California Policy and Politics Friday

Justice Department subpoenas California election workers in probe of noncitizen voting -- Los Angeles County election officials have received subpoenas directing them to appear before a grand jury immediately after Election Day as part of the Trump administration’s effort to investigate alleged noncitizen voting in California. Lindsey Holden and Josh Gerstein Politico Devlin Barrett and Shawn Hubler in the New York Times$ Sara Libby, Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/30/26

California, feds continue election war after courts rebuke challenge to 20,000 ballots -- Soon after a federal judge in Los Angeles sharply rejected a Trump administration effort to block 20,000 California ballots from voters it alleged may be noncitizens, the U.S. Justice Department appealed — leaving attorneys on both sides preparing Thursday for yet another court battle. Kevin Rector and Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

Judge Orders Trump Officials to Outline Election Demands Sent to States -- A federal judge gave the government until noon on Friday to share which states had received letters trying to enlist them in an effort to find evidence of voter fraud. Zach Montague in the New York Times$ -- 10/30/26

Gov. Gavin Newsom to send election attorneys to counter federal poll watchers -- Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Democratic Party are sending teams of election law attorneys to five congressional districts to guard against federal intervention in next week’s midterms after the White House accused the state of allowing noncitizens to illegally vote in recent elections. Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/30/26

 

Becerra widens lead in governor’s race as voter focus shifts to Trump, new poll shows -- Xavier Becerra is poised to make history as California’s first elected Latino governor, according to a new poll. But the survey shows voters, and Latinos in particular, have mixed views on the significance and impact of Becerra’s probable win. Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

Xavier Becerra is still avoiding specifics as Election Day nears -- Since he vaulted from single-digits in the polls to win California’s primary election in June, governor candidate Xavier Becerra has played it safe. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/30/26

L.A.’s Black leaders uneasy about Bass’ prospects amid declining clout at City Hall -- Mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman are in a dead heat, the latest Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll shows, but Bass continues to be dogged by stubbornly high disapproval numbers. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

 

The Four Academics Who Dreamed Up California’s Billionaire Tax -- The proposed California wealth tax has galvanized a host of billionaires who have lined up to fight it. On the other side lies a group of less obvious power brokers: the four professors who drafted the ballot measure. Juliet Chung in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/30/26

 

Google and Meta spent big this election cycle. Is Big Tech trying to ‘buy the legislature’? -- Tech interests have spent tens of millions of dollars this year on state legislative races alone. Industry advocates say they want to protect innovation from overregulation. Khari Johnson and Jeremia Kimelman Calmatters -- 10/30/26

How Prop 45 could reshape California’s fight over data centers -- Prop. 45, billed as a pro-housing development measure, may have the unintended consequence of making it easier to build data centers, opponents say. Katherine Ortiz Calmatters -- 10/30/26

Workplace

9th Circuit upholds ruling blocking California law on mandatory political and religious meetings -- A union-backed California law that prohibits employers from punishing workers who refuse to attend staff meetings on political or religious issues cannot be enforced because it most likely violates employers’ freedom of speech, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/30/26

Wildfire

Experts to lawmakers: Limits on utility liability may ‘seriously threaten’ CA insurance -- California’s insurance commissioner and other experts warn that eliminating the ability of insurers to recover money after utility-caused wildfires could destabilize the state’s fragile market for homeowner coverage. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/30/26

Sutter Health

Sutter promised a $1 billion new hospital in the East Bay. Now, it’s pulling the plug -- The 200-bed medical center and flagship campus, announced last year, had been meant to replace Sutter’s 300-bed Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley, which the company has said it must close by 2030 to avoid state-required earthquake safety upgrades. Kate Talerico in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/30/26

ICE

‘Mountain of evidence’: ICE agents discriminated against Latinos, judge says -- A federal judge barred immigration agents in Southern California from stopping people based on racial stereotypes, finding evidence of an unwritten, “officially sanctioned” policy of targeting people who appear Latino. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

Water

Newsom races to lock in his water legacy -- Gov. Gavin Newsom has been working hard to wrap up his pet water projects before he leaves office in early January, but he’s facing some stubborn obstacles. How things shake out could shape his image as an executive of a major economy ahead of a likely 2028 presidential run. Camille von Kaenel Politico -- 10/30/26

Has the Trump administration doomed Newsom’s water plan? -- California approved Newsom’s Delta water rules, but Trump threatens to pull out and $740M with it. Water agencies that once backed the deal call it too strict; environmentalists say it’s too weak. Rachel Becker Calmatters -- 10/30/26

Fierce debate as California changes course in central water hub -- A controversial plan that dramatically changes how the state governs the pumping of water out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta — the heart of the state water system — was adopted by California regulators late Thursday after two days of debate involving more than 200 people. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

Climate

‘This is the worst it’s been.’ King tides flood Southern California beach bars and restaurants -- Some businesses are staying open as tides recede, but flooding has cut sales, damaged floors and strained workers in an industry already facing high costs and thin margins. Stephanie Breijo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

EV

‘They come in droves’: How robotaxis hog EV chargers in one corner of Southern California -- San Diego EV drivers say newly deployed Waymo robotaxis are filling scarce fast-charging stations, leaving some motorists waiting to plug in. City leaders are urging California to give local governments more authority over driverless cars, while San Diego expands its public charging network. Ella Chakarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

LA28

Newsom announces a state ‘strike force’ to smooth path for 2028 Olympics -- Strike team leader Jamie Callahan will work to ensure state agencies are cooperating with local governments and LA28 so the Games run smoothly. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/30/26

Education

Inside California’s decadelong higher education expansion in prisons -- Nearly 500 Californians are pursuing bachelor’s degrees while incarcerated, more than twice the number of students enrolled three years ago. California State University, Los Angeles has launched the state’s newest bachelor’s degree program at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, where 34 incarcerated men are pursuing majors in liberal studies. William Melhado EdSource -- 10/30/26

Also

The Grand Plan to Build America’s Most Expensive Neighborhood Is Collapsing -- It was supposed to be the most-expensive new neighborhood in America, a cluster of five midcentury-inspired mansions perched on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, Calif. The ambition was to sell them for nearly a half a billion dollars to some of the world’s richest people. Katherine Clarke, Adam Amengual in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/30/26

POTUS 47

U.S. Oil Industry Earned Over $130 Billion in Profit During Iran War -- That was almost three times as much as what businesses producing and refining oil in the United States made in the same period in 2025. Rebecca F. Elliott and Keith Collins in the New York Times$ -- 10/30/26

Did Trump invest more money in rural California health ahead of the election? -- The Trump administration announced a $233.6 million investment in California rural health just five days before the midterm election that could determine control of Congress. But state officials say the money isn’t new. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 10/30/26

Trump Attacks Black and Jewish Supporters of El-Sayed as ‘Crazy’ -- The president’s attack line follows a similarly divisive campaign strategy from 2024, when Mr. Trump sought to drive a wedge between Jewish and Arab voters. Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 10/30/26

Trump adds weekend rallies back after canceling a day earlier -- The president will travel to Iowa and Kansas on Sunday after spending Friday and Saturday in Florida. Natalie Allison in the Washington Post$ -- 10/30/26