Politics and Elections

CA GOP eyes special state Senate election

Aside from preventing Democrats from again nabbing two-thirds supermajorities in the California Legislature, the Nov. 4 national GOP electoral wave did little to change the political dynamic here. With two years to go before the 2016 elections, Golden State Republicans have gained

Jerry Brown about to annihilate UC president on tuition hikes

Chris Reed November 20, 2014

Aficionados of California politics are going to be in for a fun exercise over the next month or two. Gov. Jerry Brown is absolutely going to annihilate UC President Janet Napolitano in their fight over her proposal to get UC

Does Chiang top field of Dem hopefuls?

John November 18, 2014

Going by the metrics, John Chiang may be the strongest candidate to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 or U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in 2016. You’d never know it by the way the media have zeroed in on Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney

Is local tax measure success a sign of things to come?

Joel Fox November 18, 2014

As usual, Michael Coleman’s California City Finance website has an excellent recap of local tax measures and how they fared in the recent election. Local ballots contained 268 revenue measures — tax increases, tax extensions or bonds — of which 189

Bag ban repeal could reach 2016 ballot

John Seiler November 17, 2014

Looks like a repeal of Gov. Jerry Brown’s ban on plastic bags in grocery stores could reach the 2016 ballot. Reported the Chronicle: SACRAMENTO — Plastic bag manufacturers have poured $2.7 million into efforts to overturn California’s statewide ban on

Cartoon: Voter apathy

John Seiler November 17, 2014

CA GOP looks ahead to broaden base

James Poulos November 14, 2014

Analysts expected it, but it hurt all the same. The gains in the California Legislature were welcome. But in state-level races, California Republicans did not enjoy the same tidal-wave election results as their fellow party faithful across the country. For

Assembly GOP Leader Kristin Olsen introduces new stars

John November 14, 2014

2014 was a solid year for California Republicans. In the state Senate, the GOP prevented Democrats from regaining a two-thirds supermajority. And in the Assembly, Republicans defeated three Democratic incumbents, which also reversed a Democratic supermajority. “We unseated sitting Democrats for the

CA Dems’ congressional delegation on borrowed time

James Poulos November 13, 2014

Statewide, California Democrats enjoyed another dominant Election Day. But at the national level, a much different reality has set in for the party’s Golden State representatives. Generational turnover, retirements and a slow but steady erosion of public support have all undermined California

Homage to Catalonia independence

John Seiler November 13, 2014

Is there still hope for the Six Californias initiative of entrepreneur Tom Draper? This year it failed to get enough signatures to make it to the 2016 ballot. The next attempt would be 2018. If so, hope comes from Catalonia, the