Politics and Elections

Suddenly, buzz is back for Brown 2016

In just a handful of weeks, speculation has returned, and hype has built, around the idea of a Jerry Brown candidacy for president. From one perspective, he has succeeded so much in California politics that he has disqualified himself. As the soon-to-be

Questions Post-Election

Joel Fox November 10, 2014

Votes are still being counted in the California election, but the results so far raise some thoughts and questions. Labor or Business — and the winner is? Both sides can point to victories — and defeats. Business-supported candidate Catharine

Cartoon: Republican sweep

John Seiler November 10, 2014

$Voters affirm CA fracking$

Voters affirm CA fracking

James Poulos November 7, 2014

After a lot of spending and acrimony, little has changed from California’s high-profile ballot measures to ban hydraulic fracturing, which injects a mix of substances into shale rock to free up oil for extraction. In two counties with little to no

Teachers win Torlakson battle, but does Brown want them to win war?

Chris Reed November 7, 2014

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson’s defeat of reformer and fellow Democrat Marshall Tuck on Tuesday prompted analysis pieces that outlined how California’s union-dominated education establishment had rang up another win. While Tuesday night was grim for liberals, embattled teachers

Silicon Valley firms, Asian voters edging away from Democrats

Chris Reed November 6, 2014

The 2014 midterms have already been dismissed by President Obama as irrelevant because of low turnout. This isn’t entirely self-serving sour grapes. Not just partisans but analysts who have little nice to say about the Obama administration wonder how a

Democrats lose super-majority in CA Assembly

John November 5, 2014

Republicans, who have already blocked a Democratic super-majority in the California Senate, have also succeeded in defeating a Democratic super-majority in the Assembly. The only question remaining: How many seats will Democrats lose in the lower house? Buoyed by low voter turnout

Water issue re-elects GOP Sen. Vidak in Dem district

Wayne Lusvardi November 5, 2014

You knew Democrats were in the deep end of the pool over water issues in California back on May 14. That’s when they asked Republican state Sen. Andy Vidak of Hanford to read out loud Joint Resolution 25 in the state Senate. It

GOP blocks super-majority in State Senate

John November 5, 2014

With impressive showings in Orange County and the Central Valley, Republicans have succeeded in blocking a Democratic super-majority in the State Senate. Republican Senators Andy Vidak and Anthony Cannella easily won reelection in their Central Valley districts, while Orange County Supervisor Janet

State Senate: OC Supervisor Janet Nguyen wins in 34th Senate District

John November 5, 2014

Janet Nguyen, who won her seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors by seven votes, doesn’t have to worry about a lengthy recount this election. The first generation Vietnamese-American immigrant, who withstood a barrage of negative attacks, has defeated