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California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Updating . . .
Billionaires pour millions into ballot fight over California wealth tax -- Opponents of the proposed California Billionaire Tax Act ballot initiative say they have collected more than enough signatures to qualify two countermeasures that could weaken or block it, setting up a big-dollar November fight over further taxing the Golden State’s richest residents that has divided Silicon Valley and the state’s political class. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/5/26
The campaign against voter ID in California is off to a slow start -- California Democrats and their allies have yet to stand up a campaign against a Republican voter identification ballot measure. They insist it’s coming. Lindsey Holden Politico -- 5/5/26
In the six-way race to be California’s treasurer, it likely comes down to two Democrats -- California’s treasurer manages bonds, pensions, and billions in cash. These are the six people vying for the job. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 5/5/26
Candidate interview: Villaraigosa wants California’s top job — for only one term -- Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been a fixture in California politics for three decades, and is making one last push for the state’s top job. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
Bonta’s battles with Trump define attorney general race as GOP challenger tries to break through -- Democratic state Attorney General Rob Bonta and Republican challenger Michael Gates are offering sharply different visions of the job: Bonta has made opposing federal overreach a central focus, while Gates argues the state’s top prosecutor should prioritize crime. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/5/26
Newsom calls on election officials to count votes faster. ‘We are being tested’ -- Gov. Gavin Newsom wants California elections officials to count ballots faster to head off any voter-related misinformation as the June 2 primary approaches. Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/5/26
What to Know About the California Primary Election -- Voters are starting to make decisions after receiving their primary ballots this week. The election includes a turbulent governor’s race and a competitive mayoral contest in Los Angeles. Jill Cowan in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/26
California’s population falls amid cut in legal immigration -- The decline was marginal — roughly 54,000 people from January 2025 to January 2026, putting the state population at just under 39.6 million — but still notable for a state whose population had only recently bounced back from the pandemic. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
Here’s how California elections officials are addressing concerns about ICE and voting -- Nearly a year after the Trump administration’s mass-scale immigration crackdown first took hold in Los Angeles, the thought of encountering an immigration agent remains a concern for some — including voters who wonder if it would be safe to cast ballots in person during California’s upcoming primary election. Linh Tat in the LA Daily News -- 5/5/26
Bay Area’s largest immigration court closes, worsening the nation’s asylum case backlog -- The Trump administration shuttered the Bay Area’s largest immigration court Friday, a move that’s almost certain to worsen the nationwide backlog of asylum cases. The San Francisco immigration court at 100 Montgomery St, one of two in the city, had more than 120,000 pending cases. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
Trump’s plan to reshape immigration courts: Can the DOJ fire its way to faster deportations? -- The apparent targeting and firing of immigration court judges nationwide, seemingly over rulings that go against the administration’s deportation priorities, have drawn widespread news coverage in recent days and shined an intense spotlight on the role of the immigration courts. Sean Emery in the Orange County Register$ -- 5/5/26
Walters: Gavin Newsom slow-rolled single-payer healthcare, leaving it to a successor -- Universal healthcare provided by government is the holy grail for those on the political left, so its advocates in California cheered — or at least most did — when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 770 three years ago. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 5/5/26
Trump slashed scientific research funds. A massive California bond could offset the cuts -- Scientists, doctors, students and patients from across California rallied in Sacramento Monday, calling on state lawmakers to support a $23 billion bond — the largest ever of its kind — to fund life-saving research facing insurmountable instability during the Trump administration. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
They answer the call for Californians in mental distress. The money is running out -- California's mobile crisis teams have surged in popularity as an alternative to police response, but a proposed state budget change could force counties to foot a $150–200M annual bill. Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters -- 5/5/26
San Francisco Chronicle wins Pulitzer Prize for home insurance investigation -- The Chronicle was honored for revealing how companies drastically underpay wildfire survivors. Photographer Gabrielle Lurie and an investigation of for-profit psychiatric hospitals were also named finalists. Sarah Feldberg in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
Workplace
Paramount’s Ellison underscores his pledge to make 30 films a year when his company buys Warner Bros. -- During a Monday call with analysts to discuss Paramount’s first-quarter earnings, the tech scion said the target was achievable because his management team would maintain current levels of production. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/26
