Elections

A man in a red tie and suit is gesturing to a crowd while on stage behind bulletproof glass at a political rally.

Elections

Did your county back Trump more this time than in 2020?

The president-elect increased his vote share in 45 of 58 California counties in 2024. And Kamala Harris won 1.8 million fewer votes statewide than Joe Biden in 2020.

By

Jeremia Kimelman

• December 5, 2024

A person wearing blue medical gloves lifts up a ballot while they sit in front of a table with blue and red boxes filled with voter ballots. Another person working nearby can be seen in the foreground.

Capitol

California has a new Legislature — while votes are still being counted

A bill would give county election offices more resources and guidance to speed up the notoriously slow vote count in California. State legislators take the oath office before the results are certified.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• December 2, 2024

A person driving a car extends their hand out the window to insert their ballot envelope into a drop box being held by an election worker. The back of another election worker can be seen nearby.

Politics

California’s Republican caucus is growing and more diverse, but it’s a long way from power

While Democrats retain a supermajority, experts say Republican wins – and an increasingly diverse GOP Caucus – signal potential shifts in voter sentiment among non white voters

By

Ryan Sabalow

• November 27, 2024

Stacks of purple and white mail-in ballot envelopes sit on a stable as election workers sort them. The arms and hands of the workers are visible, but the faces are not. The focus is on the ballots.

Elections

California’s slow vote count sows doubt. Here’s how one group is trying to fix that

The California Voter Foundation launched a tool tracking daily vote counts in 18 close contests for Congress and the state Legislature. The tracker aims to show how counts change over time and dispel misinformation about election fraud, the group says.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• November 20, 2024

A person with white hair and wearing a grey shirt uses a paint roller to paint a yellow brick wall in an alley.

Politics

‘A pivotal moment?’ Why many Latino voters in California chose Trump

In part due to economic and border security concerns, Latinos in California appear to have moved toward Donald Trump. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re abandoning the Democratic Party.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• November 15, 2024

A person points as they speak at a microphone at a podium with people behind him holding up signs.

Elections

Republicans fend off Democratic challengers in three key Inland Empire races

Republican candidates in three high-profile Inland Empire races for Congress and the state Legislature were either leading or able to fend off Democratic challengers as officials keep counting votes.

By

Deborah Brennan

• November 13, 2024

Capitol

Why no one spent more than Google to lobby California officials this summer

The tech giant spent $10.7 million lobbying the Legislature and governor from July through September during a media bill fight. It also showered elected officials with $107,500 in campaign cash on one day in September.

By

Alexei Koseff

and

Jeremia Kimelman

• November 13, 2024

A person stands outdoors in partial shadow, framed by vertical lines in the foreground. The person has a calm expression and is looking forward. In the background, a building with windows and doors is softly out of focus under clear daylight.

California Divide

California empowered immigrants to speak up at work. Trump could end their protections

California wants to protect witnesses in workplace investigations from deportation, but the Biden administration program for undocumented employees is at risk with Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• November 11, 2024

California prison laborers and an excavator operator help construct an emergency pipeline to increase supplies of potable water in Willits in 2014. REUTERS/Noah Berger

Elections

Anti-slavery measure Prop. 6 fails, allowing forced labor to continue in California prisons

Other states, including Nevada, are deleting references to slavery in their constitutions and banning forced prison labor. California voters rejected that path when they turned down Prop. 6.

By

Cayla Mihalovich

• November 10, 2024

A person, wearing a blue suit and white shirt, stands behind a black podium with the California state seal on it during a press conference.

Capitol

Newsom calls special session to ‘Trump-proof’ California

Newsom wants the new Legislature to ‘protect’ California from Donald Trump on civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families. The session will start Dec. 2.

By

Alexei Koseff

and

Jeanne Kuang

• November 7, 2024