Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton says he wants to abolish the California Department of Motor Vehicles by transferring its functions to a combination of online services and local county offices. If elected, he says he would also cap the annual vehicle registration at a flat fee of $73.
Election 2026
Coverage of local, statewide and national elections in 2026.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Suddenly Seabright? Where has Ryan Coonerty been on development all this time?
Ami Chen Mills, running for mayor of Santa Cruz, pushes back against the assertion by her opponent, Ryan Coonerty, that she has taken a stance “too late” on the project proposed at Seabright and Soquel avenues. She presents the politics behind the Seabright project, criticizes Coonerty’s record on development and local control and explains her own evolving approach to the housing crisis. She argues for truly affordable housing, tenant protections, neighborhood-scale development and stronger local oversight.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz mayoral candidates need a ‘Mamdani moment’ on housing policies
Santa Cruz calls itself the “leftmost city,” but the mayoral race is exposing a sharp contradiction: progressive politics and resistance to new housing. Economist Richard McGahey argues that candidates Ryan Coonerty and Ami Chen Mills need a “Mamdani moment” on housing – and points to their opposition to a proposed Seabright project as a troubling example. With Santa Cruz-Watsonville again ranked the nation’s least affordable rental market, McGahey says the city needs more housing supply, not more barriers to it. The part-time Santa Cruz resident and author of “Unequal Cities” asks whether the city’s progressive values extend to actually building enough homes.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Nothing changes yet with the Supreme Court’s order on elections. But it could open door to ‘chaos’
The Supreme Court’s decision giving preliminary approval for President Donald Trump’s order restricting mail voting might not lead to a single election procedure changing during the November midterms, but it has already thrown into uncertainty the method that nearly one-third of the country uses to vote.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board candidate has felony assault, child endangerment convictions – but can still run
A Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate with convictions including felony assault and child endangerment can still run for office because those crimes don’t disqualify him under California law, while questions have also been raised about Curt Street Wilcox’s claimed Watsonville residence.
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz County school board elections: Who’s running, who’s unopposed and which seats have no candidates
Here’s a guide to which Santa Cruz County school board and Cabrillo College races will appear on the November ballot, which candidates will be appointed without an election and which seats have no candidates at all.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Will California vote ‘progressive’ in insurance commissioner race?
Jane Kim, backed by Bernie Sanders, could ride the progressive wave. Ben Allen has the California Democratic Party’s endorsement for the insurance commissioner job.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Time’s up: Constant development pressure on Santa Cruz’s neighborhoods must be addressed
Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Ryan Coonerty says he will fight against the six-story housing project proposed at Seabright and Soquel. Housing projects outside of downtown should be limited to granny units and modest buildings that are designed at scale with the neighborhood and include reasonable parking and setbacks, writes Coonerty.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz mayoral candidates oppose 6-story housing project at Seabright and Soquel; wish to regain some local control over building
Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Ryan Coonerty wasn’t shy with expressing his disapproval of a proposed housing development at the intersection of Seabright Avenue and Soquel Avenue. His mayoral opponent, Ami Chen Mills, said she also disapproves of this development despite wanting to continue to build affordable housing.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Who’s running for Watsonville City Council? Four district races begin to take shape
In Watsonville, there will be four seats up for grabs in the November election — including a seat that will determine next year’s mayor. Here’s a roundup of who’s running, which includes some familiar faces.
