Aaron Read
Edsource.org
Olson Hagel
Capitol Weekly
 
Maplight.org
CA Leg Analyst
 

Updating . .   

Fireworks and dancing in the streets of L.A. as Biden and Harris win -- Californians rejoiced at the news Saturday that Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump to secure the presidency. In a history-making turn, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris became the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian American to win the seat. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Celebrations, protests hit the streets in wake of Biden’s presumed victory -- More than 1,000 people turned out in downtown Los Angeles in the wake of Joe Biden’s projected presidential victory to celebrate the win, defend democracy and demand an end to white supremacy. Various groups led in part by United Teachers Los Angeles, Black Lives Matter and others converged at Pershing Square to rally for a March toward City Hall. David Rosenfeld, Mindy Schauer in the Orange County Register -- 11/7/20

Kamala Harris, the transformative vice president-elect: Oakland native shatters barriers -- California Sen. Kamala Harris’ election as vice president is more than a data point for the history books. It’s a long-sought achievement for women and people of color that could forever change the face of politics. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/7/20

Who will replace Kamala Harris in the Senate? It’s up to Gavin Newsom -- It didn’t take long when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate in August for people to begin wondering who Gov. Gavin Newsom might appoint as her replacement in the U.S. Senate. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sophia Bollag, Hannah Wiley, Kate Irby, and Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

Who would get Kamala Harris’ U.S. Senate seat? The answer could be in Southern California -- With the Associated Press and other major media projecting Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris as winners of the White House, two glaring questions — just theoretical mere months ago — are now framing Southern California politics: Who would take Harris’ seat in the U.S. Senate? And who could end up with posts in a Biden administration? Ryan Carter in the Orange County Register -- 11/7/20

As First Female Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris Rewrites Script for Presidential Politics -- The rise of Kamala Harris from underdog candidate for San Francisco district attorney in 2003 to vice president-elect of the United States in 2020 is truly an “only in America” kind of story, and one that may forever transform the notion of what a winning presidential ticket looks like. Scott Shafer KQED -- 11/7/20

Who from California will President-elect Biden pick for his administration? -- The state has four big players who have been close to Biden throughout the campaign – Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

Here’s what Joe Biden wants to do as president, and what could stop him -- Joe Biden won the White House with one of the most progressive agendas of any major party presidential candidate in history. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/7/20

Orange County backed Biden, but Republicans poised for dramatic comeback after ‘blue wave’ -- Like many conservative voters in Orange County, Carolyn Ehret, a longtime Republican in Laguna Niguel, could not stomach voting for Donald Trump a second time. So she split her ticket to support Joe Biden and her district’s Republican congressional candidate, Michelle Steel. Stephanie Lai, Luke Money, Joe Mozingo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Election Update: Garcia breaks ahead of Smith in unpredictable 25th Congressional race -- Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Saugus, broke ahead of Democrat Christy Smith in the race for the northern Los Angeles County’s 25th Congressional District, according to results from the California Secretary of State’s Office. The two are now separated by 432 votes, with Garcia now holding on to the lead. Garcia has 50.1% of the vote, according to the Secretary of State. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/7/20

Street   

LAPD to dramatically downsize special units, focus on patrol as budget cut shrinks force -- The Los Angeles Police Department in coming months will downsize its specialized units and stop responding in person to traffic collisions and other minor incidents as part of a broad reorganization aimed at preserving patrol and community engagement functions amid new fiscal constraints. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Covid  

Placer County residents are ‘letting down their guard’ on COVID-19. Closures might be coming -- Placer County may be preparing for more closures in the coming weeks as a result of a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to new county data. Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

POTUS 45  

Trump’s bid to discredit election raises fear that he will undermine a smooth transfer of power -- President Trump’s bid to discredit the integrity of the U.S. election results and use legal action to block the completion of vote tallies in some states has raised fears, even among his own aides, that he will refuse to concede and seek to undermine a potential transfer of power after Joe Biden’s victory Saturday. David Nakamura in the Washington Post$ -- 11/7/20

