Santa Cruz County Local Elections & Politics News Articles and Digest

Elections & Politics

California’s Caste Bias Bill Clears First Legislative Hurdle

04/26/2023
California's Senate Judiciary Committee has voted in favor of legislation to outlaw caste discrimination statewide. If this law passes, California will become the first state in the nation to add caste to its anti-discrimination laws.

From Monterey Herald...

Elections & Politics State of California

Kounalakis Running for Governor in 2026

04/24/2023
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis became the first candidate to enter the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state’s leader.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety Elections & Politics

Branciforte Fire OKs Special Benefit Election

04/21/2023
Nearly 800 ballots soon will begin showing up in the mailboxes of Happy Valley property owners in early June.

From CalMatters...

Elections & Politics

What Would Happen if Dianne Feinstein Quit the Senate?

04/17/2023
While a three-way battle to succeed U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein plays out, her recent absence from the Senate has renewed calls for her to resign and let Gov. Gavin Newsom name a successor.

From CalMatters...

Elections & Politics Government

California Government Cuts Back Press Access

04/05/2023
Accelerated by the COVID pandemic, a shift by state officials toward emails and written statements is making it more difficult for journalists to be watchdogs for Californians.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Elections & Politics

Newsom to Campaign Against ‘Authoritarian Leaders’

03/31/2023
Gov. Gavin Newsom transferred $10 million of his state campaign funds to a new PAC that he said will boost Democrats and push back on Republican leaders who “ban books,” “kidnap migrants” and “stoke racism” before the 2024 election.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Elections & Politics

All About the Plan to Break Up California

03/24/2023
Image for display with article titled The Plan to Break Up California Has Been Around As Long As the State Itself

Besides State of Jefferson, plans to split California have been around for 170 years.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Elections & Politics

State of the State of Jefferson

03/24/2023
Image for display with article titled State of the State of Jefferson: How this Secessionist Movement Started and Where it Stands Today

California's northernmost counties have been pushing to form their own state for decades.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Economy & Jobs Elections & Politics Government

Did Peter Thiel Cause the Collapse of SVB?

03/17/2023
Image for display with article titled Did Peter Thiel Cause the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank?

Fund started by Trump-supporting Silicon Valley billionaire led fatal run on bank.

From Lookout Santa Cruz...

John Laird Elections & Politics

Q&A: State Sen. John Laird on Pajaro Levee, Housing and Budget Crisis

03/16/2023
State Sen. John Laird will seek reelection in 2024, which would be his finale before he terms out as a state legislator. Laird agreed to hop on the phone for a Q&A a day after announcing his plan to run.

From Lookout Local...

County of Santa Cruz County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors Elections & Politics

Supervisors Tap Schiffrin for Temporary Planning Commission Post

03/16/2023
Santa Cruz County supervisors voted to appoint Andy Schiffrin temporarily to the county planning commission after previously blocking his nomination by Justin Cummings.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Education Elections & Politics

Martha Victoria Vega Sworn In as Trustee

03/15/2023
After a unanimous selection by the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees during a meeting that lasted nearly four hours, Martha Victoria Vega was sworn to the Area 5 seat.

From Good Times...

Justin Cummings Elections & Politics

Checking in With Third District Supervisor Justin Cummings

03/14/2023
Image for display with article titled Checking in With Third District Supervisor Justin Cummings

Santa Cruz County’s newly elected official talks disaster relief efforts, emergency response and more.

From Lookout Local...

County of Santa Cruz County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors Elections & Politics

Potential Supervisor Vacancies Stir Ambitions for 2024

03/08/2023
November 2024 is still a ways out, but a list of names of potential candidates among the three supervisor seats up for election in Santa Cruz County has already begun to emerge.

From CalMatters...

Elections & Politics

How California Political Power Could Head South

03/08/2023
Southern California could reassert itself as the political epicenter after Senator Dianne Feinstein retires. The congressional candidates vying to succeed her in 2024, and the vacancies their campaigns have created, provide opportunities for officeholders who are younger and more liberal.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Elections & Politics Braver Angels

Bridging the Great Divide

03/07/2023
Image for display with article titled In a Time of Political Polarization, Braver Angels Promote Unity

In a time of unprecedented polarization, Braver Angels encourages citizens to do something completely revolutionary: listen to each other.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Elections & Politics John Laird

State Sen. John Laird Launches Reelection Bid

03/07/2023
Says Laird, who was first elected to the state Senate in 2020, “It has been an amazingly successful couple of years so far.”

From The Pajaronian...

Education Elections & Politics

Cabrillo Board Appoints Martha Vega to Fill Vacant Seat

02/28/2023
Image for display with article titled Cabrillo Board Appoints Martha Vega to Fill Vacant Seat

The Cabrillo College Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Martha Vega to the Area 5 seat left open when Felipe Hernandez was elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Land Use & Development County of Santa Cruz County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors Elections & Politics

Andy Schiffrin Planning Commission Nomination Nixed

02/28/2023
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair Zach Friend and Supervisors Manu Koenig and Bruce McPherson denied Justin Cummings’ appointee.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Elections & Politics United States

Schiff, Porter in Tight Race to Succeed Feinstein

02/23/2023
The race to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein is shaping up to be a close contest between two congressional colleagues who have built national profiles but appeal to different generations of Democratic voters.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Elections & Politics