San Joaquin County Local News: Elections & Politics

12/01/2023
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.

11/30/2023
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.

11/28/2023
Political wonks in California, Florida and maybe a few states in between, will be glued to their screens Thursday night to watch Gov. Gavin Newsom and Gov. Ron Desantis square off in a highly-anticipated Blue vs. Red State debate that’s been brewing since the summer.

11/27/2023
Rep. David Valadao, a Republican, had his district office in Hanford vandalized. Fliers were plastered on the doors of his office with pictures of children and the words “Murdered by Israel.”

11/22/2023
On Nov. 14, about 10 deputies raided the home and office of AngelAnn Flores, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Stockton’s largest school district and a reformer known for standing against the corruption plaguing the district. The warrant has not been unsealed nor charges yet filed.

11/22/2023
California Democrats have picked their side in the Congressional District 22 race, opting to support former Bakersfield Assemblymember Rudy Salas.

11/21/2023
Rep. Anna Eshoo, who has served in Congress more than 30 years and represents Silicon Valley, announced that she will not seek reelection and is retiring. Eshoo, a Democrat who turns 81 on Dec. 13, said in a video that her heart is filled with gratitude.

11/20/2023
Councilmembers each appointed a nominee for the Stockton Charter Review Advisory Commission. One nomination drew the most attention. In District 1, Councilmember Michele Padilla nominated controversial figure Motecuzoma Sanchez to serve a three-year term on the commission.

11/20/2023
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met Nov. 17 with Sacramento press corps members. He ruled out a U.S. Senate bid, saying the only thing he was interested in running for was president, while acknowledging he can’t do this because he was born in Austria.

11/19/2023
A ballot measure being pushed by business groups could place strict new limits on the ability of state and local governments to raise taxes.

11/19/2023
Two members of the Sunol Glen Unified School District board have been served with recall notices. This came after the board approved a resolution that banned schools in the Alameda County district from flying the LGBTQ+ pride flag.

11/16/2023
During a trip to San Francisco, President Biden said that California’s governor “could have the job I’m looking for.” The remarks have fueled speculation about whether Newsom might step in to run instead of Biden in 2024.

11/15/2023
Ana de Alba, a first-generation Mexican-American who is the daughter of farmworkers, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Alba was confirmed by a 48-43 vote.

11/15/2023
A Stockton native, podcaster and CEO and founder of the entertainment media outlet Hollywood Unlocked took to social media to announce his candidacy for a spot on the Stockton City Council next year. Lee says he will be vying for the District 6 seat, which represents South Stockton.

11/14/2023
Lacking power at the state level, conservatives are leaning into local governance to protest California’s progressive politics. The fight in Huntington Beach could be a harbinger of what’s to come.

11/14/2023
San Joaquin County residents looking to win elections at the state and federal level have until Dec. 8 to file their nomination papers and appear on the March primary ballot.

11/13/2023
Longtime Rep. Barbara Lee trails fellow representative Katie Porter and former Rep. Adam Schiff in their race for U.S. Senate. Lee still expressed determination to not seek a 14th term in the House, saying she’s running for Senate.

11/11/2023
San Joaquin County supervisor candidate Chris Rouppert denies drinking or taking drugs before a September crash for which he now faces a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge. He was not present and did not enter a plea at his arraignment.

11/10/2023
Stockton City Manager Harry Black received support from both citizens and community leaders during the first City Council meeting since he was publicly called out by a city councilmember. The accusation was made by Councilmember Michele Padilla, who was criticized by current and former councilmembers.

11/08/2023
Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by nearly 30 points in California in the 2020 U.S. presidential race. A recent poll shows Biden now has just a 15-point lead in the Golden State over Trump, which might hint at a close national race next year.