Dan Walters

California's population is stagnating as birth rates and immigration decline. The plateau's impacts will extend far beyond politics.

The California constitution requires lawmakers adopt a new budget by June 15, leaving little time for state leaders to resolve billions of dollars in budget differences.

Xavier Becerra seems almost certain to advance in the governor's race, given pre-election polls and initial vote counts. If Republican Steve Hilton joins him, Becerra would likely have an easy win in November.

California's payroll taxes aren’t keeping up with benefit payouts. The unemployment insurance fund will be $22 billion in the hole by year's end, the state says.

Gov. Newsom often brags about California's productivity and Nobel winners but omits its recent tech layoffs, shrinking jobs base and growing gaps between rich and poor.

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton appear to have commanding leads in the governor's race, according to new polling released just days before the primary election.

Advocates and unions are objecting to Newsom's proposed cuts to state spending on education, preschool, health and welfare programs.

The bullet train project launched in 2008 with promises of completion by 2020. Now it's mostly concrete supports. No tracks or train.

The next governor will be directly responsible for statewide education leadership. Yet governor candidates haven't broached the subject.

A "wall of debt," a raid on reserves and AI stock gains mean California's budget temporarily balances this year and next, but structural deficits remain.