Elections

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, talks to reporters at the Capitol on Oct. 3, 2023. McCarthy says he's resigning from his congressional seat in California two months after his historic ouster as House speaker. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite, AP Photo

Politics

McCarthy resignation sets off mad scramble

Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield announces he will leave Congress at the end of the year after fellow Republicans booted him as House speaker. Who might run for his seat? Could one candidate be former Rep. Devin Nunes?

By Joe Kieta • December 6, 2023

Journalists watch Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis debate Gov. Gavin Newsom in Alpharetta, Georgia, on Nov. 30, 2023. Photo by Elijah Nouvelage, Reuters

Politics

Five key moments from the Newsom-DeSantis debate

The high-stakes Newsom-DeSantis debate devolved into name-calling and arguing over facts — with the backdrop of the presidential campaign.

By Alexei Koseff • November 30, 2023

Protesters calling for a ceasefire of Israeli bombing in Gaza interrupted the general session at the California Democratic Convention in Sacramento on Nov. 18, 2023. The group broke past security and gained access to the general session events at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Politics

California Democrats are divided on Senate race, Gaza war

Rep. Barbara Lee edged Adam Schiff for the most delegates for the U.S. Senate race. The state Democratic Party convention was divided and disrupted by protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

By Yue Stella Yu • November 19, 2023

Voting booths in front of an altar for Dias de los Muertos during the Latino Mock Voting event organized by The League of United Latin American Citizens in Tulare on Nov. 1, 2023. Photo by Zaydee Sanchez for CalMatters

Politics

Many Latino Californians aren’t voting. Can U.S. Senate candidates motivate them?

Latino voters are up for grabs in the 2024 California election, and could help decide who wins the U.S. Senate seat. But will the campaigns do enough outreach to convince them?

By Yue Stella Yu • November 16, 2023

Tony Strickland, Mayor of Huntington Beach, right, speaks at a Veteran's Day ceremony in Huntington Beach on Nov. 11, 2023. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters

Politics

The Pride flag is gone. Library books are under review. It’s a new era of backlash politics in California

Lacking power at the state level, conservatives are leaning into local governance to protest California’s progressive politics. The fight in Huntington Beach could be a harbinger of what’s to come.

By Alexei Koseff • November 15, 2023

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

Politics

Where are the top U.S. Senate candidates raising their cash?

It’s the highest-profile race next year in California. This is where the leading candidates — Democrats Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff — are raising the most money.

By Yue Stella Yu and Jeremia Kimelman • November 1, 2023

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, smiles during the weekly Senate Democrat leadership press conference at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, 2023. Photo by Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA, Reuters

Politics

Laphonza Butler skips the U.S. Senate race: What you need to know

California’s new U.S. senator says she won’t seek a full term in 2024. She says she can better serve the state by focusing on key issues, not a campaign.

By Yue Stella Yu • October 19, 2023

Election workers collect ballots from voters turning them in at the Alameda County Ballot Drop Stop in Oakland on Nov. 8, 2022.

Politics

California Republicans buy into ‘ballot harvesting’

President Trump claims mail balloting is rife with fraud. But to win more elections, the state GOP is expanding its efforts to collect mail ballots to boost turnout.

By Sameea Kamal • October 18, 2023

RedistrictingPartners, the consulting firm hired to help the Long Beach Independent Redistricting Commission, share insights on the newly drawn political lines in Long Beach, during a commission meeting held at city hall, on Oct. 20, 2021. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Politics

Why California politicians will keep drawing their own election districts

Gov. Newsom vetoed the most sweeping bill to require cities and counties to create independent redistricting commissions. He cited budget concerns, but the bill's supporters aren't convinced.

By Sameea Kamal • October 11, 2023

Laphonza Butler during her swearing-in ceremony to the U.S. Senate at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on Oct. 3, 2023

Politics

Labor forged Laphonza Butler. Could unions ‘sling-shot’ her Senate bid?

If California's new U.S. senator runs in the 2024 election, she would likely have to court labor unions' support, quickly. But with three other labor-friendly Democrats already winning union backing, time and resources are running out.

By Yue Stella Yu • October 9, 2023

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