Trump’s post-presidency: Stay relevant, make money, avoid indictment -- He could try another run for office, launching a new political party or investing in a conservative outlet — all intended to keep him in the public eye. Anita Kumar Politico -- 11/7/20

Donald Trump was all about Donald Trump, from start to finish -- Less than a month after Donald Trump was inaugurated, he made it clear to the country he was going to be a very different president. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/7/20

'Far From Over': Trump Refuses To Concede As Biden's Margin Of Victory Widens -- Shortly after The Associated Press and other networks called the presidential election for former Vice President Joe Biden, President Trump released a statement claiming the election was "far from over," falsely accusing President-elect Biden of attempting to undermine the electoral process and vowing to take the election to the courts. Sam Gringlas, Scott Neuman, and Camila Domonoske NPR -- 11/7/20

Six White House aides, including Trump’s chief of staff, have the coronavirus -- Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, has contracted the coronavirus, as have five other White House aides and a Trump campaign adviser, officials say, raising fears of another outbreak sweeping through the ranks of the nation’s top officials. Maggie Haberman and Mike Ives in the New York Times$ -- 11/7/20

 

California Policy & Politics Saturday Morning  

Brentwood home where effigy of Joe Biden had been hung draws second protest -- For a second day in a row, a crowd gathered outside a Garin Ranch neighborhood home Friday to protest a pro-Donald Trump display that included a noose-hung effigy of rival Joe Biden. Shomik Mukherjee, Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/7/20

SoCalGas should be fined $255 million for fighting climate action, watchdog says -- The consumer watchdog arm of the California Public Utilities Commission has recommended the nation’s largest gas company be fined $255 million for trying to block energy efficiency rules and local gas bans, actions critics say were inappropriately funded by ratepayer dollars and designed to subvert efforts to fight climate change. Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Election  

George Gascón will be L.A. County’s next district attorney, promises swift changes -- Fresh on the heels of claiming victory Friday in the nationally watched battle to lead the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, reform challenger George Gascón promised swift changes in criminal justice policies, vowing to stop trying juveniles as adults and prevent prosecutors from seeking the death penalty. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Urban planner Nithya Raman unseats Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu -- Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu conceded defeat in his race for reelection against urban planner Nithya Raman on Friday, becoming the first council member in 17 years to be ousted by an opponent. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

California campaign finance complaints rose sharply in 2020 -- California’s political watchdog agency saw a big jump in the number of complaints alleging campaign law violations for the November election, even in comparison to the tumultuous 2016 presidential election year, and dozens of investigations are ongoing, officials say. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Voters in these Sacramento-area cities just said yes to sales tax hikes. Here’s why -- Voters in a record number of California cities, including Rancho Cordova and Woodland, approved local sales tax hikes this week aimed at boosting city budgets for decades to come. In total, 68 cities put general sales tax measures on the Nov. 3 ballot, the most ever. Of those, 57 were ahead during initial vote counts. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

Virus  

As holiday season nears, coronavirus cases spike in L.A. County -- For the first time since mid-August, Los Angeles County on Friday announced more than 2,100 new coronavirus cases, bringing the county back to the type of daily numbers it saw during the summer spike. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Sacramento County to use text alerts, email surveys to contact trace COVID-19 cases -- The county says the program will let the local health office “contact individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and anonymously notify those they have been in contact with about exposure to the virus,” according to a recent news release. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

Strip Clubs  

Judge overrules county, allows strip clubs to reopen -- Two San Diego adult entertainment clubs were poised to resume live entertainment Friday after a court ruling temporarily stopped enforcement of recent cease-and-desist orders issued by the county health department. Paul Sisson, Deborah Sullivan Brennan in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/7/20

Education  

Changes to ethnic studies in California include expansion on Asian American lessons -- The state on Friday released the latest recommendations for the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, notably expanding Asian American studies and an appendix to offer sample lessons on several ethnic groups. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

Also . . .   

