Elections

Independent expenditure committees funded by special interest groups are spending millions of dollars to make their picks in the California primary. In some races, they are clearly supporting or opposing candidates. In others, the strategy is more complicated.

In a 75-minute interview with CalMatters, Ron Galperin, a Democrat running for California controller, touts his experience as city controller in Los Angeles. He pledges to bring some of his innovations statewide and calls homelessness an existential crisis.

In the crowded primary for California controller, Yvonne Yiu is betting that spending millions of her own money is her ticket to the top two. But the track record of self-funding candidates in statewide races is mixed.

In a 70-minute interview with CalMatters, state Sen. Steve Glazer, a Democrat running for California controller, says he knows "where the bodies are buried" from his legislative experience. And he vows to stand up to fellow Democrats in power so he can be an independent watchdog.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats are counting on abortion rights to drive their voters to the polls. But some may still care more about crime, homelessness and inflation.

Democrat Malia Cohen wants to expand the role of state controller and advance equity and diversity in the job. In an 80-minute interview with CalMatters, she says the state's COVID response proves the need to do better on both those goals.

Republican candidates across the country are appealing to voters by claiming their allegiance to Donald Trump. But in California, many won't even say if they voted for him.

In a 70-minute interview with CalMatters reporters, Lanhee Chen, the only Republican running for state controller, talks about his priorities and how he would work with Democrats in power.

California Republicans rally at their state convention, hoping to win a statewide office for the first time since 2006 and help the GOP retake control of Congress. But divisions between pro-Trump, conservative and traditional factions were difficult to ignore.

Conservatives running for California attorney general make their case to break the Democratic stranglehold on statewide offices since 2006. Eric Early, Nathan Hochman and Anne Marie Schubert say that voters' concern over crime and public safety will help them unseat incumbent Rob Bonta.