California Policy and Politics Sunday

California Democrats can’t pick a favorite as 9 candidates vie to replace Newsom -- Nine Democrats, one party endorsement, zero consensus. California’s gubernatorial hopefuls woo delegates while anxiety grows about a GOP lockout. Jeanne Kuang Politico Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/26

Barabak: Eight candidates, four minutes to run for California governor. Ready, go! -- It was speed dating: Eight suitors with less than four minutes each, pitching the woo to thousands of Democratic Party faithful. The race for California governor has been a low-boil, late-developing affair, noteworthy mostly for its lack of a whole lot that has been noteworthy. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/26

Why Swalwell and Steyer are surging in California governor’s race -- When Eric Swalwell and Tom Steyer jumped into the California governor’s race, much of the political class rolled its eyes — two failed presidential hopefuls with seemingly thin bases and no track record statewide. Three months later they’re surging, with poll after poll placing them among the top three Democrats in the race. Blake Jones and Lindsey Holden Politico -- 2/21/26

Democrats’ fear rising that too many candidates in governor’s race could lead to a Republican victory -- California Democrats worry their crowded governor’s race could allow two Republicans to advance to the general election under the state’s unique primary system. With nine Democratic candidates splitting votes, Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco currently lead polls. Seema Mehta and Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/22/26

Online age restrictions get the Newsom bump -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to restrict kids’ access to social media is lending new bipartisan momentum to an effort that has surged in red states and foreign capitals — but has so far largely languished in Washington. Brendan Bordelon and Gabby Miller Politico -- 2/21/26

Gavin Newsom casts himself as a Shakespearean hero in new memoir as he gears up for 2028 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wine business has an unusual name: PlumpJack. It’s a reference to Sir John Falstaff, the rotund wine-loving knight introduced in Shakespeare’s “Henry IV Part 1.” Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/22/26

Newsom Heads to Nashville to Promote His Book, and Finds Many Former Californians -- Scores of Californians have moved to Tennessee for its friendlier business environment and conservative politics. On Saturday, the Democratic governor accused of driving them away paid a visit. Emily Cochrane in the New York Times$ -- 2/22/26

 

‘Grow a spine’: S.F. protesters target California Democratic Convention -- Around 100 protesters marched outside the California Democratic Convention in San Francisco on Saturday, urging politicians to stand up to the Trump administration to protect health care, transgender rights and other causes. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/21/26

Daniel Lurie tells California Democrats that S.F. is becoming ‘a city that works’ on his watch -- Mayor Daniel Lurie has a message for California Democrats: Consider taking a page from the playbook he’s following in San Francisco. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/21/26

Will Prop. 50 be enough to boost California Democrats in November? -- California Democratic Party leaders made the case Saturday at the state party convention at San Francisco’s Moscone Center that the party was poised for a midterm comeback, fresh off victories like the successful passage of Proposition 50, the recent blocking of President Donald Trump’s tariffs by the Supreme Court and plummeting public opinion in the White House after immigration agents shot and killed two people. Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/26

Here’s who is running in the heated race for insurance commissioner -- In a typical election year, the interest in the down-ballot race for California insurance commissioner musters modest interest at best. That all changed on Jan. 7, 2025, when wildfires swept through L.A. County, damaging or destroying more than 18,000 homes and killing at least 31 people. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/26

 

Bernie Sanders takes his anti-billionaire message to the heart of Silicon Valley -- Sen. Bernie Sanders slammed the “multibillionaires” running the nation’s largest tech companies while speaking in the heart of Silicon Valley Friday and warned that rapidly advancing AI technology could create a scenario where “human beings could actually lose control over the planet Earth.” Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/21/26

Cities gearing up for a fight against LA County’s one-half cent healthcare sales tax -- A half-cent sales tax before L.A. County voters in June that attempts to backfill deep federal cuts to health care services faces growing opposition from dozens of cities and local anti-tax-watchdog groups who are expected to campaign against the measure. Steve Scauzillo in the LA Daily News -- 2/21/26

 

Pummeled by snowstorms, California mountain towns urge tourists to ‘read the room’ -- Thousands of people lost power in the Sierra foothills this week, with many snowbound by a storm that blanketed some areas in more than 10 feet of new snow. But the conditions have done little to stem the flow of “snowplayers” — weekend visitors from the Bay Area or Central Valley who travel to the mountains to ski, sled and sightsee. Lucy Hodgman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/21/26

Workplace

Sam Altman thinks tech companies are ‘AI-washing’ their layoffs -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman thinks some companies could be using artificial intelligence as a scapegoat in the mass layoffs that have swept tech and adjacent industries in recent months. Lucy Hodgman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/22/26

