Elections

California is revisiting whether to restore affirmative action policies for public schools and universities, as well as state jobs and contracts. Image via iStock

Justice

Is now the time to bring back affirmative action in California?

Amid the nationwide debate about race and justice, the latest attempt to repeal California's ban on affirmative action programs.

By

Ben Christopher

• June 3, 2020

Coronavirus

Not if, but how: California prepares for an all vote-by-mail election in November

All eyes are on the governor who, with an executive order, could make the upcoming election an all-mail affair.

By

Ben Christopher

• April 28, 2020

California mail-in ballot on Super Tuesday 2020. Photo illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Coronavirus

Politics in the pandemic: Two California elections in May provide a preview

With coronavirus limiting human contact, campaigns are still trying to engage voters, raise money and make sure people vote in elections by mail.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• April 15, 2020

Sen. Bernie Sanders's won the California primary, but California didn't matter much in the march to a Democratic nominee. Here Sanders at a February campaign event at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Elections

Vote update: How big was Bernie’s win and the California primary’s loss?

Bernie won, the California primary didn't decide and a (maybe) another blue wave swells on the horizon.

By

Ben Christopher

• April 7, 2020

Voters including Dave Ade of San Jose, right, fill out their ballots on Nov. 6, 2018, at The Salvation Army in San Jose. Photo by Dai Sugano, Bay Area News Group

Politics

One upside of the coronavirus shutdown, maybe? Fewer voter initiatives

Initiative proponents have until the end of April to collect the signatures they need to put their ideas on the ballot — and with millions of Californians staying home, some campaigns won't have time to collect enough signatures.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• March 27, 2020

Republican California primary results moderate 2020 top two

Elections

Republican tug-of-war: Election raises a familiar GOP dilemma in California

How to be conservative enough for a conservative party but liberal enough for a liberal state? Primary election results in Orange County pose the question anew for California Republicans.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 13, 2020

Mrs. Kilgore’s fifth and sixth grade classroom on December 13, 2019. Smart classrooms were one of the upgrades the school received when the building was rebuilt.

Education

California’s Prop. 13 school bond is officially defeated

As the campaign conceded on Wednesday, the first statewide school bond to go down to defeat in two decades went out, not with a bang, but with a tweet.

By

Ricardo Cano

• March 11, 2020

Electoral confusion in California's top-two primary. Image via iStock

Elections

In California primaries, sometimes the winning strategy is to help a foe

These days, campaigning doesn't just mean attacking all challengers. A sly boost for a favorite opponent can also prove useful.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 11, 2020

What do the top two spenders, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer, have in common? Both are billionaires and both are no longer in the race.

Elections

Prez primary price: How much each candidate spent in California

What do the top two spenders, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer, have in common? Both are billionaires and both are no longer in the race.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 6, 2020

How many California ballots left to count? Here Beverly Shen distributes ballots to 2020 primary voters at the Golden Gate library in Oakland. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Elections

Far from over: California still has more than 3.5 million ballots to count

Taken at face value, the unprocessed ballots combined with those that have already been counted add up to 8.8 million votes, or a turnout rate of 43% of all registered voters. Of course this should not be taken at face value.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 5, 2020