California Republicans

Politics

Vince Fong allowed to run for Kevin McCarthy’s seat in Congress

A judge rules that the Bakersfield Republican is eligible to run in the 2024 election for Congress even though he had already filed to run for his state Assembly seat.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• December 28, 2023

Election workers collect ballots from voters turning them in at the Alameda County Ballot Drop Stop in Oakland on Nov. 8, 2022.

Politics

California Republicans buy into ‘ballot harvesting’

President Trump claims mail balloting is rife with fraud. But to win more elections, the state GOP is expanding its efforts to collect mail ballots to boost turnout.

By

Sameea Kamal

• October 18, 2023

Former President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during the California GOP Fall 2023 Convention at Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim on Sept. 29, 2023. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters

Politics

Trump to California Republicans: ‘No way we lose this state in a real election’

The former president railed against Democrats and again claimed the 2020 election was rigged in his speech to the California Republican Party. With him skipping the primary debates, the party convention may get the next best thing, with speeches also by Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

By

Sameea Kamal

• September 29, 2023

The California Republican Party Convention in Sacramento on March 11, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Politics

Why California Republicans are facing a moment of truth

GOP leaders and activists will hear Friday from Donald Trump and other presidential candidates before deciding whether to change the party platform on abortion and same-sex marriage.

By

Sameea Kamal

• September 28, 2023

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy addresses attendees during the state Republican Party convention in Sacramento on March 11, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

WhatMatters

California Republicans take center stage for 2024 election

California is at the center of the political universe this week — at least in Republican circles. Wednesday night at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, seven GOP presidential contenders showed up for the second televised primary debate. But one very large elephant wasn’t in the room — former President Donald Trump, who […]

By

Lynn La

• September 28, 2023

Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, a Lakewood Democrat, (left) works with Assemblymember James C. Ramos, a San Bernardino Democrat, during session at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 2023.

WhatMatters

It’s the final day for California Legislature to pass bills

The legislative session that started Jan. 3 — and kept going and going, other than spring break and summer recess — is set to end tonight. Lawmakers are wrapping up after numerous rallies by state workers and advocacy groups, countless committee hearings and floor debates and a leadership change in the Assembly. But they still […]

By

Lynn La

• September 14, 2023

The California Legislative Native American Caucus, from the left: Assemblymembers Mike A. Gipson, a Carson Democrat, Esmeralda Soria, a Merced Democrat, Sabrina Cervantes, a Riverside Democrat, Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, a South Los Angeles Democrat, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, a Lakewood Democrat and James C. Ramos, a Rancho Cucamonga Democrat, during a meeting in Sacramento on April 18, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Capitol

Across the aisle: Can bipartisan caucuses change the California Legislature?

The Problem Solvers Caucus, one of 16 non-party caucuses in the state Legislature, wants to put public policy before partisan politics, but that's a tall task. Other caucuses are bipartisan mostly in name only.

By

Sameea Kamal

• April 25, 2023

Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Jan. 30, 2023. Assembly Republicans introduced "a public safety bill package to provide resources to law enforcement and victims," according to a media advisory. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

WhatMatters

Bills, bills and more bills at California Legislature

They’ve been back for nearly a month, so it’s time for California lawmakers to deliver on some of their campaign promises. That means the legislative session is starting to pick up steam. Let’s get to the highlights from a busy Monday at the state Capitol (warning: prepare for quite a bit of déjà vu): Public […]

By

Sameea Kamal

• January 31, 2023

Election workers verify ballots at the Orange County Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana on Nov. 1, 2022. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters

WhatMatters

Is a ‘red wave’ about to crash over California?

How concerned are Democrats in California and across the country about a Republican “red wave” cresting in the Nov. 8 election and clinching the GOP’s control of Congress? I’ll give you three hints: 1. Today, President Joe Biden is set to visit San Diego to campaign for Democratic Rep. Mike Levin, who’s facing a tough […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• November 3, 2022

Minority Floor Leader James Gallagher, R-Chico, addresses the media during a press conference calling for a suspension of the state's gas tax on March 14, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

WhatMatters

California GOP demands emergency action on taxes, crime

California Republicans are zeroing in on the three issues on which they say Democrats may be most vulnerable heading into the Nov. 8 election: The rising cost of living, crime and homelessness. On Tuesday, 26 of the 28 current Republican lawmakers asked the Democratic leaders of the state Assembly and Senate to “immediately” reconvene the […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• October 19, 2022