California Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra has evaded giving specifics about what policies his administration will prioritize. But some lawmakers are hoping for a more collaborative relationship
Jeanne Kuang / CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gavin Newsom clears death row, commutes sentences for hundreds of prisoners
Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted death sentence for 548 state prisoners, saying “state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values.” Victims rights advocates criticized his decision.
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California billionaires faced down a tax and won new protections for their wealth
California billionaires put Proposition 42 on the ballot to counter a proposed wealth tax. It passed, creating a new obstacle to future wealth taxes.
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Xavier Becerra is California’s next governor: Five things to know
Unlike his predecessor, Democratic Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra has made few promises on the campaign trail and only hinted at certain policy priorities.
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It’s official: California picks Xavier Becerra to replace Gavin Newsom
Democrat Xavier Becerra easily won the race for governor in the most populous Democratic state in the country, defeating Republican Steve Hilton.
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With clock ticking, California lawmakers reject key parts of Newsom’s wildfire plan
Gov. Gavin Newsom is rushing a plan to provide financial relief to utilities facing massive lawsuit payouts because of California wildfires. Some lawmakers are fighting it.
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Newsom makes last-minute push to help California utilities facing wildfire bills
One of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final political fights in California is a revival of an old one. As wildfire costs threaten utilities’ financial models, the governor wants to help them pay less for fires.
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Newsom’s populist act: Oppose state billionaire tax, embrace federal one
With proposals to tax the rich, Gavin Newsom is playing to a 2028 national audience anxious about artificial intelligence. As California governor, he’s walked a fine line on taxes for years.
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The top-two primary was supposed to change California politics. Did it flop?
California voters approved a top-two primary election designed to encourage moderation. But in most races, it ends in a conventional Democrat-versus-Republican matchup. Some are ready to scrap the top two.
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Follow the money: Who’s backing California’s next governor — and why
Billionaires, Big Oil and other interests are spending big to influence the California governor’s race, making for the most expensive primary campaign in state history.
