Election 2020

Commentary

Three mayors and three defeats

November's election saw three Northern California mayors who had won acclaim outside of their cities suffer rejections.

By Dan Walters • December 16, 2020

Politics

If he had a home, he might have voted

CalMatters talked to a handful of the 4.3 million Californians who chose to sit out this year’s election to find out why, given 17.8 million set a record by voting in November. Joseph wanted a home and time to study the propositions.

By Michael Lozano • December 15, 2020

Commentary

Based on election results, you can throw out those old stereotypes

Future political campaigns will need to dive deeper into the new breed of no party preference voters – they will be the key to victories or defeats.

By Guest Commentary • December 15, 2020

Elections

My vote wasn’t going to affect the outcome

CalMatters talked to a handful of the 4.3 million Californians who chose to sit out this year’s election to find out why, given 17.8 million set a record by voting in November. Gabe Kim, a college student at Humboldt State, said he doesn't feel ostracized for not voting.

By Freddy Brewster • December 14, 2020

Elections

He wanted Bernie for president so he didn’t vote

CalMatters talked to a handful of the 4.3 million Californians who chose to sit out this year’s election to find out why, given 17.8 million set a record by voting in November. Sergio Berrueta, a student at Humboldt State and a Bernie Sanders supporter, said he didn't like President-Elect Joe Biden or President Donald Trump so chose not to vote.

By Freddy Brewster • December 14, 2020

WhatMatters

The vaccine arrives in California: Health care workers up first

Thousands of California health care workers may receive their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine today, marking a promising new chapter in the state’s battle with the pandemic even as deadly outbreaks flare up.  Portions of California’s initial allotment of 327,000 doses were slated to begin arriving at health care facilities Sunday night, with shipments […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 14, 2020

Elections

How Votebeat analyzed the election data

Editor’s note: Votebeat analyzed state and local voting data, using U.S. census data for context, to examine which voting blocs and counties drove the record ballots cast in the general election. Here is how we did the analysis. Statewide data on ballots cast, registered voters and voter turnout were obtained from the California Secretary of […]

By Phillip Reese • December 10, 2020

Elections

Poor and diverse voters fuel California’s record ballots cast

California’s decision to mail a ballot to every registered voter resulted in record ballots cast in the general election — but it was poor and diverse communities that fueled the increases.

By Phillip Reese and Lewis Griswold • December 10, 2020

Elections

Meant to clarify, BallotTrax confused some voters

Before 2020, the unassuming “I Voted” sticker was enough to satisfy most voters that their ballot had passed into trusted hands. But this past election, amid California’s plunge into mail-in voting and the Trump administration’s baseless claims of election fraud, the state offered higher-tech assurance: ballot updates sent to voters’ phone and email by BallotTrax, […]

By Aaron Leathley • December 8, 2020

Commentary

We must reclaim the democratic purpose of California schools

It is increasingly clear that we need a broader renewal of democracy, and our public schools can and should play a critical role.

By Guest Commentary • December 8, 2020