After 2024 losses, Democrats are split on strategy: move to the middle or embrace economic populism. A Central Valley congressional race encapsulates the divide.
Maya C. Miller / CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California Democrats have new plans for confronting ICE: Taxes, lawsuits and location bans
The California Senate passed a bill that would make it easier to sue federal officers over civil rights violations. Recent shootings of civilians by immigration agents in Minnesota lent urgency to the measure, one of several targeting ICE.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The fight over how to pay for Medi-Cal puts pressure on Newsom to raise taxes
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has already vowed to tank a proposed ballot initiative that would impose a 5% wealth tax on the state’s billionaires to bolster Medi-Cal. Progressive lawmakers and their allies in labor and health seem hopeful that Newsom could support a different long-shot funding idea.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Republicans ask federal court to overturn California’s new Prop 50 maps
Republicans and the Trump administration are hoping a panel of federal judges in Los Angeles will halt the new Proposition 50 maps from taking effect. But given the Supreme Court’s recent ruling greenlighting Texas’ redrawn maps, their odds appear long.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Billionaire activist Tom Steyer joins race to succeed Newsom as California governor
Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer raised his profile as a foe to President Donald Trump when he spent $13 million on ads touting Proposition 50. Now, Steyer is jumping into the 2026 California governor’s race.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California voters approve Prop 50, redrawing congressional maps to favor Democrats
California voters overwhelmingly approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ballot measure on Tuesday, endorsing newly drawn maps that favor Democrats.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Sen. Alex Padilla, a favorite to succeed Gavin Newsom, won’t run for California governor
Sen. Alex Padilla was never officially in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, but his national profile led many to believe that he’d be a favorite to win. He told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that he wouldn’t be throwing his hat into the ring.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California Democrats made Prop 50 about Trump. Polls show it’s working as voting ends
While lopsided polling and fundraising have given the Yes on 50 campaign an undeniable advantage, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team is taking nothing for granted as Election Day arrives.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California Latinos take pride in casting ballots in person. ICE at polls could deter that
The Trump administration’s Justice Department announced on Friday that it will deploy personnel to monitor polling sites in five counties: Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside on Election Day. Fresno, Kern and Riverside counties are majority Latino.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trump’s DOJ is sending election monitors to California with voting on Prop 50 underway
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice will deploy election monitors to five California counties on Election Day, the department announced Friday, in what it describes as an effort to “ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.” The news comes as voters are already casting ballots on Proposition 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to […]