election 2024

A voter casts their ballot at a polling station at the Sacramento County voter registration and elections office in Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

WhatMatters

Big bucks for ballot measures in 2024 California election

From CalMatters data reporter Jeremia Kimelman: As California’s 2024 election gets more crowded by the day, some ballot measure campaigns are already building their war chests for the costly fight to come, raising more than $60 million since January. Last year, nearly $700 million was spent, mostly by companies, to sway voters on seven November […]

By

Lynn La

• August 4, 2023

Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock

Housing

California could borrow a record-breaking $35 billion to tackle the housing crisis. Will voters go along?

Three of the biggest housing bonds in state history are bound for the 2024 ballot. But with no shortage of crises facing the state, California can only borrow so much and voters may succumb to “bond fatigue.”

By

Ben Christopher

• August 3, 2023

Bonnie Metcalf lights sage during her morning routine at her Sacramento home on July 20, 2023. Metcalf spreads the smoke to entrance and exit points to clear negative energy and promote relaxation. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters

WhatMatters

Are California’s medical marijuana patients getting left behind?

After California legalized medical marijuana in 1996 and then recreational cannabis two decades later, one might think that for many patients, the state would be a sanctuary for seeking treatment. But as CalMatters’ state Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff explains, those who rely on cannabis to treat pain, seizures, glaucoma and other ailments say that despite […]

By

Lynn La

• August 1, 2023

A voter casts their ballot at a voting site at the California Museum in downtown Sacramento on June 7, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

California’s 2024 ballot measures will revive familiar ideological battles

California voters will face a slew of ballot measures next year, all of which are essentially replays of old ideological clashes.

By

Dan Walters

• August 1, 2023

People wear hats and pins in support of former President Donald Trump during the California Republican Party convention in Anaheim on April 23, 2022. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

WhatMatters

With Trump in mind, California Republicans change delegate rules ahead of 2024 primary

In a presidential year, California’s 2024 primary is in March instead of June, and the state is the biggest prize for the Republican nomination. Over the weekend, the state GOP changed the rules in a way that appears likely to boost former President Donald Trump and to make California the delegate “mother lode of the […]

By

Lynn La

• July 31, 2023

The state Capitol in Sacramento on July 6, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Commentary

Should California use bond money to cover its budget deficits?

As California's budget faces years of operating deficits, politicians may be tempted to borrow money to cover them, but that would be a misuse of the state's bonding authority.

By

Dan Walters

• July 31, 2023

WhatMatters

Can a new California legislative caucus make a dent in poverty?

At the state Capitol, legislators meet in specific groups on environmental issues, mental health and renters’ rights and also gather around their common identities. As my colleague Sameea Kamal reported recently, there are more than 20 caucuses at the Legislature. Add another one — the End Poverty caucus. As first reported by Politico, it is […]

By

Lynn La

• July 19, 2023

Elections

What happened to the big changes to California elections?

The most sweeping bills to change California elections got shelved in the Legislature. Instead, lawmakers are focusing on ballot measure language, local redistricting, voting integrity and campaign finance tweaks before the 2024 election.

By

Sameea Kamal

• July 12, 2023

Election 2024