Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate Curt Wilcox was arrested Sept. 18 and faces felony charges related to his candidacy filing, including allegations involving his residency and voter registration.
Election 2026
Coverage of local, statewide and national elections in 2026.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area V race: Alicia Jimenez, Curt Wilcox vie for open seat
Retired administrator Alicia Jimenez and Watsonville craftsman Curt Wilcox are competing for the open Trustee Area V seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. A third candidate, Jennifer Schacher, remains on the ballot despite saying she will not actively campaign.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
What will California’s next governor do about healthcare? Here are Becerra and Hilton’s plans
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton say they’re mindful of voters’ worries about healthcare costs, but their plans don’t have much detail.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County elections 2026: Which city candidates are raising the most campaign cash?
Thursday was the deadline for candidates running for local office to file their first campaign finance disclosures ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Here’s what the numbers say.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The billionaire tax could be defeated by two other tax measures. Here’s how
California voters will soon decide whether to tax billionaires — but even if a majority says yes, the measure could still lose to either of two billionaire-funded measures designed to cancel it out.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz mayoral candidates Ami Chen Mills, Ryan Coonerty clash over AI, Flock cameras and campaign conduct
Lookout’s Santa Cruz mayoral candidate forum saw Ami Chen Mills and Ryan Coonerty discuss a variety of city issues, including budgets and homelessness. However, between talking about the issues, the candidates also talked about the divisiveness of the campaign — and the issues they’ve had with each other.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has harsh criticisms, sweeping fixes for California schools
As governor, Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host, would turn to voters, if necessary, for school vouchers, end teacher tenure and institute a cellphone ban for kids under age 14.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz mayoral candidates Ryan Coonerty, Ami Chen Mills face off Wednesday in Lookout forum
Santa Cruz mayoral candidates Ryan Coonerty and Ami Chen Mills are set to discuss a host of city issues during Lookout’s candidate forum Wednesday at 6 p.m. The sold-out event will be livestreamed.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I’m running against Gail Pellerin: We need to hold onto the heart of Santa Cruz by revising recent housing laws
Carol Pefley is running against Gail Pellerin for the Assembly District 28 seat on Nov. 3. A former journalist and realtor, she believes we need to rethink state housing laws and help maintain the Santa Cruz “mystique” she remembers as a young adult.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
No endorsement in Santa Cruz mayor race as Democratic Central Committee splits on candidates
Just like in the primary election, the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee failed to reach a consensus on its endorsement for Santa Cruz mayor, meaning it will not officially back either Ami Chen Mills or Ryan Coonerty in November.
