Ben Christopher, CalMatters
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New "pay-to-play" restrictions on elected officials took effect with Senate Bill 1439 in January 2023 — but now a coalition of business groups is suing California's campaign finance regulator in response.
In one of the highest-profile election results in the state, Proposition 30 failed despite California's commitment to climate action and its history of taxing the wealthy. But the "Clean Air Fund" ballot measure, which was funded by rideshare company Lyft, also was complicated and divided Democrats — a recipe for failure.
In the final weeks of the California election, industry and labor groups have been spending millions to influence legislative races. That money is being spent not only to support favored candidates, but to attack their opponents with tough ads and mailers.
On the ballot this November is Prop 30, which seeks to tax millionaires in order to create a Clean Air Fund that would help make electric vehicles more accessible. But the fact that a private rideshare company, Lyft, authored and subsidized the proposition has raised questions about where the money would actually go.
A new "No on 30" ad speaking out against California Proposition 30 (which raises income taxes on those making $2+ million a year to create a clean air fund) features California Governor Gavin Newsom as its main — and only — spokesperson.
Responding to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, California legislators push a bill to restrict concealed carry permits. New numbers show a wide variation among counties in how many permits have been issued. But in publishing the data, the state Department of Justice exposed personal information of permit holders.
Independent expenditure committees funded by special interest groups are spending millions of dollars to make their picks in the California primary. In some races, they are clearly supporting or opposing candidates. In others, the strategy is more complicated.
El gobernador Gavin Newsom prometió un regreso a los negocios, pero podría haber excepciones para que la vida cotidiana vuelva a la normalidad. Aquí hay preguntas y respuestas para aclarar la confusión.
Gov. Gavin Newsom promised business as usual, but there could be exceptions to everyday life returning to normal. Here are questions and answers to clear up confusion.
Buckle in for a long count, remember that margins and geography matter, look for these clues — and prepare to wait days on close races.
You’ve seen it before: a group with an inoffensive name implores voters to support certain candidates or props. The catch is that many mailers blur the line between endorsement, paid advertisement and extortion, but that may change soon.
A week before Election Day and anxiety over the postal service’s ability to ferry voters’ ballots to county election administrators on time has ratcheted up yet again. But election administrators and legal experts have a message for voters here: breathe.