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Statewide Region Elections & Politics Digest



20 Years of Voting Data Finds Growing Turnout Gap Between Salinas Valley, Rest of County

10/30/2024

THE SALINAS VALLEY is the setting for fecund soil, labor rights movements and John Steinbeck novels.Squeezed into one 90-mile-long wedge between the Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountains, the valley’s residents constitute less than 1% of Californians but have shaped the identity of the whole state.

It’s Hard to Vote in California When You’re Homeless. Why It Matters When Their Voices Are Silenced

10/30/2024

Homeless Californians face many barriers to casting a ballot, even in elections that affect their lives. Some counties and nonprofits are trying to boost turnout.

This California Proposition Is Drawing the Most Campaign Spending

10/28/2024

Proposition 33 on local rent control and the related Proposition 34 are attracting the most campaign cash by far of the 10 ballot measures. But the amount pales to what was spent on dueling sports betting measures in 2022.

Tool: Explore Candidates and Elected Officials Investigated for Campaign Law Violations

10/23/2024

Use our tool to search through investigations opened by the state’s campaign law watchdog. The data updates weekly.

Most California Republicans in Congress Won’t Commit to Certifying the 2024 Presidential Election

10/23/2024

Only one-third of the California GOP congressional delegation has pledged to accept the 2024 presidential election results. And only two incumbents in office in 2021 voted to certify President Joe Biden’s win over Donald Trump in the 2020 race.

Will CA Ballot Proposition Mean More Deportations?

10/22/2024

With proponents of Proposition 36 raising nearly $15 million so far — about three times as much as its opponents — and 71% of likely voters in support, it appears the statewide ballot measure will pass in November.
And that’s exactly what immigrant rights advocates are worried about.

Lack of Candidates Means Many Californians Won’t Vote for School Board

10/21/2024

More than half of the school board races in 49 counties analyzed won't appear on the November ballot because either no one is running for the seat or a single candidate is unopposed.

Who’s Fueling CA’s Congressional Money Race

10/18/2024

With Democrats firmly in control of statewide offices and the Legislature, California isn’t often seen as a “battleground state.” But California could decide which party controls Congress — and both parties and their allies are spending tens of millions of dollars to seize the opportunity.

We Fact-Checked the Ads About Proposition 33, California’s Rent Control Ballot Measure.

10/17/2024

The Yes and No on 33 campaigns have collectively spent more than $140 million. CalMatters fact checked some of the more pervasive claims made by both sides.

How Well Is CA Political Watchdog Doing Its Job?

10/14/2024

After the Watergate scandal, California voters approved a ballot measure that created the Fair Political Practices Commission — an independent, nonpartisan agency to police election campaigns and investigate political ethics violations.

At VotingMatters Events, Attendees Share Personal Stories Related to Ballot Propositions

10/14/2024

Last week, VotingMatters went to public libraries, colleges, and a museum to talk about California’s ballot propositions. So far, VotingMatters has reached more than 750 people across 20 events, bringing crucial election information to voters around the state.

Garvey and Schiff Go After Each Other in U.S. Senate Face-Off

10/09/2024

U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Adam Schiff (far left) and Republican Steve Garvey (second) participate in a debate moderated by news anchor Marc Brown (far right) in Glendale on Oct. 8, 2024. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

Election Explainer: Proposition 35

10/04/2024

The Mercury News explains the Proposition 35 to renew the existing tax used to fund Medi-Cal health services.

Election Guide: Proposition 2 $10 Billion Education Bond

09/27/2024

The Mercury News guide to the Proposition 2 $10 billion bond to build and repair public schools.

Election Guide: Proposition 36 Anti-Crime Measure

09/25/2024

The Mercury News guide to the anti-crime and ant-drug dealing measure Proposition 36 on the November ballot.

6 Myths About California Crime as Voters Weigh Ballot Measure on Drugs, Retail Theft

09/18/2024

Worries about retail theft and fentanyl deaths shaped a November ballot measure that would toughen some criminal penalties. Here are the facts about California crime trends.

