State News

Judge rejects Trump administration bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots

A federal judge refused to order California to set aside 20,000 ballots, citing a ‘pattern of attempted election interference’ by the Trump administration

Lawsuit claims lawmaker retaliated against employee for reporting misconduct

A former staffer for Democratic Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías accuses the lawmaker of whistleblower retaliation and racial discrimination in a recently filed lawsuit.

Dolores Huerta ‘stayed in the fight’ for 7 decades, inspiring generations of Californians

Labor icon Dolores Huerta influenced generations of Californians who were inspired by her advocacy for civil rights, farmworkers and immigrants.

‘My whole life got destroyed:’ Fresno father, 49 years in the United States, suddenly deported

Luis Arreguin, a father of four, lived for 49 years in the United States. It took just 16 days for ICE to send him to Mexico after detaining him in Fresno.

For LA fire survivors awaiting federal disaster aid, the midterms could be key

Long-term disaster recovery for the Los Angeles fires depends on federal funding. FEMA has indicated less support for states, but California lawmakers think Democratic wins in November could change things.

What local election officials found in Trump’s new claims about California voters

The Trump administration is demanding that almost every California county review its claims that noncitizens are registered to vote. Some of the information appears outdated, officials say.

Judge says Trump could disenfranchise voters in purge of noncitizens from election rolls

A federal judge is unlikely to issue a final ruling on the Trump administration’s claim that noncitizens are registered to vote in California until after Election Day.

Get up to speed fast on the California election with our guide for the still undecided

Californians have a full ballot for the November 2026 election, including a governor’s race, congressional seats and 14 propositions. Don’t miss your chance to make your ballot count.

Will California Republicans block Democrats from Congress if they win the midterms?

California’s congressional Republicans haven’t signed a pledge agreeing to abide by the midterm elections results.

Californians revolt against police drones after rapid adoption across state

Across California, police departments are rapidly expanding “Drone as First Responder” programs, triggering intense public backlash over warrantless surveillance and corporate overreach.

The final stretch: Catch up on what’s happened in the California governor’s race so far

For weeks, Republican Steve Hilton has tried every trick in the book to boost his candidacy in the California governor’s race. It doesn’t appear to have made a big difference.

California is about to overhaul the way it runs K-12 schools. Will it fix a fragmented system?

For more than a century the state’s K-12 system has been fragmented between the state superintendent of public instruction, State Board of Education, governor’s office, the Legislature, local school boards and a dozen other entities.

In prison, wheelchair basketball offers a chance at reinvention

Gen Z has very different views on taxes than Boomers, but one generation votes more often

Surveys show an age gap across the top issues on California’s ballot, including taxing billionaires and requiring IDs to vote. But while Gen Z makes up 30% of the state’s eligible voters, they are far less likely to vote than their counterparts age 55 and older.

Why are pro-housing groups split on Proposition 45?

Proposition 45 is intended to make it easier to build. But some pro-housing groups worry it will only lead to more sprawl.

Who’s spending money on the California insurance commissioner race

Jane Kim and Ben Allen have promised not to take insurance money, but an outside PAC supporting Allen has received industry donations.

A last-minute voter guide to all 14 propositions on the California ballot

Californians are voting on 14 ballot measures, including propositions on taxes, voting, healthcare, housing and the environment. It’s a lot to take in, but we’re here to help.

Why are so many bonds on the California ballot? Here’s what $44 billion would buy

Californians will decide on $44 billion in bonds when the vote on Propositions 1, 37 and 38. They’d take out debt to pay for housing and medical research.

LA chemical plant on short leash from state regulators as neighbors continue to protest its operations

California has more revenue than expected thanks to AI. Should the state save it?

Proponents say Prop. 2 would allow the state to shore up its reserves for an economic downturn. Critics say it would only allow state leaders to spend more in the future.

A ‘battle of the ages’ in a California House race: Matsui, 82, faces a 41-year-old challenger

The race for Sacramento’s seat in Congress hinges on what kind of “experience” voters value most — seniority and familiarity with Capitol Hill, or first-hand knowledge of the struggles today’s workers face?

California’s carbon market changed this year, and the next governor will inherit the fallout

Steve Hilton would suspend California’s carbon market. Xavier Becerra’s campaign hasn’t said what it would do.

Medi-Cal cuts could push seniors and people with disabilities off of coverage

California cities pull the plug on data centers after state regulations don’t scale up fast enough

Despite seven new statewide laws regulating data centers, at least 26 resolutions, moratoriums, or bans on data centers have been passed or proposed in California since June.

Thousands of California state workers walk off the job in contract dispute with Newsom

The largest union in California state government held a one-day strike, drawing thousands of workers off the job. It’s pressing Gov. Gavin Newsom for raises and more flexibility to work from home.

Vital Central Valley flood control levees are poorly maintained, state watchdog finds

What to know about California’s other tax-the-rich measure: Prop. 3

Voters first passed the tax in 2012, then renewed it in 2016. Now, its supporters are asking voters to make it permanent before it expires in 2031.

Why are California state workers so mad at Gavin Newsom? Spoiler alert: Pay cuts

California state workers say they’re tired of governors balancing the budget “on their backs” and are beginning a statewide state strike today.

‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots

California state workers are about to strike. What that means for the DMV, EDD, parks and more

California state government’s largest union is scheduled to strike this week. It could affect services at a number of offices that people visit every day, including the DMV.

This institute could get $4 billion from a ballot measure. With just three workers, is it ready?

One research institute will receive $4.2 billion in bond money if voters approve Proposition 38 in November. Currently only one institute in the state meets the criteria to qualify for the money.

Why the race for Congress in San Diego looks like a time warp to pre-Trump politics

Democrat Marni von Wilpert and Republican Jim Desmond are sticking to conventional centrist platforms in the closely watched San Diego House race.

Prop. 37 explained: Can a $25 billion bond make homeownership in California attainable?

A clever solution or a confusing gimmick? Like it or hate it, almost everyone has questions about Proposition 37. Here are a few of the big ones — with the best available answers.

Federal prosecutors charge 28 California green card holders with voting violations

The Trump administration charged 28 immigrants with allegedly illegally voting or registering to vote in California in its latest push to hunt down voter fraud. Such cases are exceedingly rare and not proof elections are fraudulent.

They killed people with their big rigs, and California let them keep driving

‘Put them down with gas’: Abuse and retaliation inside a California women’s prison

There’s a $11.25 billion housing bond on the ballot this November. Here’s what you should know

Supporters say California desperately needs money to fund housing construction and make a dent in its homelessness and affordability crisis. Critics say bond financing isn’t the way to do it.

Republicans are spending millions to oust a Democrat who won by 187 votes. Should he worry?

Rep. Adam Gray, a Democrat from Merced, won the closest House race in 2024 by just 187 votes. Now the GOP, which is hungry for a win in California, is spending millions to try and oust him.

Big Tech and Big Business are spending millions to block progressives on the California ballot

Voters in these nine legislative districts are weighing in on particularly competitive races, made even more competitive by the flood of outside money pouring in to sway public opinion.