Politics and Elections

State District 7 contest is Democrat free-for-all

The luck o’ the Irish. That’s what the winners are going to need in today’s St. Patrick’s Day election for California state Senate District 7. Long-brewing tensions among Democrats have come to a head in a bitterly fought race. The candidates seek to replace

iPoker: Tribal coalition not bluffing against opponents

John March 17, 2015

A powerful coalition of the state’s most prominent Native American tribes isn’t bluffing in its opposition to one proposal to legalize online poker in California. Led by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, a half-dozen tribes have registered their opposition to

Threat to vulnerable CA House Democrat comes, seemingly goes

Chris Reed March 17, 2015

Rep. Scott Peters, D-La Jolla, represents a wealthy district ranging from Coronado to Carmel Valley to rural estates in Rancho Bernardo and Poway. The Duke and New York University law school graduate narrowly beat San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio, a

VIDEO: Scott Walker on right-to-work and Obama criticism

CalWatchdog Staff March 16, 2015

CalWatchdog.com Editor-in-Chief Brian Calle recently interviewed Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. This is Part 1, on right-to-work and Obama’s criticism. Walker is a leading potential Republican candidate for president. More videos from Calle’s interview with Walker will be released soon.

FPPC staff backs decreased disclosure

Chris Reed March 15, 2015

The Internet has made quick, easy disclosure of information the norm in news and social media. This has led reformers to call for a new era in campaign finance in which all political donations are disclosed in almost real time.

CA GOP’s acceptance of Log Cabin Club a major culture war win — reflects 4-decade battle

John March 11, 2015

California’s gay Republicans, after four decades at the margins, finally have won recognition from their party. At this month’s state GOP convention in Sacramento, the California Republican Party approved the charter of the Log Cabin Republicans of California by an 861-293

Supreme Court case could put Congressional redistricting back in hands of Legislatures

James Poulos March 10, 2015

Thanks to the Arizona legislature, control of redistricting for U.S. congressional districts in California soon could pass back to Sacramento. A lawsuit brought by lawmakers in Phoenix, now before the U.S. Supreme Court, argues that only state legislatures have the right to

Despite topping polls, Condoleezza Rice not running for Senate

James Poulos March 9, 2015

Political pundits and strategists finally are taking seriously that, despite topping polls, Condoleezza Rice is not running for the U.S. Senate. The decision by the former U.S. secretary of state puts California Republicans back on their heels. For the state GOP, the hunt

Rocky Chavez: Can a Latino colonel beat Kamala Harris?

Chris Reed March 8, 2015

The decision of moderate-conservative Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, R-Oceanside, to explore a run for U.S. Senate in 2016 surprised quite a few people in San Diego County. Chavez appeared poised for a long stretch as an unbeatable, influential GOP state lawmaker

L.A. changes election dates

John Seiler March 6, 2015

Occasionally an election itself epitomizes a political situation. That was the case Tuesday with the Los Angeles primary. The main items on the ballot were Charter Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, which respectively changed the city and LAUSD elections to