Politics

CalMatters analysis of campaign finance contributors helped uncover some of the major influences behind the propositions on Californians’ ballots this year.

Billionaires spent $378 million to defeat Prop. 40, exposing a rift among California Democrats on taxing the rich.

New tech-backed super PACs spent tens of millions of dollars boosting some Democrats over their more progressive opponents. Almost all of their favored candidates won their contests, despite voters’ broad distrust of AI and billionaires.

Shasta County has refused to release a subpoena it allegedly received regarding June 2026 election results. CalMatters is suing to obtain a copy of the document.

Families of those killed by death row inmates react to California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuting their sentences to life in prison.

Advocates say distant polling places and unreliable mail still keep Native Americans in California from voting, and the state panel meant to help has never met.

Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted death sentences for 548 state prisoners, saying "state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values." Victims rights advocates criticized his decision.

California billionaires put Prop. 42 on the ballot to counter a proposed wealth tax. It passed, creating a new obstacle to future wealth taxes.

Democrats notched big wins across the country, even in deep red districts that Republicans in Texas, Florida and North Carolina had gerrymandered to benefit their own party. That begs the question — did California really need to toss aside its independent redistricting commission?

The only California county having problems counting ballots is Shasta, which has an election office run by Clint Curtis, one of Trump’s election deniers.