Dan Walters

A person wearing a brown cowboy hat, glasses, and a Harley-Davidson t-shirt stands at a small table inside a hallway, filling out paperwork with a pen. Their long, wavy hair and tattoos are visible as they focus on the documents. The setting is a public building with tiled floors, beige walls, and a row of doors leading to other rooms. Natural light streams in through the windows, which have partially closed blinds. A few people are visible in the background walking through the hallway.

Commentary

Playing political Whac-A-Mole as issue of bond measure language pops up again

Lawmakers keep introducing bills to make it hard for voters to tell from ballot language how much a proposed bond issue or tax increase would cost them.

By Dan Walters • March 14, 2025

An elderly person, wearing gray reading glasses, a black suit jacket with a white collar shirt, gestures with their right hand as they speak next to a table with print newspaper copies.

Commentary

Pioneering journalist K.W. Lee lived a life worthy of the California Hall of Fame

Legendary journalist K.W. Lee was fiercely committed to exposing political malpractice in the Capitol and recognizing Asian Americans in California, compiling a lengthy list of accomplishments deserving of a spot in the California Hall of Fame.

By Dan Walters • March 12, 2025

A group of people participate in a demonstration outdoors, holding signs in support of transgender rights. One sign reads "Protect Trans Kids," while another states "Trans People Have Always Been Here!" A person with red hair, wearing a denim jacket and a face mask, raises an arm while holding a sign that says "Let All Kids Play." Others in the crowd wear pink bandanas and buttons, standing among trees with autumn-colored leaves. The late afternoon sunlight casts a warm glow on the scene.

Commentary

Newsom tacks right to oppose transgender athletes in women’s sports

Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to run for president, so he's going to drift rightward on some issues. But he jolted LGBTQ supporters recently with comments about transgender athletes.

By Dan Walters • March 11, 2025

A construction site to a apartment complex.

Commentary

Study tells California legislators to declare war on red tape — but will they?

California needs to "facilitate new construction at an unprecedented scale" to solve housing, water and climate issues, a legislative report says.

By Dan Walters • March 7, 2025

An overhead view of a person as they face and look at three vertical digital screens hung up against a wall that contain more names and case numbers at a courthouse.

Commentary

California’s list of failed tech projects just added an agency

California agencies have spent hundreds of millions on technology projects with mediocre success or failure in some cases. Chaos administering the recent bar exam is the latest example.

By Dan Walters • March 6, 2025

A person wearing a navy blue suit points in front of them as they stand behind a lectern with the California seal in front of it. A large screen with a graphic that reads "our state revenues are up by $16.5 B" is seen next to him.

Commentary

California uses gimmicks instead of addressing the heart of its budget problem

Gimmickry has become an integral part of the current California budget process, even though the state faces a structural deficit.

By Dan Walters • March 5, 2025

Commentary

Reflecting on 50 years of writing about California’s politics — and still counting

As CalMatters columnist Dan Walters reaches a personal milestone entering his 50th year covering California politics, he reflects on his early days on the Capitol beat.

By Dan Walters • March 4, 2025

A person wearing a navy blue jacket with an official city emblem gestures while speaking outdoors. Another person in a black jacket is focused on a phone, while a group of individuals stands behind them. A camera operator records the scene, and a large vehicle is partially visible on the right. Trees and high-rise buildings can be seen in the background.

Commentary

Erratic wildfire performance puts LA Mayor Karen Bass in a political hole

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' wildfire response includes some embarrassing troubles of her own making, including canning the city's fire chief.

By Dan Walters • February 28, 2025

A row of tents and makeshift shelters, covered with tarps and surrounded by personal belongings, lines a grassy area near a railway under an overcast sky. A person wearing a dark coat and hat moves near a white tent. In the background, a train approaches on an elevated track, and scattered items, bicycles, and blue recycling bins are visible throughout the encampment.

Commentary

Newsom wants to blame others for California’s housing and homelessness failures

Gov. Gavin Newsom fell short of his vow to reduce homelessness and to build 3.5 million new homes. A new state website reports counties' progress on those goals.

By Dan Walters • February 27, 2025

A person with light-colored hair, wearing a red sweater and a plaid face mask, sits on a couch surrounded by stacks of cardboard boxes. They hold up a printed document with a serious expression, scanning its contents. A folder labeled 'COVID' rests on their lap, and blinds cover the window behind them.

Commentary

California’s aging population will test whether its demography is destiny

By 2040, more than one in five Californians will be 65 or older, while the working age population stays the same and the child population shrinks. Are we ready for that?

By Dan Walters • February 14, 2025