California Legislature

Capitol

Bad timing? Assembly Republicans are shaking up their leadership

Here's why this development could affect the state GOP's chances on Tuesday.

By

Dan Morain

• November 2, 2018

State Sen. Kevin de León of Los Angeles. Photo by Max Whittaker for CALmatters

Elections

A disrupter from day one: How Kevin de León became the Democrat trying to topple Dianne Feinstein

Perhaps nothing Kevin de León has done is more polarizing than his challenge to 26-year incumbent Dianne Feinstein in the 2018 California Senate race.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• October 4, 2018

Joel Anderson and John Moorlach sit at the dais in a Senate committee hearing.

Capitol

Senator from San Diego County reprimanded for threatening to ‘bitch slap’ a lobbyist

Sen. Joel Anderson was drunk and rubbing a lobbyist's shoulders during a political fundraiser at a steakhouse near the Capitol last month when he leaned in close and told her he wanted to "bitch slap" her.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 25, 2018

More dust storms are contributing to an increase in Valley fever across California. Image by Famartin via Wikimedia

Health

With climate change, Valley fever spreads in California—and this year could be the worst yet

Experts say a drier climate means more dust storms, which carry the fungus that causes the disease. New laws and money address the issue. Is that enough?

By

David Gorn

• September 25, 2018

Capitol

Capitol lawsuit hints at the limits of #MeToo laws

The Legislature's response to a former employee's lawsuit is the latest example in its history of arguing that lawmakers don’t have to follow the laws they pass.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 24, 2018

Disaffected former Republican Rep. Tom Campbell aims to launch a new political party in California.

Elections

Party Crasher: Moderate Tom Campbell aims to launch new political party in California

Tom Campbell—centrist former congressman, former state senator and former Republican—is out to launch a third party in California, predicting legislative candidates will run under the new banner as soon as 2020. He insists it might not even be that hard.

By

Ben Christopher

• September 19, 2018

Senator John Moorlach, Republican of Irvine, in the Senate chambers. Photo by Max Whittaker for CALmatters

Capitol

Senator from Orange County reprimanded for giving noogies

State Sen. John Moorlach put a woman in a headlock and gave her a “noogie” while they were posing for a photo at a reception—something he said he does frequently in good fun, according to investigative records released Friday by the state Senate. “While your behavior… does not appear to be sexual in nature, it […]

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• August 31, 2018

Display at a Sacramento clean-water rally. Photo by Antoinette Siu/CALmatters.

Capitol

How to help Californians whose tap water is tainted?

Hundreds of thousands of residents can't drink the water that flows to their homes. Here are some of the proposed remedies, not all of them successful.

By

David Gorn

• August 30, 2018