L.A. neighborhoods see influx of 500 delivery bots -- Serve Robotics has deployed more than 500 sidewalk delivery robots across 40 Los Angeles neighborhoods, up from just two neighborhoods in 2023, as the California company races to prove that autonomous machines can replace human couriers. Nilesh Christopher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/26
Working-class Californians are fleeing the Bay Area. This is where they’re going -- Of the estimated 56,000 households that moved to Stanislaus County between 2015 and 2024, about 1 in 3 came from the Bay Area. As a new home for Bay Area movers, Stanislaus County stood out: It saw among the highest share of migrants without college degrees, even while Santa Cruz and San Joaquin counties remained more popular destinations overall. Lucy Hodgman, Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
Wildfire
Suspected arsonist behind Palisades fire looked up to Luigi Mangione as hero, prosecutors say -- The man accused of starting the Palisades fire, one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history, was motivated by a resentment for the rich and viewed Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive, as a Robin Hood-like figure, according to court documents detailing evidence gathered by federal prosecutors. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/26
State Farm
State investigation alleges State Farm’s wildfire response broke law 400 times -- The California Department of Insurance launched its investigation last summer in response to complaints from Eaton and Palisades wildfire survivors who said State Farm’s adjusters made inconsistent decisions on similar claims and refused to communicate, among other issues. Megan Fan Munce, Susie Neilson, Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ Amancai Biraben in the LA Daily News Jean Eaglesham and Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ Rukmini Callimachi and Blacki Migliozzi in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/26
Tijuana wastwater
One of California’s Ritziest Beach Towns Has a Problem: A Tsunami of Raw Sewage -- Coronado, Calif., beaches are increasingly fouled by as much as 30 million gallons daily of sewage-tainted wastewater from Tijuana, Mexico. The pollution has led to beach closures, unsafe fecal-bacteria levels, a stench and significant revenue losses for local businesses. The U.S. and Mexico are accelerating projects to upgrade treatment facilities. Jim Carlton, John Francis Peters in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/5/26
Housing
How Southern California churches are turning unused land into affordable housing -- When Pastor Adiel DePano arrived at his latest clerical appointment at the Santa Ana United Methodist Church in 2017, its secondary worship site 5 miles away was a “biohazard,” with frequent fires at neglected buildings and syringes littering the grounds. Amancai Biraben in the Orange County Register$ -- 5/5/26
Homeless
Bay Area cities crack down on RV living, pushing homeless residents across borders -- Homelessness is fluid in the Bay Area, and one city’s crackdown may push residents across borders. Officials worried that Oakland had become a "destination" for displaced residents fleeing tougher rules elsewhere. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/5/26
Education
‘I have an A because I use Chat’: What UC students say about using AI — and whether it’s cheating -- AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere on campus. Students at UC Berkeley and SFSU explain how they use them — and why some don’t see it as cheating. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/26
Street
Shot in the head and face at L.A. ‘No Kings’ protest, two young men are now seeking justice -- One man lost hearing in one ear and another lost sight in one eye after being shot with less-lethal projectiles by authorities during “No Kings” protests in Los Angeles. Micah Moore, 25, and Tucker Collins, 18, both said they were innocent protesters who did nothing to provoke law enforcement before being shot. Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/26
The LAPD once stopped American migration at the California border — to keep out the poor -- In 1936, Los Angeles Police Chief James E. Davis deployed officers to remote California border towns to stop poor Americans fleeing the Dust Bowl from entering the state. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/26
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U.S. and Iran Both Claim Control Over Strait of Hormuz -- The United States and Iran made competing claims over which side controlled the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, adding pressure to their shaky cease-fire after the U.S. Navy launched an effort to escort vessels through the vital oil shipping route. Eric Schmitt, Greg Jaffe and Leo Sands in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/26
Attacks in Strait of Hormuz, Gulf region imperil fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire -- Two U.S. destroyers and two merchant vessels came under fire during successful transits of the strait, while UAE and Oman reported attacks. Susannah George and Tara Copp in the Washington Post$ Alexander Ward in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/5/26
Trump Tries to Downplay Economic Effects of the Iran War -- At a White House event for Small Business Week, he described the economy as “roaring” and predicted that gas prices would go down soon. Erica L. Green and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/26
Soil at D.C. Golf Course Where East Wing Debris Was Dumped Contains Toxic Metals -- Soil at a public golf course in Washington where the Trump administration dumped debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing has tested positive for lead, chromium and other toxic metals, according to data released by the National Park Service. Maxine Joselow in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/26
California Policy and Politics Monday
