Elections

Wish choosing candidates was as easy as shopping for cars? It is, with our side-by-side comparison tool

Our election tool allows voters to compare California candidates' on the issues, much like Consumer Reports lets buyers contrast the features of Honda versus Toyota.

By

CalMatters Staff

• October 17, 2018

U.S. Sen Dianne Feinstein and California Sen. Kevin de León

Elections

Feinstein and de León debate in lopsided forum

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Kevin de León sat down for their first (and only) debate this afternoon. TKTK

By

Ben Christopher

• October 17, 2018

Elections

Poizner’s independent run has a red tint

Insurance commissioner candidate Steve Poizner is shunning partisanship in his bid to become the first no-party-preference candidate to win statewide office in California. But he is raising much of his campaign money from donors who gave to him when he ran for governor as a Republican.

By

Dan Morain

• October 16, 2018

Phone-banking is among the techniques in play when Democrats and Republicans compete for votes in California. Photo by Jessica Chou / The California Sunday Magazine

Elections

Midterms missionaries: Voices inside one of California’s hottest Congressional battlegrounds

The fight for a Congressional seat in and around Fullerton, California is one of the fiercest. As two small armies of campaign consultants, pollsters, fund-raisers, organizers and volunteer door-knockers descend upon this unlikely battleground, we talked to the boots on the ground.

By

Ben Christopher

• October 15, 2018

Michael Weinstein, center, at an AIDS march in 2012 with comedian Margaret Cho, right, and musician Wyclef Jean, left. Photo by Elvert Barnes/Creative Commons

Elections

AIDS foundation goes all in for rent control initiative

The main funder of the Yes on Proposition 10 rent control campaign is the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a Los Angeles nonprofit whose stated mission is to rid the world of AIDS. On Friday, the foundation donated another $3 million, pushing its total to $20.5 million.

By

Dan Morain

• October 12, 2018

Elections

A Californian on the 2020 presidential ticket? Here’s what state insiders say

The latest conventional wisdom among among state political insiders: There's a good chance a Californian will be on the presidential ticket in 2020, and that Californian is likely to be Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• October 12, 2018

Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox are in a match-up to replace outgoing California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Elections

Video: Newsom and Cox reveal how they would run California differently than Gov. Brown

See Gavin Newsom and John Cox explain how they would run California differently than Gov. Brown—and make decisions on climate change policies, housing, schools and crime. Plus: book recommendations and hardest thing they've done.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• October 12, 2018

Ammar Campa-Najjar stands beside President Donald Trump

Elections

Majority Report: “Do you think your father met with a terrorist sympathizer?” edition

In California congressional campaign news this week: Campa-Najjar spars with Trump Jr., Nunes gets some Freedom medal buzz, and a debate highlighted big differences between McClintock versus Morse. Here’s a quick recap of what happened this week across California’s 53 congressional districts:

By

Ben Christopher

• October 12, 2018

Colorful residential row houses of San Francisco with a view of downtown San Francisco skyscrapers in the distance.

Elections

Proposition 1: What to know about a $4 billion bond for housing, in under a minute

California’s sky high housing costs have made it onto this year’s ballot: The state is asking voters to consider a bond that would allow $4 billion to be used on affordable housing. The money would be used to build more apartments near urban areas and public transit. CALmatters’ Byrhonda Lyons and Felicia Mello break down […]

By

Felicia Mello

and

Byrhonda Lyons

• October 11, 2018

Republican John Cox, a businessman from the San Diego area, faces tough odds in his campaign to be California's next governor. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Elections

Eternal optimist: John Cox, distruster of politicians, keeps bidding to become one

In nearly half a dozen political campaigns, John Cox has embraced the persona of the anti-politician assailing a corrupt establishment. He's never come close to winning. But in 2018, the Republican iconoclast has finally become a contender.

By

Ben Christopher

• October 10, 2018