California Governor

Elections

Video: Newsom celebrates his big win in the governor’s race

By Byrhonda Lyons • June 5, 2018

Elections

Republican Cox to face Democrat Newsom for governor in November

Updated June 6 Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who gained national prominence with his early embrace of same-sex marriage and his unabashed support for marijuana legalization, easily won the top slot in the race to replace Gov. Jerry Brown. San Diego-area businessman John Cox, a Republican, won the second spot, defeating former Los Angeles […]

By Dan Morain • June 5, 2018

Commentary

Brown may leave with two big projects on the bubble

Gov. Jerry Brown is heavily invested in two massive public works projects, twin water tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and a north-south bullet train. But as he prepares to leave the governorship for a second time, both are far from certain to be completed.

By Dan Walters • June 3, 2018

Elections

Gavin Newsom insists his campaign tactic won’t really cost Democrats the House

Democrat Gavin Newsom is trying to swat away growing complaints that his campaign tactic of boosting Republican rival John Cox could cause collateral damage in autumn: driving up GOP turnout and thereby undermining Democratic efforts to win key California congressional seats necessary for their party to take control of the House of Representatives.

By Ben Christopher • May 29, 2018

Elections

Mixing it up: After last debate for California governor, will Gavin Newsom get his wish?

On stage for 90 minutes tonight in San Jose, the top six contenders to be California’s next governor echoed existing positions, with no one managing to score a breakout moment or strike a fatal blow. And there isn’t much time left. California’s “top two” primary on June 5 will weed out all but the first […]

By Ben Christopher • May 8, 2018

Elections

VIDEO: Watch the candidates for governor on how they’d improve California schools

As our own Jessica Calefati has reported, California public schools tell a tale of two education systems. The achievement gap that separates well-off and needy students mirror the socioeconomic and racial disparities across the state. In 2017, 44 percent of white eighth-graders were deemed “proficient” or above on state math tests, while only 10 percent […]

By Byrhonda Lyons and Ben Christopher • May 7, 2018

Politics

Secrets, and seals of approval, in the California governor’s race

Voters won't see the questionnaires candidates answer when they seek endorsements from special interests.

By Laurel Rosenhall • April 26, 2018

Elections

Why has the big city’s Villaraigosa spent so much time in farm country?

The candidate for California governor sees a path through the Central Valley to the November ballot.

By Dan Morain • April 26, 2018

Elections

Retro-Republican from a pre-Trump era: John Cox in second place, for now

As the leading Republican candidate for governor, John Cox offers big ideas for reform—bold and seemingly far-fetched in California’s current political climate.

By Ben Christopher • April 16, 2018

Elections

In race for California governor, John Chiang is the anti-soundbite candidate

John Chiang is known as the wonk in the contest to be California's next governor—but sometimes having a nuanced position can be hard to distinguish from failing to state a position at all.

By Ben Christopher • April 9, 2018