Santa Cruz County Elections & Politics Digest

A judge ruled GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene can move forward with their lawsuit against two California cities where rallies were canceled.

Santa Cruz County election officials continue to count ballots and update totals, showing that as of Friday March 8, Martinez, Koenig, Brown are leading their challengers.

Proposition E broadens police surveillance powers and Proposition F mandates drug screening and treatment for people receiving county welfare benefits who are suspected of drug use.

Susie O’Hara’s leads challenger Joe Thompson for the District 5 seat on the City Council with about 65% of the counted ballots.

Incumbent Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson is leading the at the ballot box with about 70% of the vote so far.

Santa Cruz City Council District 2 incumbent Sonja Brunner maintained her lead over challenger Hector Marin.

Incumbent Manu Koenig still leads challenger Lani Faulkner as ballot counting continues.

The number of women elected to the state Senate and Assembly is 50 of 120 after the 2022 election. And based on the primary results so far, it’s expected to increase to at least 55 women after the November election.

The ballot measure to increase the sales tax paid in unincorporated areas of the county from 9% to 9.5% continues to gain votes.

The Measure M initiative to make zoning and general plan changes in Santa Cruz and raise the affordable housing inclusionary rate in the city is unlikely to pass, while the Measure L sales tax increase seemed headed for approval.

At least 24 Black women are running for seats in the California Legislature this year, resulting from years of work cultivating new leaders and growing confidence among voters.

Second District Candidates hosted by Aptos Chamber of Commerce for an informative Q&A.

Voting in California can be complicated. Here are answers to some common questions, plus what the leading U.S. Senate candidates say they would do if they’re elected.

Here are the biggest donors in the 2024 California Senate race, both for and against the top candidates: Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Steve Garvey and Barbara Lee.

Conservative activists who worked on the failed recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021 have launched another attempt, arguing that conditions in California only worsened in the two-and-a-half years since then as Newsom’s attention shifted to national politics.

Of all the races on your ballot, the least information is often available on local judges. Here are some ways to find out more about these candidates.

On one side: Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ advocacy group. On the other side: Protect Kids California, a parents rights organization.

In his decision, a judge agreed that the alleged white nationalists were being selectively prosecuted instead of 'far-left extremist groups, such as Antifa.'

Campaign finance disclosure statements for the city of Santa Cruz’s March ballot show that two corporations made substantial contributions to the campaign endorsing Measure L, which would increase the city’s sales tax.

A lot of interesting stuff happened during the Jan. 23 Salinas City Council meeting. I’ll focus on two items: one that received a lot of media attention, and one that barely got a blip.

With the dust settled after the Feb. 19 bill introduction deadline, the California Legislature’s count for new bills this year is 2,124.

Federal law enforcement and cybersecurity officials are warning the nation’s state election administrators that they face serious threats ahead of November’s presidential election.

Members of the board gathered to put forward a resolution that takes responsibility for the history of discrimination against Black San Franciscans.

Campaign finance disclosure statements show that real estate developers and contractors made the largest contributors to the campaign opposing Measure M while Measure M received support from Santa Cruz residents.

When and if California legalizes sports gambling, the policy should honor the laws established in partnership with tribes decades ago, says Assemblyman James Ramos.

Immigration enforcement lowers students’ ability to succeed academically and negatively affects their overall learning experience.

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.

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.

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

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