Dan Walters

Democrats enjoy political control of California, but are splitting into three factions that struggle for power within the party.

How California deals with the financial consequences of this year's devastating wildfires will set a pattern for what Gov. Jerry Brown calls "the new abnormal."

School reform advocates pumped big money into two statewide campaigns this year but lost both as the education establishment's preferred candidates won the governorship and the superintendency of public instruction. Now the "Equity Coalition" must decide to continue their drive for structural change or back off.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

The state government's budget situation is quite rosy, as Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor points out. But school districts are facing a financial squeeze as enrollment drops and costs, especially pension costs, rise.

President Donald Trump said he wanted this month's election to be a referendum on him and in California, it certainly was, leading to a massive Democratic sweep.

This year's votes are still being counted in California, but political pros are looking to 2020 and the state's earlier presidential primary. A flock of would-be candidates could make California a player.

As climate change threatens to affect California's water supply, outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown tries to do a big picture water deal in the final days of his governorship.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

This month's election was good news for those who believe that Californians should pay more taxes. One indication is that about three-quarters of local tax and bond issues were approved by voters.