California Democratic Party

Politics

With 2020 hindsight: Recapping the stories that defined California life

Coronavirus, of course, detonated our every expectation of 2020. For the most fortunate, this created room for new pastimes, new priorities. For the least so, it hollowed out holes that can never be filled. Nor was COVID our only profound challenge. There were raging wildfires, again. There was an overdue reckoning with racism, again. There […]

By CalMatters Staff • December 31, 2020

Elections

Low turnout doesn’t always mean disengaged voters. Here’s why

Imperial County’s 68 percent registered voter turnout in November hid a surprising fact: the highest number of people voted in the history of the county. Here’s a look behind the numbers.

By Lewis Griswold • December 23, 2020

Elections

Poor and diverse voters fuel California’s record ballots cast

California’s decision to mail a ballot to every registered voter resulted in record ballots cast in the general election — but it was poor and diverse communities that fueled the increases.

By Phillip Reese and Lewis Griswold • December 10, 2020

Politics

Will state stick ‘Team Biden’ firm with $35 million tab after Yee balks at Padilla vote contract?

Documents obtained by CalMatters reveal a behind-the-scenes look at a controversial no-bid contract — and a showdown between two of California's most ambitious politicians.

By Emily Hoeven • November 23, 2020

Politics

The Trumpiest and most anti-Trump counties in California: Where does yours rank?

November’s election results showed that most of California’s Democratic counties moved further away from President Donald Trump — and the bulk of its Republican counties did too. With fewer than 1 million ballots left to count, the 2020 election here was an unsurprising blowout for President-elect Joe Biden. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton nabbed 62% of […]

By Ben Christopher • November 17, 2020

Elections

Home State Advantage: What a Vice President Kamala Harris means for California

Goodbye, state of resistance. Hello, state of influence.  California’s status has shifted dramatically with the inauguration of Joe Biden as the next president. The reasons are both political — deep blue California will have more inroads to a White House controlled by Democrats — and personal: For just the second time in American history, a […]

By Laurel Rosenhall • November 7, 2020

California Divide

Latino Republicans: ‘Trump is a leader, not a politician’

Even if the Republican loses, Latino supporters highlight the need for Democrats in control in California to be inclusive of an important voting block with differing views on small businesses, health care and immigration.

By Jacqueline Garcia • November 5, 2020

Commentary

Election tests depth of California’s blueness

California is a blue state but this election may tell us just how deeply blue it truly is.

By Dan Walters • November 2, 2020

Politics

Why President Trump’s attacks on voting by mail could backfire for California GOP

Republican political operatives aren’t accustomed to chasing down last-minute voters this close to Election Day. But, in yet another reflection of what a strange year 2020 has been, they are. And they aren’t happy about it.  According to figures collected by the electoral information firm, Political Data Inc., a surprising 54% of the 8.4 million […]

By Ben Christopher • October 30, 2020

Elections

California Democrats swamp Republicans in early voter turnout

With more than a quarter of the ballots processed, early returns show California Democrats are turning out in proportionately far higher numbers than Republicans and independents.  About 32 percent of registered Democrats — upwards of 3.2 million — have already voted in the November general election, according to Political Data’s ballot tracker. In comparison, 23 […]

By Dylan Svoboda • October 23, 2020