Election Explainer: Proposition 33

09/18/2024

The Sacramento Bee takes a look at the Proposition 33 rent-control measure on the November ballot.

CA Rent Control Battle Goes to the Ballot

09/06/2024

Amid a Southern California heat wave, about 300 advocates for rent control — with two 10-foot “greedy landlord” puppets — rallied Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, chanting: “The rent is too damn high!”

From Inmate Release to Immigrant Housing Aid, California Bills Spur End-of-Session Fireworks

08/28/2024

Some Democrats are pushing bills that could put their colleagues on the hot seat in an election year. The authors say they’re representing their constituents and there’s never a perfect time for votes.

Proposition 6 Explainer

08/21/2024

The Sacramento Bee explains Proposition 6, the initiative to ban involuntary servitude.

Proposition 36 Explainer

08/16/2024

The Sacramento Bee explains Propisition 36, the anti-crime measure on the November Ballot.

Californians Will Vote on a $18 Minimum Wage. Workers Already Want $25 and More

08/13/2024

Proposition 32 to increase the minimum wage from $16 isn’t as far-reaching as when it was first proposed. Fast food workers are already making more, and health care employees are on track. But worker groups are already pushing for more.

California Lawmakers Negotiating Sweeping Package to Speed Up Solar, Wind Energy

08/01/2024

Legislators and Gov. Newsom are working behind the scenes to draft energy legislation before the end-of-the-month deadline.

What CA Voters Should Know on Minimum Wage, Health Tax Props

08/01/2024

A voter at a polling center at Santa Ana College in Santa Ana on March 5, 2024. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters

California’s Voters Face Competing Ballot Measures as Interest Groups Clash

07/30/2024

Although the initiative process — proposing new laws via ballot measures — has been in California’s constitution for more than a century, its use was fairly uncommon until the 1970s.

As Newsom Finishes His Governorship, Would-Be Successors Are Multiplying

07/23/2024

There never was much of a chance that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would be running for president this year, even if President Joe Biden were to step aside.

California Says ICE Detainees Have Labor Rights. They Earn $1 a Day Scrubbing Bathrooms

07/17/2024

California failed to ban private detention centers. Now, it’s focusing on their working conditions, for immigrants who toil for $1 a day.

Steve Garvey Outraises Adam Schiff — But Still Has Less in Bank — In U.S. Senate Bid

07/16/2024

The Republican hopeful brought in more cash than Democratic rival Adam Schiff for the first time this campaign during the latest quarter, but still has less to spend.

CalMatters’ Digital Democracy Makes a Difference in the Legislature

07/08/2024

CalMatters launched Digital Democracy in April, and its impact has rippled across the Legislature.

CA November Ballot Is Set, Finally

07/04/2024

California lawmakers met into the night on July 3 to finish the November ballot before heading off on summer vacation until Aug. 5.

Does a Proposed $10 Billion Bond Favor Richer California School Districts?

07/01/2024

Small and low-income school officials say the bond measure deal is unfair. The money is allocated through matching grants, so wealthier districts that can raise more local funds will get more money from the state.

Featured

California cities switch to more inclusive, district-based elections system.
Voting Rights...the Final Frontier
Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
California continues to work on legislation that would make voting easier.
Voting Rites
And more bills are on the way to help you make your mark on Election Day.
The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think
What causes the cycle of homelessness and crime, and how to stop it.
The California Supreme Court has defined the state’s legal and political agenda for more than 170 years.
How the California Supreme Court Blazes Legal Trails
From its beginnings in the Gold Rush, the state Supreme Court continues to define the state today.
Translated from the Greek, “Democracy” means “people power.” How much power do the people have in California?
People Power! What Is Democracy, and How Does It Work in California?
The Goddess of Democracy is alive and well in California, but that hasn’t always been true.
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