California Republicans

Carlos Hernandez holds his mask while getting a haircut from Sarah Cordiey at Spiros Barber Shop in Long Beach, on June 9, 2021. "During the pandemic, I got depression and anxiety," said Hernandez, who saw his family last week for the first time in more than a year. "But then when I got [fully] vaccinated I felt a lot better." Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Politics

California’s big reopening: What changes — and what doesn’t — on June 15?

Gov. Gavin Newsom promised business as usual, but there could be exceptions to everyday life returning to normal. Here are questions and answers to clear up confusion.

By

Ben Christopher

• June 10, 2021

Several hands holding bags of cash move toward a recall ballot box.Though California voters may be divided by geography and class, its pro-and anti-recall campaign donors are not. Image via iStock

Politics

Who’s bankrolling the Newsom recall campaigns?

The big money for both sides in the California recall election is coming from the same wealthy enclaves, and not so much from out of state.

By

Ben Christopher

• May 26, 2021

Nine-year-old Tag, a 1,000 lb Kodiak bear, lays in the sunshine while recall candidate John Cox speaks to the press at a campaign event at Miller Regional Park in Sacramento on May 4, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

WhatMatters

Recall circus begins

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, May 5. Elections and bears, oh my If, like me, you didn’t have “California political candidate campaigns with 1,000-pound Kodiak bear” on your 2021 bingo card, you were not prepared for the excesses of a gubernatorial recall election. The effort to oust Gov. Gavin Newsom from office entered a new […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• May 5, 2021

Capitol

In May Revise, focus on making government work effectively

With the governor set to unveil his revised budget proposal, we urge him to remember that now is a time to be practical.

By

Guest Commentary

• May 5, 2021

Magaly Colelli, left, owner of Magaly's restaurant talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom and actor Danny Trejo, center, in San Fernando, on April 29, 2021. Photo by Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times via AP/Pool

Politics

Democratic leaders rally behind Newsom to fight recall, but how enthusiastic is the grassroots?

Democratic Party leaders unite behind a message that the recall is a desperate Republican plot that is bad for California. But will progressives and Latinos turn out to vote?

By

Ben Christopher

• May 1, 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the press during a visit to Ruby Bridges Elementary School in Alameda on March 16, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

WhatMatters

More good news for Newsom

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, April 29. High marks on schools Things are looking up for Gov. Gavin Newsom. Majorities of Californians — 58% of likely voters and 64% of public school parents — approve of how the governor is handling the state’s public K-12 education system, and a solid 59% of likely voters give […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• April 29, 2021

Volunteers with the Recall Newsom 2020 campaign hold a petition signing event at SaveMart in Sacramento on Jan. 5, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Low-turnout recall elections are the Republican strategy for victory

The Republicans’ idea is to exploit the state’s recall provisions and harness public frustrations to secure an off-cycle election.

By

Guest Commentary

• April 14, 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers the State of the State address at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 9, 2021. Photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

WhatMatters

Newsom speech ushers in election season

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, March 10. High stakes for governor Buckle your seatbelts: It’s officially election season in California. That much was evident from the ambience of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s State of the State speech Tuesday night. The governor stood at a podium in Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, flanked by massive screens that alternated […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 10, 2021

Despite widespread and continuing national concerns about election integrity, it’s clear that county registrars of voters in California — the heroes of the 2020 election — made sure every vote was counted. Photos by Lew Griswold; courtesy of Jeannette Logue; Ron Holman, Visalia Times Delta

Elections

Covering elections showed me California votes were secure

Despite continuing national concerns about election integrity, it’s clear that California's county registrars of voters — the heroes of the 2020 election — made sure every vote was counted.

By

Lewis Griswold

• January 15, 2021

Kenneth Lundgreen holds a sign against President Donald Trump outside of Twitter headquarters on Jan. 11, 2021, in San Francisco. Police officers erected barricades and staged for a possible conservative protest Monday morning. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

Politics

California Assembly impeachment vote puts Republicans in bind

That the California Assembly would spend its first day of the year calling for the removal of President Donald Trump — a week after he sicced a mob of white supremacists, conspiracy theorists and hooligans on Congress — is about as surprising as summer fog in San Francisco. Democrats hold a super-majority in both chambers […]

By

Ben Christopher

• January 11, 2021