Elections

A projector displays a blue California Democrat Convention graphic as people can be seen protesting in the foreground.

Politics

Furious with Trump, California Democrats plot election strategy in San Francisco

In a pivotal election year that will serve as a referendum on the second Trump administration, California Democrats face pressure from activists on the left to abandon “radical civility” and instead back candidates who will push back hard against the GOP.

By

Maya C. Miller

and

Jeanne Kuang

• February 19, 2026

A person speaks at a podium on a stage beneath blue lights, gesturing while addressing an audience in front of a large backdrop reading “Billionaire Tax Now” and “Vote Yes 11/3/26.”

Politics

Bernie Sanders warns of ‘billionaire class’ as California wealth tax fight intensifies

“They believe they have the divine right to rule,” U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders told a crowd in Los Angeles Wednesday night. A proposed ballot measure would tax billionaires' net worth by 5% for health care and schools, but top Democrats say it will drive them away.

By

Nigel Duara

• February 19, 2026

Kevin Kiley attends a press conference in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Politics

California Republican Kevin Kiley bucks Trump on tariffs as he weighs reelection

Kiley has yet to declare which district he'll run in — or whether he'll run at all — after Prop. 50 turned his current seat solidly Democratic.

By

Maya C. Miller

• February 12, 2026

Politics

‘Valleycrat’ or Mamdani wannabe?: California Democrats are split on how to win swing votes

After 2024 losses, Democrats split on strategy: move to the middle or embrace economic populism. A Central Valley congressional race encapsulates the divide.

By

Maya C. Miller

• February 12, 2026

Four speakers sit onstage in armchairs for a moderated panel discussion, with an audience watching from the foreground. Behind them are purple backdrops reading “Health Matters” and “La Salud Importa,” lit by spotlights.

Politics

Republican Steve Hilton leads California governor fundraising as large pool of Democrats lag

It takes tens of millions of dollars to run a statewide campaign for governor. Strategists say the many Democratic candidates aren’t raising money quickly enough.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• February 3, 2026

Representative David Valadao speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. Photo by Graeme Sloan, Sipa USA via Reuters

Politics

California Rep. David Valadao voted for Medi-Cal cuts. Will voters hold it against him?

In the seven times he’s run for Congress, Valadao has lost his seat only once – in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first midterm election. Democrats hope to oust him again by leveraging his politically toxic vote for the GOP megabill that will cut funding to Medi-Cal, which provides health coverage for nearly two-thirds of his constituents.

By

Maya C. Miller

• February 2, 2026

A person with a short beard and wearing a blue suit talks into a microphone that is peaking into the bottom part of the frame, while another person in a blue suit stands behind them just out of focus.

Politics

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan enters governor’s race as Newsom critic

The San Jose mayor broke with fellow Democrats on crime and wants to arrest homeless people who refuse shelter. He joins a crowded Democratic field for governor.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• January 29, 2026

Politics

Tom Steyer vows to cut electricity bills by 25%, but experts say the details fall short

California has the second-highest electricity bills in the nation, and no candidate for governor has honed in as much as climate investor Tom Steyer. But is his promise to cut bills 25% realistic?

By

Jeanne Kuang

• January 29, 2026

Two people stand closely together outdoors, one with an arm around the other’s shoulders. The person on the left wears a baseball cap and sunglasses and looks ahead, while the person on the right, wearing glasses and a plaid shirt, rests their head against the other’s chest with eyes closed. Another person stands out of focus in the background beneath a shaded structure.

Politics

The Doug LaMalfa I covered: Authentic, cranky and deeply caring

After the sudden death of U.S. Rep Doug LaMalfa, a CalMatters reporter who covered him for 20 years reflects on his life and legacy.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• January 6, 2026

A person speaks into a handheld microphone while gesturing with one raised hand, standing in front of a large U.S. flag that fills the background. The person wears a light-colored jacket over a red shirt, with the flag’s stars and stripes prominently visible behind them.

Politics

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a steadfast advocate for California’s North State, dies at 65

LaMalfa was known for his dedication to water access and forestry management, key issues for his largely rural district. His death leaves House Republicans with an even more precarious majority that could struggle to pass Republican legislation.

By

Maya C. Miller

• January 6, 2026