Commentary

Two people in suits stand face-to-face on a stage in front of a crowd holding signs supporting voting rights and democracy. A podium sign in the foreground reads “Election Rigging Response Act.”

Newsom handpicked a generation of California politicians. Can they help him run for president?

An entire generation of California elected officials owe their current jobs and their political prospects to Gavin Newsom.

By Robert Greene

A person stands at a podium smiling while speaking to a crowd, with large teal campaign signage in the background reading “Becerra for Governor.” Four other people stand on the left side of stage as they look towards the speaker.

If California’s race for governor is a stress test for democracy, it’s failing

The top-two primary system can produce chaos and disengaged voters. This year’s picks for governor are coming from a small share of voters.

By Daniel Wolf

A person smiles and applauds while standing in front of a large blue-and-yellow campaign sign. They wear a floral-patterned outer layer over dark clothing and are photographed outdoors in daylight.

Pratt out, Raman in: What Los Angeles voters can now expect in the mayoral race

Nithya Raman's success at making the runoff in the L.A. mayor's race means Karen Bass will need to answer difficult questions about high living costs and public safety.

By Jim Newton

Nancy Wiles holds her eviction notice on Dec. 4, 2023. Photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters

California treats homelessness spending as action. That’s not a measure of success

California understands the pathway into homelessness. What the state still lacks is a coordinated system designed to interrupt it before families lose housing.

By Tangela Babbitt

A healthcare worker in blue scrubs performs a finger-prick blood test on a patient inside a mobile clinic exam room.

Commentary

Medi-Cal cuts, tax increases loom as Capitol lawmakers dicker over the budget

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.

By Dan Walters • June 4, 2026

A person speaks at a podium in a red pantsuit, on stage, surrounded by a crowd holding signs that read “Vote Karen Bass.” In the background is a banner reading “TOGETHER” in orange text.

Commentary

The mayoral showdown that benefits Karen Bass doesn’t really benefit Los Angeles voters

Karen Bass would have coasted back into office if Spencer Pratt had advanced to the general election. But it would've been a wasted opportunity for voters to have a substantive debate about her record.

By Jim Newton • June 4, 2026

A person stands at a podium smiling while speaking to a crowd, with large teal campaign signage in the background reading “Becerra for Governor.”

Commentary

What election night results mean in the race for California’s next governor

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.

By Dan Walters • June 3, 2026

A side-view of a person with short gray hair and wearing a black blazer, as look towards another person. A stage with red, blue curtains and a banner that reads "Voters Decide" can be seen in the background, alongside blurred people.

Commentary

Mahan, Villaraigosa just learned why so few California mayors make the leap to governor

Few California mayors ever become governor. Their skills might be perfectly suited to the job, but those exact same skills, when exercised, may be precisely what makes voters wary of them.

By Robert Greene • June 3, 2026

Voters cast their ballots for Super Tuesday at City Hall in San Francisco on March 5, 2024. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters

Commentary

After 250 years, the right to vote is at risk. California must do more to protect it

The California Voting Rights Act transformed democracy statewide. But gaps remain, and new pressures at the federal and state levels will require another generation to bolster voting rights.

By Christian Arana • June 2, 2026

The offices of the Employment Development Department in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

California’s unemployment insurance morass will become the next governor’s problem

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.

By Dan Walters • June 2, 2026

A person wearing a baseball cap and a pink scarf over a white shirt places yellow flowers on a pile of other flowers on the concrete outside of a detention center. The person is inside a circle of people during a vigil around a flagpole outside the detention center.

Commentary

Long after protests ended, this interfaith group rallies to remember LA immigrants taken by ICE

An interfaith group known as the "godmothers of the disappeared" meets weekly at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles to remember and advocate for the people detained by immigration authorities over the last year.

By George B. Sánchez-Tello • June 1, 2026

Stacks of soda multipacks, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Sprite and Dr Pepper, are displayed on pallets inside a warehouse-style store. The cases are arranged in rows along a wide aisle, with bulk goods and shoppers visible in the background.

Commentary

Berkeley’s soda tax success story deserves wider attention across California

After Berkeley voters first passed a soda tax in 2014, the city has invested millions of dollars into impactful health programs. Other California cities should follow.

By Xavier Morales • May 29, 2026

A large monitor displays a presentation slide reading “California’s Economic Growth” alongside the statistic “2/3 of American Venture Capital” in yellow text on a blue background. A silhouette of California appears behind the text, while a blurred person stands in the foreground facing the screen.

Commentary

Gavin Newsom’s rosy painting of California’s economy leaves out its darker undertones

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.

By Dan Walters • May 29, 2026

A split-image composite shows two politicians speaking at separate events. On the left, a person in a dark suit and glasses gestures with both hands while speaking onstage in front of a blurred conference backdrop. On the right, a bald person with a gray beard points forward while speaking animatedly, also in front of a blurred event backdrop.

Commentary

Poll shows Becerra and Hilton are pulling ahead of the pack in California’s governor race

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.

By Dan Walters • May 28, 2026

California Voices

Viewpoints from across California