california democrats

Dr. Myiesha Taylor, left, with her daughters Hana Taylor Schlitz, 12, and Haley Taylor Schlitz, 18. Photo courtesy of William Schlitz

Politics

How California expats are helping turn Texas into a battleground state

Pushed by the soaring cost of living, more than 700,000 Californians have moved to the Lone Star state since 2008. It’s part of the reason historically bright red Texas has turned surprisingly purple in 2020.

By

Matt Levin

• October 8, 2020

A multi-family home in Oakland on Sept. 2, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Politics

Democratic squabbling doomed California’s ‘Year of housing production.’ What will happen in 2021?

Despite entering 2020 with the governor and many legislators pushing for an increase in housing production, none of the bills put forth went into effect. The coronavirus pandemic has also put prospects for such bills in 2021 in doubt.

By

Matt Levin

• September 11, 2020

Capitol

Democrats divided: Newsom’s family-leave plan faces resistance from his own party

The pandemic has revealed a schism between progressive Democrats and moderates, wrestling with the needs of hard-hit businesses and working parents and caregivers.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• August 21, 2020

WhatMatters

CA Dems split: Tax the rich, or borrow big?

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, August 7. Three weeks to pick a path Tax the rich, or borrow big? That’s the central quandary for California Democrats as they try to dig the state out of a $54 billion hole while also providing relief to the millions of people teetering on the edge of a financial […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 7, 2020

WhatMatters

Newsom’s new spending plan, and what became of Schwarzenegger’s ‘hydrogen highway’

Newsom unveils spending plan. California becomes a laboratory for big blue ideas. Renewable energy mandate powers state's climate goals.

By

Dan Morain

• January 10, 2020

California Sen. Kamala Harris was among the 11 presidential hopefuls who addressed a San Francisco meeting of the Democratic National Committee — where talk of California issues was virtually absent. Photo by Ben Christopher for CalMatters

Elections

California’s political equivalent to Iowa’s corn ethanol? Democratic presidential wannabes haven’t found it yet

With its earlier primary, the Golden State hoped it might finally earn itself some presidential pandering. Thus far, not so much.

By

Ben Christopher

• August 23, 2019

With California hosting the greatest gathering of 2020 Democratic presidential contenders to date, national networks such as CBS are covering the state party convention in San Francisco.

Politics

Crib sheet: How 14 presidential wannabes are crafting their pitch to California Dems

As more than a dozen presidential contenders spend the weekend selling themselves at the state Democratic Party’s annual confab in San Francisco, most of their speeches have been stump classics—with little mention of California or its uniquely influential role in the coming primary election. But for Golden State voters looking for some California-specific attention, here’s […]

By

Elizabeth Castillo

and

Ben Christopher

• June 1, 2019