Raphael J. Sonenshein, Pat Brown Institute at Cal State L.A.: Democratic presidential candidates should focus on the issue that matters to California voters: health care, specifically Medicaid. Republican strategists understand the danger of being on the wrong side of the Medicaid expansion.
Robin Swanson, Democratic strategist: Unless the Democratic nominee and Democratic Party find a candidate who connects with voters on an emotional level and creates a brand that sticks, we’re looking at another four years of a president who has mastered the con like no other.
Toni Atkins, Senate president pro tem: Why should Californians vote for Pete Buttigieg in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary? He’s the right Democrat to take on Donald Trump.
Garry South, Democratic strategist: What will happen in California’s Democratic primary? Who knows. But certain things are known. But, again, who knows?
Ace Smith, Democratic campaign strategist: If you’re planning on voting for a Democratic candidate for president whom you love, skip this piece. But if like many Californians you’re looking to vote for someone you like in the March 3 primary, and you want your vote to count, read on.
Laura W. Brill, The Civics Center: People who care about democracy want to know whether young people will turn out to vote in November 2020. More than 3.5 million students graduate from high school every year. Those who register can be expected to turnout at rates above 75% in the November election. Whether or not they register depends, first and foremost, on whether we ask.
David Rattray, David Gordon and Bruce Fuller, LA-Unite, Sacramento Unified & UC Berkeley: The new Proposition 13 offers a chance to reinvigorate educational facilities and fund innovative schools, to invest in our long-term prospects, together.
James Strock and Winston Hickox, former California Environmental Protection Agency secretaries: One of the only remaining healthy parts of the California recycling industry is scrap-metal recycling. Now comes the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Out of the blue, the department has begun designating metal-recycling facilities as “hazardous waste treatment” facilities.
Assemblyman Vince Fong: Californians are free spirited by nature. They want flexibility to support themselves and their families as they see fit. So why do the Democrats in the Legislature want them all to work for corporations?
Sen. Scott Wiener, San Francisco Democrat: Oil companies knew their products would cause climate change, and they responded with an unprecedented and multifaceted disinformation campaign that sowed confusion among the public and policymakers. Now, they should pay their fair share to clean the mess.