Politics and Elections

Data show election participation varies greatly

Just 42 percent of registered voters cast their ballots last November. But concentrating on that top-line number would be a mistake, said the state’s preeminent political data expert. “Overall, the turnout data show that the surface totals, like saying it was

Gavin Newsom takes steps to run for governor of California

James Poulos February 12, 2015

Shaking up an already fast-moving political landscape, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom revealed in an email to his list that he had taken the first step toward a run for governor in 2018. Framing his announcement as a characteristically Californian statement “without evasiveness

Skelton sees Dem vs. Dem

John Seiler February 12, 2015

One of the themes at CalWatchDog.com the past several years has been that, with Republicans still moribund in California, Democrats will turn on one another. One story from last October was, “Democrats divided on big issues in CA.” George Skelton,

Kevin McCarthy talks Senate seat, power, trains

Joel Fox February 11, 2015

While he was in town, I talked with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., about retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat, the Republican Congress sharing power with Democratic President Barack Obama, California’s high-speed rail project and more. A former state legislator,

GOP senator may challenge incumbent GOP supervisor

Chris Reed February 11, 2015

After winning re-election three months ago with 69 percent of the vote, state Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, knows he is termed out in 2018 and that there are a finite number of significant elected positions that Republicans can win in

GOP struggles finding U.S. Senate candidate

James Poulos February 10, 2015

With California Sen. Barbara Boxer retiring in 2016, Democrats have enthused over their deep bench of ambitious politicians ready and willing to replace her. Republicans, by contrast, have been more timid. A few party figures have stepped forward, but bold-faced names have not, leaving

Why doesn’t GOP follow the Gipper, 104 today?

John Seiler February 6, 2015

Today is Ronald Reagan’s 104th birthday. He died in 2004 at age 93. He has become a beloved figure for most Americans, even Democrats, much as President John F. Kennedy has for different reasons, including for Republicans. JFK is remembered

Direct democracy abuses: Both parties have dirty hands

Chris Reed February 5, 2015

Over the past 14 months, San Diego voters have repudiated the decisions of the Democratic majority on the City Council three times. The most influential Democrat on the council thinks he knows why: San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria will

Ex-Brown adviser: ‘powerful interests’ run state

John Seiler February 4, 2015

Most Californians sense that special interests, not voters, run the state. That’s why voter turnout hit record lows last November. And it’s why the Legislature scores so low on opinion polls. A PPIC survey last year found only 36 percent

CA bag ban initiative heading toward 2016 vote

Steve Miller February 4, 2015

The effort to repeal the state’s looming prohibition on plastic grocery bags is projected to have enough valid signatures to move the initiative forward, according to a random sample of the signees compiled by the California secretary of state’s elections office. The sample