California Politics & News
Stay updated with California news, including reporting, analysis, and commentary on state government, progressive overreach, and the conservative response to Golden State policies.
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opinion
Newsom’s Fatal Flaw: A Wife Who Radiates Coastal Contempt
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is positioning himself with characteristic flair for a national run in 2028, but at least one major obstacle stands in his way: his radical wife. Movie-star good looks, smooth delivery, and nearly a decade as California’s governor have made Newsom the early Democrat front-runner. He has spent the Trump years delivering fierce… -
opinion
Xavier Becerra Is the Worst of a Bad Bunch of Democrat Candidates
Democrats have run California into the ground for 16 straight years, with supermajorities and zero excuses—not a single Republican to blame. Now, with Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited, they’re supposed to pick a successor. And what do we get? A clown car of mediocrity: a weak, fractured bench so pathetic they can’t even decide on a candidate, let alone consolidate behind one. Seven major Democrats are… -
news
California STEM Push Backfires: Schmitt Calls OPT a ‘Backdoor Jobs Program’ for Foreign Workers
California college graduates have been struggling to take their next steps into the career world. According to one congressman, the issue is not a lack of jobs, but a prioritization of foreign workers. For years, the Golden State’s Bay Area has been a haven for jobs within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. But Republican Missouri… -
news
Can California Elections Be Saved? Voter ID Qualifies for the Ballot
Californians will get a chance to vote for more secure elections this November after a voter identification and citizenship verification initiative qualified for the ballot. Following a successful signature-gathering campaign led by Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, the ballot question, if approved, would require government-issued identification for in-person voting. Californians voting by mail would need… -
Pomona Debate 2026: The California Dream Is Dying—Clear Winners, Clear Losers
Tuesday night’s chaotic California gubernatorial debate at Pomona College was marked by constant interruptions and deep voter frustration. Drew Allen, The Daily Signal’s California columnist, argues in today’s commentary that Republican Steve Hilton delivered the strongest performance by confronting Sacramento’s failures head-on, Matt Mahan stood out as the most pragmatic Democrat, while Xavier Becerra and… -
news
Biggest Moments of Tuesday Night’s California Governor’s Debate
California candidates faced off Tuesday night in the fourth major gubernatorial debate of the year. Here are the top 10 standout moments of the night. On Gas Prices: Lightning Round: Each candidate said “yes” or “no” to a gas tax. Katie Porter interrupted Tom Steyer, accusing him of hypocrisy, alleging that he benefited from… -
news
Question After Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: Is California an Incubator for Leftist Violence?
Following the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump over the weekend, some Americans have begun to posit a connection between the alleged shooter’s actions and the incubation of radical beliefs in California’s education system. On Monday, Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, was charged with attempting to kill the president after being taken… -
opinion
The California Governor Debate: ‘The Democrats Had No Solutions’
The California gubernatorial debate went exactly how you would expect. Democrats deflecting blame and rerunning the same tired talking points instead of offering real solutions to California’s mounting list of problems. Climate sermons from private jet flyers, tax the rich rhetoric from billionaires, and homelessness solutions from leaders of failed cities who still think more… -
news
CA Hospice Fraud Question: ‘How Do You Put a Hospice in a Burrito Stand?’
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has halted payments to more than 400 hospices in Los Angeles and across California, with the estimated fraud being greater than $600 million, according to the anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance. Sheila Clark, CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association, is questioning… -
news
‘Dismal Failure’ or Passing Grade? Candidates Split on Newsom’s Homelessness Record
The Golden State boasts as much as 50% of the nation’s homeless population and has spent a whopping $24 billion to address the problem. Six gubernatorial candidates faced off on a debate stage in San Francisco Wednesday night and offered A-F grades on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of the issue. Here’s what they said: Katie… -
opinion
Fantasy Land vs. Reality: California Debate Exposes One-Party Failure
Wednesday’s California gubernatorial debate in San Francisco laid bare the results of 16 years of one-party Democrat rule: sky-high gas prices, tent cities, crumbling roads, and declining public safety, paired with little more than excuses and fantasies from the candidates. The four Democrats—Tom Steyer, the self-styled “anti-billionaire” billionaire; Katie Porter, the climate alarmist; Matt Mahan,… -
opinion
Swalwell, Jungle Primaries, and Why California Politicians Are Far Left
Clarity about the California gubernatorial election hit me while watching candidate Eric Swalwell’s downfall and withdrawal over a sex scandal. What makes this shake-up so significant is the fact that California uses a “jungle primary” to determine the candidates who will be on the ballot come Election Day. A jungle primary is a nonpartisan primary election… -
opinion
Liberals Shocked That Fare Enforcement Dramatically Reduced Crime on Bay Area Transit
It’s fascinating to watch as American cities are forced to rediscover common sense. An interesting report in The Atlantic, of all places, on Monday highlighted how the San Francisco Bay Area, like a broken clock, finally hit on a good idea. The Bay Area Rapid Transit system, which for years has been plagued by low ridership and dysfunction,… -
news
‘He Was Dissecting the Dog’s Leg’: Inside Alleged Animal Abuse on Skid Row
As Los Angeles continues to face major troubles from its homeless population, a new issue is bubbling to the surface—animals are being abused on Skid Row. In the city run by Mayor Karen Bass, Skid Row, the 50-block district in downtown, is home to almost 4,000 homeless Californians. Not only are the residents plagued with… -
news
Becerra Makes Big Move in California Governor’s Race
In the aftermath of Eric Swalwell’s controversy-filled exit from the California governor’s race, a new poll shows Xavier Becerra has surged in popularity, gaining a whopping 11 points, tying billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer for second place. Jumping from just 4% in early April to now 15%, Becerra is in second place, even with Steyer. Republican… -
opinion
The ‘California Values’ That Ruined California
President Trump’s endorsement of Steve Hilton for governor of California earlier this month has sent the Democratic establishment into predictable convulsions. Katie Porter, one of the leading Democratic hopefuls, declared that the race now boils down to a stark choice: “California values against MAGA.” Others called Hilton a “Trump puppet.” The implication is clear: Any candidate endorsed by President Trump is… -
news
California Dems in Disarray After Swalwell’s Exit
A handful of Democrats are still vying for California’s top office, leaving many to wonder which candidate could rise to the top now that former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is out. Within a matter of two days, Swalwell went from being the top Democratic candidate for California’s highest office to announcing the end of his… -
news
‘Unconstitutional Stop Nick Shirley Act’ Pushed by California Democrats
After independent journalist Nick Shirley sparked a national news cycle in January over alleged state-administered fraud, California lawmakers have moved to restrict the activities of independent journalists who question government spending, according to state officials. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal, California state Assemblyman David Tangipa said the California Legislature is advancing what… -
opinion
Democrats’ Jungle Primary Boomerang Hits Swalwell Hard
ditor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. Here in California, we’re having a primary coming up in June. Since 2010, by ballot initiative, we have jungle primaries, where the… -
opinion
Here’s Where California Democrats Stand on the Explosive Eric Swalwell Allegations
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Barely any of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s fellow elected California Democrats have called for him to resign his Congressional seat—though some said he should drop out of the state’s gubernatorial race—after multiple women accused him of sexual assault Friday. A former Swalwell staffer alleged he sexually assaulted her twice when she was intoxicated…