election 2020

Dozens of volunteers extract ballots at the sports complex in Martinez on Oct. 31, 2020. By Halloween, Contra Costa County had already received more ballots than the total number in the March primary. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Elections

How California reached historic voter turnout despite pandemic, distrust

Californians faced the naysayers and voted in historic numbers this election. CalMatters interviewed 54 of 58 county registrars and found the mail vote experiment saw few glitches, little drama and might provide a blueprint for future elections across the country.

By

Lewis Griswold

• November 24, 2020

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla OK'd the controversial Vote Safe California contract to a firm with ties to fellow Democrat Joe Biden's presidential campaign. AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Politics

Will state stick ‘Team Biden’ firm with $35 million tab after Yee balks at Padilla vote contract?

Documents obtained by CalMatters reveal a behind-the-scenes look at a controversial no-bid contract — and a showdown between two of California's most ambitious politicians.

By

Emily Hoeven

• November 23, 2020

Reader Reactions

Defeat of Sacramento’s ‘strong mayor’ initiative was about transparency and accountability, and checks and balances

Sacramento voters want to create the city they envision – one with strong democratic values, and dedicated to solving problems together.

By

Guest Commentary

• November 23, 2020

Alice Huffman has resigned as president of the California State Conference of the NAACP, after controversy over the fact that she collected millions in fees from corporate interests as her organization sided with them on state ballot measures. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Politics

California NAACP leader resigns amid conflict-of-interest backlash

Alice Huffman was paid millions by corporate ballot measure campaigns that her historic civil rights organization endorsed, while many Black leaders took opposing positions.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• November 20, 2020

Elections

Legislature campaigns: Did big political spenders get what they paid for?

You can’t always get what you want, but for special interests in California politics, spending $34 million sure does help. That’s the amount of unrestricted political spending that industries and unions with regular business in the capitol pumped into Legislative races across the state this year. As CalMatters reported before Election Day, the oil industry, […]

By

Ben Christopher

• November 20, 2020

San Ramon resident Geoffrey Hillier volunteers extracting ballots in Martinez on Oct. 31, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Politics

Speed reading: California votes being counted twice as fast this year

At least California vote-counters are having a good year. With nearly 17.5 million votes already tallied, county election officials have just about wrapped up counting the ballots from November’s presidential election. A little over two weeks out, that puts California way ahead of the norm from recent elections. Assuming the estimates of ballots left to […]

By

Ben Christopher

• November 19, 2020

Politics

The Trumpiest and most anti-Trump counties in California: Where does yours rank?

November’s election results showed that most of California’s Democratic counties moved further away from President Donald Trump — and the bulk of its Republican counties did too. With fewer than 1 million ballots left to count, the 2020 election here was an unsurprising blowout for President-elect Joe Biden. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton nabbed 62% of […]

By

Ben Christopher

• November 17, 2020

CalMatters en Español

Opinión: Si votar por correo es el futuro de la votación, es maravilloso

Por lo general, estoy comprometido espiritualmente en votar en persona, pero ahora soy un converso a votar por correo. Gracias, pandemia.

By

Guest Commentary

• November 16, 2020

Commentary

If voting by mail is the future of voting, it’s wonderful

Usually, I’m spiritually invested in voting in person, but now I am a convert to voting by mail. Thank you, pandemic.

By

Guest Commentary

• November 16, 2020

A pattern of blue waves atop an undercurrent of red waves. As Californians chose their new representatives to Congress, the Democratic "blue wave" of 2018 was followed by the red riptide of 2020/ Illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters; iStock

Elections

After California’s ‘blue wave’ to Congress in 2018? A GOP red riptide in 2020

Two years ago, Democratic newcomers across the state were swept into Congress atop a frothing “blue wave” of anti-Trump fervor — a result that only became apparent late in the vote count. This year’s election has been playing out a little like 2018 in reverse. This time the Democrats led early on, only to see their […]

By

Ben Christopher

• November 15, 2020

Election 2020