Trying to ‘Trump-proof’ California’s 2028 ballot

From CalMatters politics reporter Maya C. Miller:

State lawmakers are already taking legislative steps to “Trump-proof” California’s elections, starting with a bill designed to keep President Donald Trump off of California’s ballot in 2028.

The bill from Sen. Tom Umberg, a Santa Ana Democrat and chairperson of the Senate Judiciary Committee, would make it illegal for the California Secretary of State to place on the ballot any candidate for president or vice president who does not meet the constitutional requirements of those offices. 

The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment already states that no individual can hold the presidency for more than two terms.

Senate Bill 46 would take that one step further and require any candidate to affirm under oath, and penalty of perjury, that they are indeed constitutionally qualified for the ballot. An elector could challenge the qualifications of a candidate by petitioning the Superior Court of Sacramento.

“Apparently there’s some cockamamie scheme that exists in the mind of the president, and Alan Dershowitz, that he can run for a third term,” Umberg said, referring to the Harvard scholar and former Trump legal advisor who suggested the 22nd Amendment did not provide an airtight ban on a third Trump term. “It’s a belt and suspenders approach to make sure that his delusion doesn’t become reality.”

Umberg said that although 2028 is still years away, it was important to get the ball rolling early so other states could follow California’s example. Plus, 2026 is Umberg’s final year in the Senate. 

• Umberg: “I have a sell-by date on my head, so that’s important for me, personally, to leave this as part of my legacy.”

SB 46 will be heard in the Senate elections committee this morning.

Turning 80 is typically a big milestone for most people, but in California it could also include one more perk: Getting out of jury duty for good.

The Assembly’s judiciary committee is expected today to weigh in on a bill that would enable Californians ages 80 and older to opt-out of jury service permanently without needing a note from a health care provider. Seniors who still want to be considered for jury duty could still do so.

There is no current age exemption for jury service, though residents 70 years and older can be excused due to a medical condition without a doctor’s note. There is a chance, however, that they must seek exemption repeatedly if they’re selected for service multiple times after they turn 70. 

The bill is supported by the California Senior Legislature, an advocacy organization for senior citizens, and has no formal opposition as of date. Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, a Cupertino Democrat who introduced the bill, argues that continuously seeking exemption under current law can be disruptive and puts significant stress on older individuals.

• Ahrens, in an interview with CalMatters: “Older individuals may have chronic health conditions, physical limitations or lack of technical skills. … (But) we can make the lives of older Californians easier while maintaining a responsible, diverse and just jury selection process.”

Former state Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero kicked off her campaign for lieutenant governor Monday, unveiling her bid as a Republican candidate for the state’s second-highest office.

Romero was first elected as a Democrat to the Assembly in 1998 before serving in the California senate from 2001 to 2009 representing east Los Angeles. During her time in the Legislature, she became the state’s first female Senate Majority Leader and authored a controversial “parent trigger” law that enables parents to change a school’s administration if the school performs poorly.

After leaving office, Romero left the Democratic party and joined the GOP, endorsing a Republican candidate in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and Trump in 2024. When she switched in 2024, Romero said her biggest gripe against Democrats was over “school choice, education freedom and the right to have quality schools for all,” reports Newsweek.

In her campaign video, Romero sought to reach voters of both parties.

• Romero: “Maybe you’ve never voted for a Republican before, and maybe you don’t agree on all the issues. That’s okay. But we need to hold Sacramento Democrats accountable for their failures on homelessness, affordability, crime, education and housing. I’m going to hold their feet to the fire.”

Romero joins a race that includes Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer under Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs.

The Tijuana River carries sewage, chemicals and toxic gases into South San Diego communities, making it one of the most polluted rivers in the U.S. CalMatters’ Deborah Brennan and video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment on how local leaders are trying to mitigate the issue, as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.