california-politics6.94 min read
San Francisco braces for a looming national progressive wave
2 days ago•Source: Politico
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Money, Media, and a Broad Field Lift Swalwell and Steyer in California’s Governor Race
With no breakout candidate in California’s open Democratic governor race, Rep. Eric Swalwell and billionaire Tom Steyer have surged into the top tier in recent polls. Swalwell has gained visibility through cable news presence and a strong endorsement from Sen. Adam Schiff, while Steyer has saturated major media markets with ads, leveraging his wealth to stay front and center. The field remains unsettled, helping both veterans’ campaigns to endure, though Porter remains a contender and other rivals attack them to slow momentum.
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Raman’s late bid reshapes LA’s mayoral race, echoing Mamdani’s ascent
Politico•20 days ago
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San José Mayor Matt Mahan Launches Pragmatic Bid for California Governor
latimes.com•1 month ago
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Silicon Valley backs pragmatic California Legislature PAC with $10M
A new California-focused super PAC, California Leads, launched with about $10 million from Google and Meta to back pragmatic candidates for the California Legislature; it will use research, polling and candidate interviews to target races, led by Nathan Click with Scott Kozar, Dave Metz and Austin Heyworth. Google and Meta each seeded roughly $5 million, and donors say they won’t dictate which races are pursued.
Newsom bets on federal reprieve to bridge California’s looming budget gap
Gov. Gavin Newsom is counting on a federal extension of California’s MCO tax on Medi-Cal to cover about $1.1 billion in revenue for the coming budget year; without a six‑month reprieve, the state could face a larger hole as AI-driven revenue remains uncertain and federal rules tighten on how the tax is used.
California Senate advances bill to let residents sue federal agents for rights violations
California’s Senate approved SB 747 to let residents sue federal agents for constitutional rights violations, such as excessive force or unlawful home searches, in response to the Minnesota incidents; the measure moves to the Assembly amid opposition from some law-enforcement groups and questions about Governor Newsom’s support.
California's AI Boom Faces Budget Headwinds as Billionaire Exodus Looms
Budget analysts warn California's AI-driven revenue gains could slow this year, while a looming wealth tax may push billionaires to leave, threatening revenue and complicating Gov. Newsom's final-year budget.
Caruso steps back from CA governor and LA mayor bids
Billionaire developer Rick Caruso announced he will not run for either California governor or Los Angeles mayor in 2026, choosing to focus on wildfire recovery through his Steadfast LA nonprofit after last year’s devastation. He previously lost the LA mayoral race in 2022 to Karen Bass, and while he sought a more moderate, cross-partisan path, the politically polarized climate and Bass's incumbency made a rematch unlikely.
Newsom seeks off-ramp to California’s billionaire tax push
California Governor Gavin Newsom is quietly pursuing an off-ramp with SEIU‑UHW’s billionaire wealth tax initiative to avert a November ballot fight, but no deal is imminent. Newsom opposes the current proposal, arguing it could harm California’s economy and tax base, while unions say the measure is needed to address federal cuts and prevent healthcare job losses; the battle could shape state finance and Silicon Valley dynamics and may influence Newsom’s political standing ahead of a possible 2028 run.