Politics and Elections

Will L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti join crowded 2018 governor’s race?

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s landslide re-election win Tuesday led to inevitable speculation that he would join the crowded 2018 Democratic gubernatorial field. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, with his high profile and access to the deep-pockets of Bay Area and

Silenced state senator steals show at GOP convention

Chris Reed February 26, 2017

About 1,200 California Republicans are held their annual spring convention at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency this weekend and the star Saturday wasn’t featured speakers like Congressmen Darrell Issa of Vista or Devin Nunes of the San Joaquin Valley or high-profile

Republican state Sen. Nguyen silenced by Democratic lawmakers

James Poulos February 23, 2017

In an unusual scene playing against type for California’s legislative Democrats, a party leader in the state Senate ordered sergeants to remove his Republican colleague state Sen. Janet Nguyen, R-Garden Grove. Interrupting Nguyen’s remarks on the late Tom Hayden, state Sen.

California Democrats spend significant campaign cash fighting each other because of Prop. 14

James Poulos February 23, 2017

New figures on the November 2016 election cycle showed that Golden State Democrats continued to shell out substantial sums to compete with one another for elective office. Numbers taken from the California Secretary of State, and verified with Cal-Access campaign records, illustrate how

Assemblyman wants Russian hacking, election influence, taught in schools

Matt Fleming January 19, 2017

Should Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election be taught in schools? One assemblyman thinks so. The extent to which Russia interfered is still being investigated, but reports suggest there’s consensus among U.S. intelligence officials that Russia hacked emails of Democratic

Many of California’s congressional Democrats skipping inauguration

Matt Fleming January 17, 2017

At least 15 of the 39 House Democrats from California are planning to boycott the presidential inauguration of Republican Donald Trump, according to multiple reports. The reasons range from district work, to disdain for Trump, to responding to Twitter polls.

CA Democrats spend $90M in same-party races

James Poulos January 10, 2017

A new report tallying the costs of running against members of your own party revealed that Golden State Democrats spent big in 2016 on races without a Republican. This year, “Democrats raised or spent a total of $90.8 million on same-party

Proposed ballot measure would ask if California should join a national popular vote movement — but the state already did

Matt Fleming December 30, 2016

Should California’s elected officials do everything in their power to make the country decide presidential elections by a national popular vote? A recently-introduced ballot measure asks just that, coming on the heels of the second presidential election since 2000 where

CA secessionists raise eyebrows with Russia ties

James Poulos December 22, 2016

The campaign to place California secession on the ballot next election year entered uncertain waters as news broke that its mastermind lives and works in a city in the center of Russia. “I immigrated to California, and I consider

Rohrabacher threatens UC federal funding over “sanctuary” policies

Matt Fleming December 21, 2016

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher last week warned UC President Janet Napolitano that the system’s sanctuary campus polices could jeopardize federal funding for research. The Costa Mesa Republican denounced a recent announcement from UC that campus police would not be cooperating with federal officials