California Elections

Commentary

Billionaire Soros was a big loser in California vote

International financier George Soros has had some success in his dabbling in California politics. But he "hit a brick wall," as he terms it, in trying to unseat three California district attorneys this year, and his support for challengers may have backfired.

By Dan Walters • June 27, 2018

Commentary

Democrats try to flip California’s second largest county

San Diego County, California's second largest county, has become a microcosm of the state's political profile and its five-member Board of Supervisors has become a battleground in the struggle for partisan control.

By Dan Walters • June 21, 2018

Elections

In California primary, well-heeled winner Gavin Newsom had small donations. Guess who didn’t?

Small donations alone did not secure Gavin Newsom’s win, but they likely helped build enthusiasm. The lackluster finish by Antonio Villaraigosa shows that a gush of money from a handful of mega-donors doesn’t always translate into votes.

By Laurel Rosenhall • June 7, 2018

Elections

Becerra to face a Republican in California attorney general race

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will face a Republican opponent in his re-election bid this fall, as retired judge Steven Bailey was coming in second with two-thirds of ballots counted in California’s top-two primary election. Becerra, a Democrat who was appointed to the powerful post in 2016 by Gov. Jerry Brown, has become the face […]

By Laurel Rosenhall • June 6, 2018

Elections

Judge in Stanford rape case removed from bench by Santa Clara County voters

Since 1911, when Progressive crusaders introduced the judicial recall, just four California judges had been booted from the bench by angry voters—until today. Santa Clara County voters favored ousting Aaron Persky, the judge who prompted widespread outrage in 2016 when he handed down a lenient sentence to a former Stanford University swimmer for sexual assault.  […]

By Robbie Short • June 5, 2018

Elections

Closely watching turnout in 5 counties trying a new system to spur voting

It’s election day—and a crucial test for five California counties experimenting with a new election method designed to boost anemic turnout: replacing local polling places with mega-voting centers and widely dispersed dropboxes.

By Byrhonda Lyons • June 5, 2018

Health

In California, a fight over clinics for kidney patients

An influential union wants the state to limit profits on privately owned dialysis clinics, where kidney patients receive life-sustaining treatment. Dialysis companies are fighting back.

By Elizabeth Aguilera and David Gorn • May 30, 2018

Elections

Parks and politics: What you need to know about Propositions 68 and 70

One measure on the June ballot asks voters to shell out billions to improve the environment. Another could make it more difficult for the state to spend billions on helpful projects.

By Julie Cart • May 30, 2018

Elections

Follow the ricochets: Those campaign ads may have hidden targets

Why would a group trying to elect Democrats buy ads promoting their Republican opponents to conservative watchers of Fox News? Because California’s election rules have turned normal campaign tactics on their head.

By Laurel Rosenhall • May 25, 2018

Education

Billionaires vs teachers union: Charter school fight amps up race for California governor

Charter school supporters may be an effective counterbalance to the prevailing influence public-employee unions have long exerted on Democratic politics in California. But the billions in campaign donations by pro-charter tycoons also points to the outsized sway personal wealth can have on elections.

By Laurel Rosenhall • May 16, 2018