California Senate

Supreme Court justices and voters weigh in on death penalty, Wells Fargo gets a second chance for state bond deals, Newsom warns PG&E on board appointments

There are (still) more white men named James or Jim in the California Legislature than African-American and Asian-American women combined. Throw in some white Robs, Bobs and Roberts, and you have a pretty sizable “JimBob” caucus with a membership larger than the number of Republican women, openly gay or lesbian legislators, or women from any party under the age of 40. A data dive into diversity, or lack thereof.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Kevin de León sat down for their first (and only) debate this afternoon. TKTK

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.

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.

Running to unseat fellow Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de León continued to criticize her response to a constituent’s accusation of sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

In probably the strangest outcome of California’s elections so far this year, a new state senator was sworn in Monday—with just three weeks left to go in the legislative session.

In Sacramento, the biggest fights are over wildfire liability—who pays for billions of dollars of damages that result from the loss of so many homes, businesses and lives?—and how much utilities like PG&E can pass liability costs onto their customers.

Toni Atkins is set to make history as the first person in more than 100 years to lead both houses of the California Legislature. While no one expects her to erase the Capitol’s deep rivalries, she is well positioned to tamp them down.

The California Senate's flailing efforts to deal with an accused colleague illustrate the challenges lawmakers face in response to revelations of sexual harassment that have swept the state Capitol.