Institute of Governmental Studies | CalMatters

Members of the California Nurses Association and supporters rally at the State Capitol calling for a single-payer health plan on June 28, 2017, in Sacramento. When running for governor in 2018, Gavin Newsom vowed to implement single payer healthcare and the pressure is mounting to make good on that promise. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

The squeeze is on: Amid recall threat, Newsom faces single-payer dilemma

by Ben Christopher February 19, 2021February 20, 2021

Gavin Newsom campaigned for governor promising single-payer health care in California. Three years later, is he ready to risk it?

Gov. Gavin Newsom participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony at a new $120 million, 134,000 sq. foot coronavirus testing facility Oct. 30, 2020, in Valencia. The state is working with corporate partner PerkinElmer to run the lab which will enable the state to process an additional 150,000 COVID-19 tests per day. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo/Pool

Big announcements on the way

by Emily Hoeven February 9, 2021February 9, 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference near Sacramento on April 3, 2020. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo/POOL

Inside Newsom’s declining approval rate

by Emily Hoeven February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

Two new surveys show Gov. Gavin Newsom's approval among Californians plummeting from its highs early in the coronavirus pandemic. He's shown here at a press conference in the state Capitol following the first COVID-19 death in California on March 4, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Two job performance polls give Gavin Newsom bad news…and worse news

by Ben Christopher February 2, 2021February 2, 2021

Nurses at the Kaiser Permanente hospital in Fremont including protest urging the hospital to give them the right protective equipment such as N95 masks and goggles, on March 19, 2020, in Fremont. Photo by Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group

Labor wins big on COVID workers’ comp

by Emily Hoeven May 7, 2020May 6, 2020

Homeless encampments like this one in Santa Cruz contribute to rising public concern about homelessness and housing in California. Photo by Dan Coyro/Santa Cruz Sentinel

Californians surveyed: Rising homelessness concerns, a split on Newsom, and no home-state edge for Kamala Harris

by Ben Christopher October 2, 2019October 3, 2019

Expect to be inundated with poll numbers from now until Election Day. But how reliable a compass is any poll?

Election 2018, Politics

A California user’s guide to political polls: Six easy tips

by Ben Christopher November 1, 2018June 23, 2020

Election 2018, Politics

Majority Report: Milk, Marijuana, and Kool-Aid Edition

by Ben Christopher October 5, 2018June 23, 2020

Gov. Jerry Brown's appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" in March of 2017

Immigration, Justice

California’s governor once opposed sanctuary status. Have time—and Trump—changed his mind?

by Elizabeth Aguilera May 3, 2017June 23, 2020