Politics and Elections

Dems make Peters-DeMaio race a referendum on Tea Party

The nationally watched race for a swing seat between Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, and former San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio is currently in a roiled state because of lewd allegations made against DeMaio by a former staffer whom DeMaio

Voters face pension-reform decisions

James Poulos October 14, 2014

In a series of contests playing out at the state and local levels, Golden State voters will cast votes this November that could reshape the pension landscape for years to come. Races have attracted attention for offices that exercise direct influence over the institutions

VIDEO: The millennial mind: Fiscally conservative & socially liberal?

CalWatchdog Staff October 13, 2014

The Reason Foundation’s Emily Ekins talks to James Poulos about the findings from a recent poll that suggest millennials are political hybrids who don’t abide by traditional stereotypes.

AG doesn’t write slanted ballot language for plastic bag measure

Chris Reed October 12, 2014

The Attorney General’s Office of the state of California has a long, ugly history under Kamala Harris, Jerry Brown and Bill Lockyer of writing ballot language that pushes voters one way or the other — always to the benefit of

VIDEO: Will battle tanks replace think tanks?

CalWatchdog Staff October 11, 2014

Politics is a contact sport, so is it time for think tanks to transition from academic institutions to partisan brawlers? Stephen Moore, chief economist and the Heritage Foundation and Orange County Register columnist, shares his views with CalWatchdog.com’s James Poulos.

Brown steers clear of Dems as election nears

James Poulos October 10, 2014

State Democrats haven’t had much luck in securing the biggest show of support in California — Gov. Jerry Brown. As he gears up for the final stretch of his bid for an unprecedented fourth term in office, Brown has chosen to

In San Diego, how low will foes of gay GOP candidate go?

Chris Reed October 10, 2014

The 2008 election of gay libertarian firebrand Carl DeMaio to the San Diego City Council absolutely drove the city’s Democratic machine insane. When it came to tearing DeMaio down, it was anything goes. No one of any Dem stature ever

Kashkari draws a media crowd

James Poulos October 9, 2014

Neel Kashkari, Gov. Jerry Brown’s Republican challenger, has been playing a long game. That hasn’t been immediately evident from the frenetic activity surrounding his final month of campaigning. Using a string of concept-driven political stunts, ranging from free prizes to a masquerade

Gov. Brown’s $23.6 million

John Seiler October 8, 2014

As Major Kong in “Dr. Strangelove” is about to begin “nuclear combat toe-to-toe with the Russkies” and start Armageddon, he opens a survival kit aboard his B-52 and says, “Shoot, a fella’ could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with

Tuck outraising incumbent, but union looms large

John October 7, 2014

Education reformer Marshall Tuck has accomplished a rare feat for a political challenger: He’s raised more money than the incumbent. According to the most recent campaign finance disclosure reports released Monday, Tuck has raised nearly $1.6 million since he launched his campaign