Newsletters

People lean forward while they stand in front of white voting booths as they vote at a polling place.

WhatMatters

What messages did California voters send

Politicians and pundits are reading the tea leaves from the sweeping Democratic defeats nationally, as well as the California election results. To California Republicans, the passage of Proposition 36 — coupled with the recall of Alameda County’s district attorney and the defeat of Los Angeles County’s district attorney — offers clear evidence that voters reject […]

By

Lynn La

• November 7, 2024

A person sits in front of a stack of pink ballot envelopes laid out on a table.

WhatMatters

What we know about CA election results so far

Election Day has come and gone, but the suspense is far from over. Voting went relatively smoothly, as election officials across California reported they were confident about counting votes in the face of minor technical challenges. A new survey by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found that only 14% of Californians planned to […]

By

Lynn La

• November 6, 2024

Two voters hold their ballot envelopes as an election worker shows them how to use a voting box at a polling station.

WhatMatters

What to watch in early California election results

It’s Election Day in California! Today’s the last day to vote in person or return ballots by mail, though Californians have been voting for a month. As of Monday, more than 8 million ballots are already in of the 22.8 million sent out (the percentage returned is down from the same point in 2020). Here […]

By

Lynn La

• November 5, 2024

Three individuals review and discuss information displayed on monitors in an office, with one person pointing at the screen while another sits in front of the monitors, focusing on election-related data.

WhatMatters

Why California’s vote count will take days

There are only two more days to vote in California, and more than 7.6 million Californians have cast their ballots. But the counting will last for days, if not weeks, before news outlets declare all the winners or candidates concede. The delays and uncertainty — which have grown since California started sending mail ballots to […]

By

Lynn La

• November 4, 2024

New housing construction in a neighborhood on the outskirts of west Fresno on June 15, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Inequality Insights

Which cities might see big changes under Prop 33?

Good morning, Inequality Insights readers. I’m Wendy Fry. Local elected officials in San Francisco and Los Angeles have already shown interest in expanding rent control if Prop 33 passes, opening the door to such moves. CalMatters housing reporter Felicia Mello took a look this week at where the state ballot measure might have the most […]

By

Wendy Fry

• November 1, 2024

Two election workers, both wearing gray shorts and black pants, stand near a machine that sorts mail-in ballots. One person carries a box with ballots. The other sets a box down on a table nearby.

WhatMatters

It’s crunch time for California’s election

Californians have five more days to vote, and as of Thursday, more than 5.8 million of the 22.6 million registered voters had returned their ballots. In the final stretch, campaigns are amping up outreach efforts and some of the stakes in the election are coming into sharper focus: Legislative races: Democrats hold two-thirds supermajorities in […]

By

Lynn La

• November 1, 2024

People carrying bags, luggage and other personal belongings walk before they board a bus at a public plaza in Los Angeles.

WhatMatters

Meet Californians stumping in swing states

California is a sure thing for Democrats in the presidential race. So some supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris are heading to Arizona and Nevada — two neighboring states where the outcome is uncertain and could help determine who wins. CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra spoke with volunteers from Los Angeles who traveled to Las Vegas […]

By

Lynn La

• October 31, 2024

A close-up view of a person's hands as they flip through a booklet with information on ballot propositions while they hold a pen with their right hand.

WhatMatters

Convincing California voters on ballot props

In the political world, there has been a lot of discussion lately about newspaper endorsements — or non-endorsements — and whether they matter for voters. They don’t for those who pick candidates based on party. But can they influence voters on ballot propositions? CalMatters politics intern Jenna Peterson looks at where California’s six leading newspaper […]

By

Lynn La

• October 30, 2024

Two lawmakers hug in the middle of the Assembly floor during session. An LGBTQ pride flag is visible in the corner of the frame.

WhatMatters

Why the California Legislature will look different in 2025

No matter how many California lawmakers win reelection next week, there will still be plenty of turnover at the state Capitol. A dozen state senators and two dozen Assemblymembers are exiting — due to term limits; because they’re seeking another office; or for other (and sometimes multiple) reasons. That churn — which could grow if […]

By

Lynn La

• October 29, 2024

Two hands with painted nails hold a heart-shaped photograph of a person smiling and wearing a baseball hat. The hands belong to a mother and a daughter, and the image has a feeling of "remembrance." The image is focused on the heart and the hands.

WhatMatters

A wrongful death case focuses on California mental health insurance

Many California families are still struggling to get mental health treatment four years after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a landmark law requiring health insurance plans to provide enrollees with all medically necessary mental health and addiction treatment. A new investigation by CalMatters mental health reporter Jocelyn Wiener found the system for appealing mental health denials […]

By

Lynn La

• October 28, 2024