Dan Walters

The first thing to understand about San Francisco politics is with just 7.4 percent of its voters registered as Republicans, the city’s main players are self-proclaimed liberals – or “progressives” in the preferred nomenclature. The second thing, however, is that in San Francisco, politics is a blood sport and careers can be made or lost […]

When the Legislature reconvenes and the campaigns for governor heat up next year, Californians will be hearing a lot – and a lot of hot air – about universal health care. Making California the first state to guarantee health care for every resident has become a touchstone issue – and a divisive one – for […]

Crime statistics vary by community and don't always show cause and effect.

The problem will bite an economy that needs better-educated workers.

A new effort to improve the state's technology projects isn't looking good.

Gov. Jerry Brown hopped around Europe for two weeks last month, telling the world that to avoid a climate change Armageddon, it should emulate what California is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As Brown was crusading in Europe, his Air Resources Board issued a report hailing California’s nearly 5 percent reduction in emissions of […]

California’s long-running feud over the direction of its 6-million-student public school system has raged in many arenas, but never in a high-profile campaign for political office. That day, however, may come soon. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, two candidates for governor who run a close 1-2 in the polls, […]

In Sacramento, Democrats accused of sexual misconduct could scuttle the party's two-thirds legislative majority.

How far can Democrats go to help their union friends? Pretty far under a recent state Supreme Court decision. The next test may involve Tesla electric cars.

Just because you’re paranoid, the old saying goes, doesn’t mean they aren’t after you. California’s liberal politicians have been paranoid, often ridiculously so, about what’s been happening in Washington of late. Nevertheless, two events last week bolster the notion that California is being targeted by the Trump administration, a Republican Congress and even the conservative-dominated […]