John Cox

A canal in San Joaquin Valley is shown. Voters will decide on a $8.9 billion water bond.

Elections

What an $8.9 billion water bond would buy

A 152-mile long canal that irrigates pistachios and other crops in the eastern San Joaquin Valley is sinking by an inch a month, the result of groundwater over-pumping by farmers. The Sacramento Bee described the Friant-Kern Canal as an engineering marvel, but its capacity has been reduced by as much as 60 percent at because of subsidence. […]

By

Dan Morain

• July 16, 2018

Sifting through the debris of the 2017 wildfire in Santa Rosa. Photo via California National Guard

Newsletters

Who’s going to pay for the fires

California legislators confront the question of how to pay for fire damage. Should PG&E be relieved of costs related to devastating 2017 wildfires, and should the law be changed for future fires?

By

Dan Morain

• July 13, 2018

Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox are in a match-up to replace outgoing California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Elections

WATCH: Governor candidates on how they would tackle California wildfires

Rivals for the governor's office Gavin Newsom and John Cox agree that wildfires pose an alarming threat to California—but what would they do to prevent and combat them? Here's what they told us.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• July 12, 2018

Newsletters

Altering the balance of campaign power

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, not yet 28, urges 'bold and tangible' solutions to help get people to turn out to vote, including $500 universal basic income payments to working poor.

By

Dan Morain

• July 11, 2018

Newsletters

Cannabis’ toll on endangered wildlife

Humboldt martens are nearing extinction, in part because of impact of illegal cannabis farms in the redwood forests of the North Coast. Why vets can't discuss animal cannabis use with pet owners.

By

Dan Morain

• June 26, 2018

Newsletters

Brown passes a torch; SF’s new mayor

By

Dan Morain

• June 14, 2018

Newsletters

Cox and gas tax author joust over repeal

By

Dan Morain

• June 8, 2018

GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox speaks to reporters on Election Night. Photo by Samantha Young for CALmatters

Commentary

Newsom and Trump wanted Cox—and got their wishes

Gavin Newsom, the Democrats' candidate for governor, and Republican President Donald Trump both wanted Republican businessman John Cox to finish second in this weeks's gubernatorial primary and thus gain a spot on the November ballot Both got their wishes. Newsom can now coast to the governorship, and Republicans hope having Cox on the ballot will spur a higher turnout of GOP voters and save several embattled congressional districts.

By

Dan Walters

• June 7, 2018

Supporters of gubernatorial primary candidates John Cox and Travis Allen at the California Republican Party's convention in May. Photo by Ben Christopher/CALmatters

Elections

Republicans held their own in the primary, but it’s uphill to November

The California Republican Party had a good Election Day. Now what?

By

Ben Christopher

• June 6, 2018

Elections

Quick Takes: A dozen things we learned from California’s primary

1. Trump mattered For months, the two top Republicans in the race, John Cox, a businessman from Rancho Santa Fe, and Huntington Beach Assemblyman Travis Allen, were within sniping distance of one another in most credible public opinion polls. Then, sometime between April and late May, something changed. Republican voters began to rally around the […]

By

CalMatters Staff

• June 6, 2018