State investigation alleges State Farm’s wildfire response broke law 400 times -- A state investigation into California’s largest home insurer, State Farm General Insurance Co., alleges it violated state law more than 400 times in its response to the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires. Megan Fan Munce, Susie Neilson, Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 5/4/26
How Xavier Becerra became the Joe Biden of California’s governor race -- He is defying conventional wisdom about what Democratic voters want and is surpassing flashier, more progressive opponents pledging to upend the status quo. Blake Jones Politico -- 5/4/26
Xavier Becerra unveils his AI vision for California -- The former HHS secretary wants AI to benefit everyone, not “private wealth for the few.” Tyler Katzenberger and Christine Mui Politico -- 5/4/26
Candidate interview: Matt Mahan is tech billionaires’ pick. Here’s how he wants to win everyday voters -- San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s decision to stake out the most business-friendly stances of the Democrats running for governor has won him the support of some of the country’s most powerful billionaires. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
We’re endorsing an underdog for California governor. Why she should get your vote -- McClatchy Media’s California editorial board, which includes columnists and editors from The Sacramento Bee, The Modesto Bee, The Fresno Bee, Merced Sun-Star and The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, agrees unanimously on one thing: The next governor of California must be a Democrat. McClatchy Media’s California editorial board -- 5/4/26
Kamala Harris endorses L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for reelection -- Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for reelection, citing Bass’ achievements including the declines in homelessness and crime. Despite leading in polls, Bass faces voter skepticism, with 56% viewing her unfavorably following her leadership during the devastating Palisades fire. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
Kamala Harris endorses slate of California candidates — but not for governor -- Former Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a slate of endorsements Monday ahead of California’s June primary, but she’s steering clear of the governor’s race where anxious Democrats have been trying to winnow a crowded field to avoid being locked out of the top two. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
Kamala Harris bought a Malibu home. Her neighbors think that means something -- Amid all the speculation about whether Harris will again run for president, her move is regarded here — in her new celebrity-laden enclave — not as a launching pad, but as a sign of retreat. Daniel Miller Politico -- 5/4/26
Skelton: California isn’t so cutting-edge when it comes to electing governors -- Across America, 53 women have served as state governors. But not one in California. What gives? Aren’t we supposed to be enlightened out here in this cutting-edge state? George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
Barabak: Not too early, not too late. Here’s the sweet spot for voting in California -- Mail ballots will soon arrive in homes all over California. Many may choose to wait a little while before voting, as contests continue to unfold. But voters shouldn’t wait too long to make sure their ballot is processed in time to count. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
2026 Voter Guide: In California’s June 2 primary, you can vote for any candidate from any party. The top two candidates move on to the November election, when voters choose the winner. Calmatters -- 5/4/26
California election: Inside the battles for governor and L.A. mayor, plus a new map under Prop. 50 -- Ballots are already in the mail to registered voters. There are multiple ways to cast your vote, including by mail, dropping off your ballot in a box or showing up at a polling place on election day — June 2 — if you forgot to register to vote. Kevinisha Walker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
Voter Guide 2026: California and S.F. Bay Area primary election -- Guide to the key races that state and San Francisco Bay Area residents will vote on in the June primary election in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
Everything to know about the California 2026 primary -- While some high-profile races are drawing broad attention, much of what’s on the ballot is closer to home, including legislative seats, school boards and local measures that could influence public policy for years in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/4/26
Your guide to the California governor primary race -- This year’s governor’s race is unlike any in recent memory. Less than two months ahead of the June 2 primary, voters have yet to coalesce behind a candidate for the top job in California. Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/4/26
Ballots are on their way: Here’s what you need to know about the June 2 primary -- More than half of the statewide offices on the ballot have no incumbent running. Californians this year will elect a new lieutenant governor — the second in command in the state who sits on several key commissions related to higher education, land use and economic development — a new treasurer, and a new state superintendent of public instruction. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/4/26
He made noise as AOC’s chief of staff. Now her silence looms over his bid for Congress -- Congressional staffing changes are not ordinarily treated as national news. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
California Republicans who flipped seats in 2024 are fighting to keep them -- Vulnerable Republican incumbents are seeking to distance themselves from President Donald Trump as they try to hang on to 2024 gains in the state Legislature. Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 5/4/26
