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Statewide Region Elections & Politics Digest



Who Killed CA Utility Bill Legislation?

04/26/2024

A bill to rein in a proposed monthly fee on California electric bills would let California’s largest for-profit utility companies charge customers $24 per month — with fees as low as $6 for lower-income customers — as a kind of membership fee for the power grid.

Newsom Calls Out Republican Abortion Policies in New Ad Running in Alabama

04/21/2024

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new ad blasts GOP efforts to make it harder for people to leave states with abortion bans and seek treatment elsewhere.

Senate Impeachment Trial Begins for Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

04/17/2024

Alejandro N. Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who grew up in California, is the first U.S. Cabinet official impeached in nearly 150 years.

Business Groups and Lawmakers Battle Over Ballot Measure to Limit California Tax Increases

04/08/2024

Anti-tax groups in California have qualified a measure for the November ballot that would make raising state and local taxes much more difficult. It’s a showdown that’s been building for nearly five decades.

RFK Jr. Picks VP, but Still Isn’t on California Ballot

03/27/2024

Presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. chose Oakland to announce his vice presidential pick on Tuesday, so it wasn’t too much of a shocker that his pick was Nicole Shanahan, a Bay Area tech attorney and philanthropist.

At Stake in Mifepristone Case: Abortion, FDA’s Authority, and Return to 1873 Obscenity Law

03/25/2024

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country.

Reps. Gaetz and Greene Lawsuit Against Cities Where Political Rally Was Canceled Can Move Forward

03/25/2024

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.

San Francisco Voters Pass Police & Drug Ballot Measures

03/08/2024

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.

CA Legislature Could Set a New Record for Women

03/07/2024

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.

California is Seeing a Historic Rise in the Number of Black Women Running for Office

03/04/2024

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.

What California Voters Want to Know About the 2024 Election

02/26/2024

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.

Meet Some of the Biggest Donors Shaping California's U.S. Senate Race

02/26/2024

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.

Will CA Voters Like ‘Newsom Recall, the Sequel’ Any Better?

02/26/2024

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.

Why Does California Elect Local Judges?

02/23/2024

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.

Classroom Fight Ramps Up in CA Election

02/21/2024

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

Judge Again Dismisses Charges Against Members of California White Supremacist Group

02/21/2024

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

How Many Bills in the 2024 California Legislature?

02/19/2024

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

The Golden State Is Still Golden. And Yes, We Are Americans

02/17/2024

A poll indicated many Americans believe California is on the decline and some say it’s not even “American.” Columnists Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria explain why it’s still the Golden State.

San Francisco Set to Apologize to Black Residents for ‘Systemic Racism’

02/16/2024

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

Why Adopting Sports Gambling in California Has to Involve Tribes

02/15/2024

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

Research: Immigration Enforcement Hinders Education; Schools Offer Support

02/15/2024

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

Bill Package Takes Aim at AI and Elections

02/12/2024

A suite of five bills introduced this weeks seeks to protect election integrity from bad actors using AI, especially on social media.

A Record Amount Went to Lobbying California’s Government. Who Were the Biggest Spenders?

02/11/2024

Companies and organizations spent more than $480 million on lobbyists who sought to influence the Legislature, the governor’s office and state agencies.

California Senate Leader Mike McGuire Picks His Team

02/08/2024

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.

Just in Time for 2024 Elections, USC Opens a Major Public Policy Center in Washington

02/08/2024

In a major expansion of its Washington footprint, USC is opening a public policy institute where students can immerse themselves in learning about national and political issues.

Legislators Unveil Measure to Ask Voters for $1 billion Offshore Wind Bond

02/08/2024

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.

5 Major Candidates Want to be California’s New U.S. Senator

02/07/2024

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

How a California Republican Helped Tank Mayorkas’ Impeachment Vote

02/07/2024

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

An Initiative Promised 20,000 Homes for Mentally Ill Californians. It Delivered Far Less

02/06/2024

California voters this spring are considering a $6.4 billion bond to house people with serious mental health conditions. A similar 2018 ballot measure offers lessons about the obstacles that stand in the way of construction.

Can You Vote for Any Candidate in California’s Primary Election? Here Are the Rules

02/06/2024

There are different rules for the presidential contest and state races on the March 5 ballot. And each party has its own rules.

Mike McGuire Wants to ‘Lift Up Every Person’ as New California Senate Leader

02/05/2024

Sen. Mike McGuire of Healdsburg takes over as Democratic leader in the state Senate from Sen. Toni Atkins. He terms out in 2026, so has limited time to push his agenda.

California Recall Reform Moves Forward, But Other Bills Don’t

02/01/2024

A sweeping change to California elections took a step forward. The proposed constitutional amendment aims to allow the lieutenant governor to be installed if a governor is recalled.

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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