Santa Clara County Elections & Politics Digest

The Gilroy City Council approved an additional public hearing to allow for more feedback from residents as it considers moving to future district-based elections.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit Wednesday, saying the tariffs hurt “states, consumers and businesses.”

More than 100 California bills moved to the “suspense file” last week, the start of a process where consequential decisions are made out of public view.

Schools had until March 2026 to spend remaining COVID relief money. The U.S. Department of Education cut those funds, amounting to about $200 million for California K-12 schools.

California Democrats are backing a legislative proposal that would allow gig workers to form unions. Expect big pushback from companies like Uber, Lyft and Doordash.

This researcher’s project joins at least 30 others across the University of California system that have been terminated by the National Institutes of Health. Those multi-year awards were worth more than $173 million.

A report on the April 5 Hands Off rally in Mountain View attended by over a thousand protesters.

A report on the April 5 Hands Off protest which took place at the Milpitas City Hall.

A Q&A with Palo Alto political figure Joe Simitian.

Rural counties are some of the most reliant on federal funding and federal workers. But some still welcome Trump’s upcoming cuts to forestry and other departments

At a time when the political climate calls for strong and steady leadership, many Black Californians are losing faith in the lawmakers they sent to Sacramento to deliver on a justice agenda anchored by reparations.

On March 29, thousands of people rallied at dozens of Tesla dealerships throughout the Bay Area to protest the policies of the current administration.

California’s political watchdog is fining former Assemblymember Evan Low $106,000 for campaign finance violations after he admitted trying to conceal payments to actor Alec Baldwin, who appeared at a 2020 fundraiser for Low.

Voter guides in various languages at a polling site at Modoc Hall in Sacramento State in Sacramento on March 5, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Under Trump’s directive the Department of Education laid off half its staff. The lawsuit argues Trump has no authority to make such drastic changes.

Los Angeles Assemblymember Rick Zbur says he wants to narrow the standards for justifiable homicide. Critics say he wants to make self-defense illegal.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to see tangible results from the $6.4 billion mental health bond voters approved last year. Moving fast carries a risk of neglecting under-resourced communities.

Read on to learn more about Tyrone Wade, running for the San Jose City Council District 3 seat in the upcoming special election.

California schools are grappling with the U.S. Department of Education's letter requiring them to scrap their DEI programs.

Read on to learn more about Irene Smith, pro tem judge, entrepreneur, and former IBM employee now candidate for the open San Jose City Council District 3 seat.

The audit by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission followed CalMatters’ revelations that a law requiring trip organizers to annually disclose their major donors had been used only twice in seven years — even as interest groups continued paying millions for lawmakers’ travel.

Californians rejected the anti-slavery ballot measure Proposition 6, which would have forbid forced prison labor. Reparations advocates want to try again in 2026.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto is the only former career firefighter currently serving in the Legislature. But as a Republican in a Democratic supermajority, he says it can be challenging to make progress on wildfire policy.

Santa Clara County supervisors could relax restrictions on how much they can raise for their reelection campaigns.

California’s Democratic leaders set aside tens of millions of dollars to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive orders and policies.

Some schools destroyed years ago in the Sonoma and Butte fires are just now reopening. The long, expensive process of rebuilding in LA may eat up much of the money voters approved in November for school repairs statewide.

With assurances that “sunlight is pouring over the entire world,” President Donald Trump was sworn into office Monday for his second term. He wasted no time taking potshots at California.

Read on to learn what former Jonathan Weinberg had to say about his 2024 term as Los Altos Mayor at a recent Los Altos Community Coalition meeting.

The Milpitas Beat sat down with newly elected Milpitas City Council member William Lam for a Q&A. Read on to learn what he has to say.

In their January 7 meeting, the Sunnyvale City Council swore in new and reelected members and selected a new vice-mayor. Read on to learn what's ahead for the council.

The first candidates have filed paperwork to be considered for appointment to the vacant District 3 seat on the San Jose City Council. Read on to learn more about them.

Read on to learn to learn what newly reelected Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano is planning for the coming term.