Orange County

In this June 5, 2018, file photo, election workers Heidi McGettigan, left, Margaret Wohlford, center, and David Jensen, unload a bag of ballots brought in a from a polling precinct to the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters office in Sacramento, Calif. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Elections

Delayed and Confused: Will California’s election rules lead to an Iowa-style snafu?

Less than a week out from California’s March 3 primary, campaigns and election administrators here are sweating the small stuff.

By

Ben Christopher

• February 26, 2020

Foster parent Andrew Simmons, of Ramona, CA, has the initials of all six of his adopted children on his arm

California Divide

California stopped charging parents for kids’ incarceration. So why are some still stuck owing thousands of dollars?

Tens of thousands of families still owe juvenile justice fees that California has since abolished.

By

Jackie Botts

• February 10, 2020

Democratic Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon embraces former Assembly GOP leader Chad Mayes in December of 2016. Photo by Steve Yeater for CALmatters

Capitol

Fight or switch? One Republican legislator ditches GOP, the other gets primaried

As Republican Party popularity plummets in California, two moderate legislators —Chad Mayes and Tyler Diep — take opposite tacks to try to keep their jobs. Politicos will be watching.

By

Ben Christopher

• December 8, 2019

WhatMatters

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash begin their campaign but leave room for negotiations

Gig companies begin campaign to reverse employee law. NCAA follows California's lead on athlete compensation. Kamala Harris' California primary dream fades.

By

Dan Morain

and

Judy Lin

• October 30, 2019

WhatMatters

Trump to revoke clean air rule, UC’s bold move, EV rebates, Trump’s welcome, and sexual harassment

Battle lines drawn between California, Trump over clean air. University of California divests from fossil fuels. Baby Trump balloon greets POTUS.

By

Dan Morain

• September 18, 2019

Assemblyman Tyler Diep, Republican from Westminster, outside the California Capitol.

Politics

It’s personal: An Orange County GOP lawmaker breaks his silence on Trump immigration policy

Assemblyman Tyler Diep doesn’t carry many bills and rarely gives floor speeches. But he felt he had no choice but to stand-up to the Twitter president when the Trump administration proposed limiting immigrants ability to get green cards if they need public benefits.

By

Dan Morain

• August 19, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris speaks at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Aug. 9, 2019. Today, democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden announced Sen. Harris as his pick for Vice President. Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Elections

What California knows about Kamala Harris

What most Americans are just beginning to learn about California’s junior senator, we’ve already seen here for decades. Here are eight ways that California shaped Kamala Harris and that Harris has shaped California.

By

Ben Christopher

• August 12, 2019