Tech regulation gets personal: How Tom Steyer’s brother could shape California’s AI future -- Tom Steyer’s arguably equally famous older brother Jim is a well known force in Sacramento working on tech regulations and protecting kids online. Does that mean he’d have an open ear in the governor’s office on a hot-button issue if Tom wins? Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 5/4/26
Trump assassination suspect Cole Allen’s attorney calls suicide precautions unjustified -- Cole Allen, the Torrance man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump, remains confined to a padded cell despite assessments showing no suicide risk. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
Workplace
A push to shield immigrant aid workers is raising 1st Amendment concerns -- California Assembly Bill 2624 would create an address confidentiality program for immigrant aid workers, prohibiting the posting of their personal information online to prevent harassment. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative deal with the studios -- The actors union’s new agreement with the trade group that negotiates with Hollywood unions on behalf of the major studios will reportedly improve AI protections and boost the guild’s pension fund. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
Housing
Bay Area condo values are still falling — except in these San Francisco neighborhoods -- The condominium, long considered a relatively affordable entry point into homeownership, is no longer an option for many buyers. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
Beach homes under $400,000: This is the last affordable city on California’s coast -- About 6½ hours north of San Francisco, the road careens across a treacherous stretch of Highway 101 ominously called Last Chance Grade. From there, the highway dips down past a 2-mile beach and a scattering of hotels, a weathered aquarium, low-slung commercial strips and mostly empty parking lots. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
Environment
Record ocean heat off California coast echoes ‘The Blob,’ killing seabirds and reshaping weather outlook -- Over the past several months, an intense marine heat wave has developed in the Pacific from Washington to Baja Mexico, with a particularly extreme hot spot between the Bay Area and San Diego. Ocean temperatures have spiked to as much as 7 degrees hotter than average, with many places breaking records for this time of year. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/4/26
Education
For asylum seekers, the path to a California education is costly -- Asylum seekers going to college in California can pay much higher nonresident tuition and are often excluded from financial aid, at great cost to them and their families as immigration cases spend years in limbo. Andrea Baltodano and Chrissa Olson Calmatters -- 5/4/26
Also
Nevada’s hidden earthquake risk revealed as Las Vegas, Reno shake -- A recent series of earthquakes in Nevada has served as a jolting reminder of the state’s seismic risk. It started with a scary earthquake near Reno, then more unsettling shaking near Las Vegas. Neither earthquake caused significant damage, but it has gotten Nevada talking about the large geological forces that caused them. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/26
Bay Area’s mosquito season is starting early. An invasive species could make it a lot worse -- The Bay Area could be in for an earlier and longer mosquito season this spring and summer — even as officials race to contain the potential explosion of a new invasive mosquito species that is already spreading in parts of the East and South Bay. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/26
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Oil Rises on Fears of Escalation in Hormuz -- Investors are on edge today, sending oil prices swinging wildly as military tensions flared in the Strait of Hormuz. Several vessels were struck around the strait amid Iranian threats, while the U.S. sent in destroyers and fought off further attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Caitlin McCabe in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/4/26
US claims progress in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying 2 merchant ships have transited -- The U.S. military said Monday that two American-flagged merchant ships had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz after it launched a new initiative to restore traffic. The United Arab Emirates meanwhile issued three missile alerts and authorities said an Iranian drone hit an oil facility. Adam Schreck, Sam Metz Associated Press -- 5/4/26
Iran threatens ships after Trump says the U.S. will break Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz -- Iran rejected a new U.S. effort to help free ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening on Monday to attack American warships or any commercial vessels that tried to pass through the strategic waterway without Iran’s consent. Aaron Boxerman and Sanam Mahoozi in the New York Times$ Dan Diamond and Karen DeYoung in the Washington Post$ -- 5/4/26
Trump says the US will ‘guide’ stranded ships from the Strait of Hormuz, starting on Monday -- The United States will launch an effort on Monday to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said, giving few details about what could be a sweeping attempt to help hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers. Iran quickly denounced it as a ceasefire violation. Adam Schreck, Melanie Lidman, Cara Anna Associated Press Zolan Kanno-Youngs, David E. Sanger and Neil MacFarquhar in the New York Times$ Dan Diamond and Karen DeYoung in the Washington Post$ -- 5/4/26
Internal ICE records reveal widespread use of force in detention centers -- The reports detail how guards have increasingly used chemical agents and physical tactics on detainees, including groups demanding adequate water, food and medical care. Douglas MacMillan, Andrew Ba Tran, Drea Cornejo and Luis Melgar in the Washington Post$ -- 5/4/26