L.A.-area man who allegedly threatened mass shooting if Biden won is held, sources say -- A Los Angeles-area man who took to social media to threaten a mass shooting if Joe Biden won the presidential election has been taken into custody, law enforcement sources confirmed to The Times. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

Black California state employees find racial slurs written on cards on their desks --Three California state employees found racial slurs written on cards on their desks when they arrived at work Friday morning at their West Sacramento office. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/7/20

Sex trafficked and imprisoned, California woman wins freedom after long fight -- For Keiana Aldrich, freedom felt like sand between her toes. Late Thursday night, after being released from the California Institution for Women after nearly a decade behind bars, the former sex trafficking victim dug her feet in the coastline at Huntington Beach, exhilaration hitting her like the waves coming on shore. Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/7/20

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Advisers urge Trump to prepare for defeat — but maybe without a concession speech -- President Trump vowed on Friday to continue to fight the election results, privately urging allies and advisers to defend him publicly and insisting that he still had a path to victory over former vice president Joe Biden. Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 11/7/20

Beltway   

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tests positive for coronavirus -- White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has tested positive for the coronavirus, and told others not to disclose his condition, according to an official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. Meadows was at the White House early Wednesday as President Trump spoke about the election. Josh Dawsey and Amy B Wang in the Washington Post$ -- 11/7/20

 

-- Friday Updates   

George Gascón will be L.A. County’s next district attorney as incumbent Jackie Lacey concedes -- Reform candidate George Gascón will take control of the nation’s largest local prosecutor’s office after incumbent Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey conceded the contest Friday, handing a major win to the movement to elect progressive district attorneys. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ Brian Melley Associated Press Larry Altman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Jeremy B. White Politico -- 11/6/20

L.A. jolted by progressive political shakeup this week. Is it just the beginning? -- In a year dominated by massive street protests over racial injustice and wrenching losses from the pandemic, Los Angeles voters upended the political status quo on Tuesday by backing a slate of progressive candidates and measures. Dakota Smith, Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/6/20

In Trump-loving Newport Beach, the faithful make no apologies -- It is a sentiment widely felt in this coastal cradle of wealth where Trump’s well-heeled supporters have clung to hope this week with the election results up in the air. On Tuesday, they thrilled as the president seemed headed toward a polls-busting victory. By Wednesday, uncertainty crept in. By Thursday, optimism waned. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/6/20

Arellano: In Orange County, pretending coronavirus is fake news wins you elections -- For the last four years, reporters and politicos have descended upon my native Orange County like detectives at a murder scene. The victim: O.C.’s reputation as a GOP kingmaker. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/6/20

Nancy Pelosi declares she will run again for House speaker as Dems quarrel about messaging -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi told fellow House Democrats that she will run to keep her leadership post in the next Congress, on the heels of election results that disappointed her caucus and raised questions about the party’s strategy. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/6/20

Rising Democratic star Michael Tubbs risks reelection defeat, thanks in part to a Stockton blog -- Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, a Democratic rising star with a national reach, is trailing in a reelection bid to an upstart Republican contender — a potential upset driven in part by a local social media page that has become a kingslayer if not a kingmaker in this San Joaquin Valley city. Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/6/20

Fox: California Legislature Rebuked by Voters -- Measured against a number of statewide ballot propositions, the California legislature apparently has a different vision on governing the state than the people they serve. Importantly, two measures that challenged legislative actions intended to lead policy change across the nation were upended by voters. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 11/6/20

Virus 

Coronavirus updates: California reports highest one-day case total since late August -- Though it remains too early to definitively call it a surge, California’s coronavirus activity is growing more concerning by the day. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/6/20

Teachers, parents rally in suburban Sacramento school district for COVID-19 safety plan -- More than 50 teachers and parents Thursday took to the parking lot outside the Folsom Cordova Unified School District headquarters in Rancho Cordova, waving signs, ringing cow bells and calling for more transparency and communication from school officials as they continue to prepare for a return to classrooms. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/6/20

Street  

San Marino man accused of driving truck into Black Lives Matters protest freed on $10-million bond -- A San Marino man accused of intentionally driving a truck into a crowd of Pasadena Black Lives Matter protesters and charged with conspiring to violate firearms laws will be released after his parents put up a $10-million property bond and he surrendered his stock of firearms, authorities said. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/6/20