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.
CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A California housing bill would raise wages to $28. Why do some unions hate it?
Legislation that would kick aside regulatory barriers to building townhouses marks just the latest spat between two rival construction unions over the future of California housing policy.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Five things to know about California’s election, from Congress to the governor’s race
California’s wild and wide-open primary election came to a close Tuesday with voters consolidating behind leading candidates for their parties.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California primary election 2026: Downballot statewide races
In addition to local races, Santa Cruz County voters had a variety of statewide races on their primary ballots. Here’s where you’ll find the latest on the governor’s race, and read on for stories from our content partners at CalMatters, the Associated Press and more.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California voting ends Tuesday. The results? Don’t expect them anytime soon
California has new rules meant to speed up ballot counting, but elections experts and county officials say close races could still take weeks to resolve.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A chemical tank nearly exploded. Did California’s regulators miss the signs?
A tank at a Garden Grove aerospace plant came within a crack of exploding and forcing a toxic chemical cloud over 50,000 evacuated residents — here’s what regulators knew before it happened.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Who’s ahead in the California governor’s race?
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are holding on to the lead in the latest poll ahead of the California governor election. That’s according to the Public Policy Institute of California, which surveyed 986 likely voters earlier this month.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
What would get Gen Z to vote in California’s primary? These candidates are trying
Historical voter turnout data show that voters aged 29 and younger disproportionately sit out primary elections in California compared to the general voting population. Still, a few gubernatorial candidates have been targeting young voters in their campaigns, particularly through social media and college organizations.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
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.
Posted inEducation
‘I felt like I wasn’t learning’: Community college students struggle with online education
About 40% of California’s community college courses are online now, redefining education. These courses are more accessible, college officials say, but they come with serious drawbacks.
