California Policy and Politics Tuesday

California voters reject Prop. 40 billionaire tax -- Voters rejected Proposition 40, a proposal to tax billionaires based on their net worth and financial holdings, by 52.8% to 47.2%, according to The Associated Press Monday. The measure had trailed behind for days before The Associated Press confirmed results. Kristen Hwang Calmatters Queenie Wong and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathryn Palmer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ Jeremy B. White Politico Paul Kiernan and Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

Rep. Calvert declared winner in contested Southern California congressional race -- Longtime Rep. Ken Calvert has survived a fierce reelection battle against fellow Republican Rep. Young Kim to represent a newly drawn Southern California congressional district. Dakota Smith and Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ Blake Jones Politico -- 11/10/26

Voters approve Prop. 38 medical research bond measure -- The measure, which the Associated Press called on Monday evening, requires at least $4.2 billion of the funds to be used for immunology research on cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. It also authorizes the state to enter into a partnership with an unnamed immunology and immunotherapy research institute selected by the California Department of Public Health, and to allocate half of the bond revenue to it. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Gov.-elect Becerra’s rate freeze plan could pit him against powerful interests -- Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra plans to pursue a freeze on utility bills and home insurance premiums, according to a spokesperson for the campaign. The actions could pit the Democrat against powerful interests — including some that indirectly boosted his campaign — early in his tenure. Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/10/26

California judge says she was fired after objecting to settlements with insurers seeking rate hikes -- Former California administrative law judge Kristin Rosi says Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara denied her authority to review insurers’ rate-hike requests and fired her after she objected. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

They fled California for Republican Texas. Then the blue wave hit the lone star state -- Texas’ Democratic sweep has raised questions about whether California transplants helped turn the state blue, but experts doubt the newcomers drove the shift. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Shasta County measure that sought to eliminate most mail-in voting violates state law, judge rules -- Measure B, which was passed by 56% of voters in the June primary, sought to require hand-counted ballots, eliminate most mail-in voting and require residents to present government-issued photo identification to cast a ballot on election day. Iris Kwok in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Before Democrats’ blue tsunami, California prepared to block Trump 2028 -- President Donald Trump has made various statements about running for a third, constitutionally forbidden third term. California has a law for that. Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

ICE

San Diego school officials push back after Haitian boy, 8, is taken during ICE check-in -- An 8-year-old Haitian boy who lost protected status earlier this year was placed in federal custody after an immigration check-in last week in San Diego, according to federal and school district officials. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Judge orders ICE to release UC Berkeley student detained at SFO -- Paula Albornoz Hernandez, 23, was detained by ICE on Oct. 30 while waiting to board a flight to Oregon with her boyfriend. She has a pending asylum case and a current work permit, according to her attorneys. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

Climate

Court limits California rules on companies’ greenhouse-gas disclosures -- A federal appeals court ruled Monday that California cannot enforce a law requiring companies to disclose to investors the risks they face if the public learns how their products affect greenhouse-gas emissions. The court said the law appears to violate the companies’ free-speech rights. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

These California lawmakers are positioned to reshape Washington’s climate agenda -- Lawmakers from California are poised to lead two of Congress’ most consequential energy and environment committees, putting the Golden State at the forefront of efforts to scrutinize the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to federal climate policy. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

El Niño flooding is coming. This Bay Area neighborhood may be among the most vulnerable -- Santos had weathered other floods, but none came close to the devastation of 1983. Now 82, he fears Alviso could face another flood just as destructive — or worse. Connor Letourneau in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

Biggest waves in years to slam California coast — including San Francisco -- The biggest waves in years are forecast to slam the Northern California coast this weekend as powerful storms in the Gulf of Alaska churn up the Pacific Ocean. Anthony Edwards in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

Why Nearly 2,000 Dead Seabirds Have Washed Up on the California Coast -- Scientists say El Niño is exacerbating conditions by causing Pacific Ocean temperatures to rise. Soumya Karlamangla, Loren Elliott in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

Workplace

Skydance looks to cut more than $6 billion as it integrates Warner Bros. operations -- Since Skydance closed its $111-billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery last month, Ellison’s team has been scouring the vast Skydance portfolio for cuts and efficiencies as executives work to integrate the operations of the two legacy entertainment companies in the coming months. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Elvis rights holders and Eminem’s publisher sue Suno, testing the ELVIS Act -- Elvis Presley’s rights holders and Eight Mile Style, the publisher of many of Eminem’s early songs, filed separate federal lawsuits against Suno on Nov. 6. The Presley suit is one of the first major tests of Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, which protects artists’ voices and likenesses. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Education

The Parents Suing Schools Because Their Kids Got Bad Grades -- In Silicon Valley and beyond, families are pressuring teachers or calling lawyers over classroom clashes, from a recess squabble to an essay flagged as ‘76% AI’ Zusha Elinson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/10/26

This L.A. public high school program is training movie and TV crews, with George Clooney’s help -- Founded by George Clooney, filmmaker Grant Heslov and CAA’s co-chairman Bryan Lourd, an L.A. public school program is training students from underrepresented communities for behind-the-scenes film and TV careers. Yvonne Villarreal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

What a ‘blue tsunami’ means for education in California -- For California, where Democrats already dominate state politics, the election could create new opportunities to challenge the administration’s education agenda in Washington. Incoming Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have said the election gives them a mandate to address soaring costs, end war with Iran and clean up government corruption. Emma Gallegos EdSource -- 11/10/26

Young Talent Fueled American Scientific Dominance. Now It’s Disappearing -- Under Trump, new Ph.D. enrollments are down, funding is on the decline and many budding researchers are reconsidering their careers. -- Katrina Miller, Vimal Patel, Jeff Adelson, Irena Hwang, Gabriela Bhaskar, Jamie Kelter Davis, Audra Melton, Ian Willms, Arfa Momin in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

POTUS 47

In search of post-midterm message, Trump waffles on trusting election, immigration policy -- After initially congratulating Democrats on their midterm wins, which he said he was “absolutely willing to accept,” President Trump posted a baseless missive to social media about not trusting early ballot totals or voting machines. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ Luke Broadwater and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

Hegseth impeachment effort begins in House, focused on Iran war -- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) introduced articles of impeachment alleging that the defense secretary “abused” his powers and “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders.” Noah Robertson, Natalie Allison and Tara Copp in the Washington Post$ -- 11/10/26