Oakland school district crisis: Teachers union overwhelmingly votes to authorize strike -- Oakland teachers could go on strike as early as next week if union leaders call for one, marking the last step in an adversarial bargaining process that has dragged on for nearly a year. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/22/26

SFUSD to issue layoff notices a week after $183 million deal to end teachers strike --With the ink barely dry on a $183 million agreement that ended the historic San Francisco teachers strike this month, the district will ask the school board to approve preliminary layoff notices for 42 educators and other staff. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/21/26

Homeless

L.A. wanted to dismantle homeless RVs. A judge just shut that down -- A Superior Court judge halted L.A.’s plan to dismantle RVs, saying the city lacked the legal authority to move ahead. Homeless advocates cheered the ruling, while city officials said it would impede efforts to address public health. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/26

Wildfire

With Pacific Palisades in spotlight, Altadena fights for attention, post-fire justice -- The Los Angeles firestorm of January 2025 was a double disaster, burning thousands of homes and taking dozens of lives across Pacific Palisades and Altadena. But over the last year, much of the national conversation has drifted toward Pacific Palisades and away from Altadena — despite glaring shortcomings in both fires that deserve scrutiny and accountability. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/26

Pasadena’s Black History Festival becomes beacon of healing for Eaton fire survivors -- Walt Butler has no plans to slow down. “If you rest too much, you just become lethargic,” the Pasadena sports icon said while handing out custom T-shirts to kids at his booth at the 2026 Black History Festival on Saturday. And the 84-year-old has so much more he wants to do. Tracy Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/26

Education

Why Hold Your Straight-A Student Back a Year? To Get a Better Endorsement Deal -- Michael Cancelleri, an entrepreneur in San Clemente, Calif., has poured tens of thousands of dollars into his son’s baseball career—club team fees, tournament travel and top-of-the-line equipment. As high school approached, Cancelleri decided that wasn’t enough. He paid about $20,000 for his son, a straight-A student, to repeat a grade at a private middle school sports academy. Harriet Ryan, Roger Kisby in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/21/26

Also

Atmospheric river headed to California will bring surge of subtropical moisture -- After a brief reprieve from storms, the atmosphere is beginning to stir again. Greg Porter in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/22/26

Thousands of seniors in San Diego County forced to find new doctors -- Patricia “Patti” and Myron Monroe of Poway were surprised recently when they received new medical cards in the mail, printed with the names of doctors they had never met. They were stunned to see that these new doctors worked for medical groups outside UC San Diego Health and, as they began to read the accompanying paperwork, a feeling of déjà vu descended. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 2/22/26

Alysa Liu scores ‘ice cream for life’ from Oakland creamery after historic Olympic win -- “You continue to inspire our entire community. What an incredible achievement, and what a moment for Oakland,” the historic ice cream parlor captioned a photo of Liu shared to Instagram on Thursday. “Ice cream for life? Seriously. We mean it.” Zara Irshad in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/22/26

Street

‘That man is a monster,’ California serial child molester granted parole. Victims are outraged -- A Sacramento man once described by a judge as “the monster parents fear the most” seemed destined to spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation in 1999. Instead he is now set to go free after being granted elderly parole — much to the anger and horror of some of his victims, as well as the prosecutor who oversaw his case. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/26

POTUS 47

Armed man shot and killed after entering secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service says -- An armed man drove into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before being shot and killed early Sunday morning, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service. Trump was not there but was at the White House in Washington. Michelle L. Price, Allen G. Breed Associated Press Jacob Wendler Politico -- 2/22/26

Trump’s Trade Gamble Will Continue, Despite Supreme Court Rebuke -- The president seems as intent on tariffs as ever and argues that his trade agenda is succeeding, despite little evidence to support it. Ana Swanson in the New York Times$ -- 2/21/26

The ‘gift’ Democrats think Trump just gave them -- For Democrats, it’s not just the tariff ruling that could open a new messaging avenue — it’s also President Donald Trump’s doubling down. Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner Politico -- 2/22/26

Tariff Ruling Sends CEOs Back to Company War Rooms -- Executives are trying to figure out if importers can reclaim billions in paid levies—and whether it’s worth the political fight. Chip Cutter, Ruth Simon and Sarah Nassauer in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/22/26

Trump Says He Is Sending Hospital Ship to Greenland -- Trump posted the missive after a meeting with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, whom he named as envoy to Greenland last year. The White House didn’t respond to questions about what specifically prompted the ship’s deployment. Greenland’s government provides free healthcare to the population. Natalie Andrews in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/21/26