Elections

State Sen. Kevin de León still finds fault with Dianne Feinstein's role in the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Photo by Robbie Short for CALmatters

Elections

De León isn’t backing off criticism of how Feinstein handled allegation against Kavanaugh

Running to unseat fellow Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de León continued to criticize her response to a constituent’s accusation of sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 17, 2018

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newson take a picture with Democratic congressional candidate Katie Hill at a campaigning event to endorse Hill and Assembly candidate Christy Smith on September 10. Photo by Eddy Martinez, The Santa Clarita Valley Signal.

Elections

Majority Report: Our weekly recap of California’s hottest House races

A weekly recap of the most significant (or most funny or interesting or just plain weird) developments across California’s 53 congressional districts:

By

Ben Christopher

• September 14, 2018

Hands making thumbs up and thumbs down signals.

Elections

California political insiders say “meh” to top two primary

The California top two primary system was supposed to bring bipartisan comity to state politics. But among political insiders, ambivalence abounds.

By

Ben Christopher

• September 13, 2018

California's political cognoscenti forecast Democratic gains here in the November election.

Elections

Surf the crest or batten down the hatches? California insiders predict Dem wave

California's political cognoscenti we surveyed unanimously predict Democrats here will gain gain at least one congressional seat—and more than a quarter say they’ll gain five or more.

By

Ben Christopher

• September 12, 2018

Cole Harris, unsuccessful Republican candidate for lieutenant governor

Elections

Cole Harris’ campaign may be over, but his consultants aren’t finished with him

Republican Cole Harris lost his bid for lieutenant governor in June, but a message on his web site says he owes $1.1 million to his campaign consultants. The Glendale investor responded to queries with referrals to Instagram.

By

Dan Morain

• September 12, 2018

Education

The one idea that has the state teachers’ union allied with Tuck over Thurmond

In a role reversal, the candidates vying to become California’s next schools' superintendent disagree about a bill that would require later instruction start times for middle and high school students.

By

Ricardo Cano

• September 11, 2018

Political insiders in silhouette. Those surveyed in the Target Book Insider Track Survey don't see a California third party threat in the near future.

Elections

Third party threat? In survey, California political establishment doesn’t see it coming

California political establishment says political establishment is here to stay: results from new Target Book Insider Track Survey.

By

Ben Christopher

• September 11, 2018

Elections

The one thing the California DMV does make it easy to do

Republicans running statewide in California don’t have numbers on their side, with just one-fourth of the state’s voters registered GOP. But they do have the DMV, which sure is making it easy for the underdogs to attack California’s Democratic-controlled state government. First came the absurdly long wait times—more than four hours at some DMV offices. […]

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 11, 2018

Superintendent of Schools candidates Marshall Tuck, left and Tony Thurmond, right, debate education policy as PPIC president Mark Baldassare moderates. Photo by Elizabeth Castillo for CALmatters

Elections

Candidates for state schools’ chief spar over giving teachers in tough classrooms extra pay

In their contest to become the next state schools chief, candidates Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck clash over whether to pay teachers more in low-income districts.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• August 24, 2018

Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco. Photo by Ben Christopher for CALmatters

Elections

Pelosi says she deserves to be House Speaker: “Nobody wants to sit across the table from me”

Democratic former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi still wants her old job back, telling a San Francisco forum: "I say this immodestly, but I want women to be immodest in this way: I'm a master legislator. Nobody wants to sit across the table from me."

By

Ben Christopher

• August 22, 2018