councilmember, has resigned from office—a move that came weeks after he was federally indicted on charges related to his business Viva Supermarkets.

Nueva Epoca is one of several Sacramento programs that prepare people from underrepresented communities to serve in public office.

Leaders of a parental rights advocacy group announced they’re planning to sue California Attorney General Rob Bonta over the way his office has characterized a 2024 ballot initiative they authored.

County leaders in San Diego are gearing up for a March bond measure that could help provide more behavioral health beds. More beds are needed for areas like mental health and detox.

Since its inception in 2003, the National Black Justice Coalition has been America’s premier civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same-gender-loving people.

From elders and entertainers to victims of mass shootings and other violence, the Black community saw an exceptional amount of loss this year.

California’s secretary of state has released its list of certified candidates to be on the March 5 primary ballot for Congress. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the Nov. 5 general election. Incumbents are largely expected to prevail.

Sheriff Jim Cooper, a Democrat and former Elk Grove Assemblyman once called law enforcement’s biggest advocate in the state capital, infuses his politically honed instincts with experience forged by a 30-year career wearing a badge.

A common refrain among anti-transgender activists is that many people experience regret after obtaining gender-affirming surgery. However, that argument is not supported by the science, according to a new article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Kern County agrees to better protect free speech in a deal with the state Justice Department—inspired by the county’s’ 2020 squashing of COVID contracts to organizations that advocated defunding police.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg publicly called for City Councilmember Sean Loloee to resign immediately, intensifying a request he made privately for weeks.

The California Legislative Black Caucus was established in 1967 when African American members of the California Legislature, under the leadership of former State Sen. Mervyn Dymally, came together to address issues faced by Black Californians.

In less than 11 months, Elk Grove voters will select their mayor and council representatives for Districts 1 and 3. Councilmembers Darren Suen and Kevin Spease have purchased ads in the 2024 Elk Grove Town Planner calendar, although as yet they have no challengers. Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, also on the ballot, did not purchase calendar space.

California fast-food workers will earn a $20 minimum wage in April. Other employers might have to raise their pay floor to recruit and retain staff.

The Sacramento City Council plans to redo a vote on whether to give City Manager Howard Chan and other executives pay increases because the council violated the Brown Act on the initial decision.

Founded in 1968, Black Women Organized for Political Action is a statewide nonprofit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

Four days after Councilmember Sean Loloee pleaded not guilty to federal charges, it remains unclear whether he will heed calls to resign.

All but two California counties are delaying their implementation of a new law that makes it easier for a court to place someone in involuntary confinement if they can’t care for their own medical needs or personal safety.

Outgoing Mayor Tim Schaefer handed over the gavel to Bret Daniels at the start of the Dec. 14 City Council meeting, with the two the swapping seats as well as titles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom defended his work and that of current or former California leaders like Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris during an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Newsom suggested conservatives focus unduly on California's failures.

Advocates for Sacramento’s unhoused community, along with mayoral candidate Flojaune Cofer, condemned County District Attorney Thien Ho for what they described as his unfair attacks on the city and its unhoused residents.

Three years after his first term as mayor, Paul Sandhu will one again lead Galt City Council. At its Dec. 5 meeting, Council chose Sandhu and Rich Lozano to serve as mayor and vice mayor in the coming year.

A large gathering of protesters sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people is expected outside a fundraiser Dec. 8 in Westwood for President Biden. Police have warned that any violence won’t be tolerated.

Hunter Biden, a Malibu resident, is facing nine tax-related charges between the years of 2016 and 2019. It is the second criminal indictment for the son of President Biden, aside from a pending firearms case.

With nine months’ experience in the Assembly, Liz Ortega will lead the Labor committee after a strike-filled summer and several wins for low-wage workers.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles changed its voter registration process in 2019 to put a party selection dropdown on the same page. Since then, the number of people registering as Republicans or Democrats has jumped close to 20 points.

Forty-eight of California’s 52 members of the House of Representatives voted in favor of expelling George Santos. Of the other four members, all Republicans, Kevin McCarthy didn’t vote while three opposed Santos’ expulsion.

The Nov. 30 debate between governors Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis could be a win-win for both. DeSantis’s flagging presidential campaign could get a boost, while Newsom could increase his standing in Democratic circles.