Ryan Sabalow

Politics

We went to court to unseal the warrants behind Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot seizures. What they reveal

Riverside County Sheriff and California governor candidate Chad Bianco focused on claims from an activist group when he kicked off a voter fraud inquiry.

By

Ryan Sabalow

,

Cayla Mihalovich

and

Wendy Fry

• April 9, 2026

Politics

California media outlets demand access to secret warrants in sheriff’s ballot seizure case

A judge sealed the warrants allowing a sheriff to seize 600,000 ballots. News organizations say the public has a right to see what's in them.

By

Ryan Sabalow

and

Jeanne Kuang

• April 1, 2026

CalMatters en Español

Los líderes californianos ensalzaron a César Chávez. Ahora, se enfrentan a un ajuste de cuentas con su pasado

Líderes de toda California, muchos de los cuales se sintieron personalmente inspirados por la obra de toda su vida, están asimilando las múltiples acusaciones de agresión sexual contra César Chávez.

By

,

,

and

• March 18, 2026

Politics

California leaders lionized César Chávez. Now, they face a reckoning with his past

Leaders up and down California, many of whom were personally inspired by his life’s work, are grappling with multiple allegations of sexual assault by César Chávez.

By

,

,

and

• March 18, 2026

Politics

A podcaster gave Newsom a gun. Are California laws keeping him from taking it home?

Last year, conservative podcaster Shawn Ryan gave Gavin Newsom a SIG Sauer handgun, which the governor has yet to take home. To do so, Newsom would have to navigate a complicated web of California gun laws.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• March 6, 2026

Politics

These public documents are hidden from view. Two California lawmakers want to change that

The letters lobbyists submit to the Legislature are public documents, but they are hidden from view. Two California lawmakers want to change that

By

Ryan Sabalow

• March 3, 2026

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters’ visionary co-founder, Dave Lesher, retires

Dave Lesher turned CalMatters into one of California’s most influential newsrooms — and launched new tools to make your government transparent

By

Ryan Sabalow

• February 2, 2026

Politics

The Doug LaMalfa I covered: Authentic, cranky and deeply caring

After the sudden death of U.S. Rep Doug LaMalfa, a CalMatters reporter who covered him for 20 years reflects on his life and legacy.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• January 6, 2026

Politics

What did California lawmakers talk about this year? These 10 bills sparked hours of debate

California lawmakers only spent just a few minutes discussing in public the hundreds of bills they introduce. But these 10 measures had hours of intense debate in 2025.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• December 29, 2025

Politics

New California laws rewrite car-buying rules with return policy and pricing reforms

California lawmakers let automakers opt out of recent changes to the state’s lemon law and approved a law giving used car buyers three days to return a used vehicle.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• December 26, 2025

Ryan Sabalow

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