Tag: california
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Two hundred and sixty-seven major-party candidates are running for state legislature in California, the smallest at any point since 2010
Two hundred and sixty-seven major party candidates filed to run in California legislative elections, the fewest at any point since 2010. One hundred forty-nine are Democrats, and 119 are Republicans. All 80 Assembly seats and 20 of 40 Senate seats are up for election. Twenty-one seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. This means newcomers…
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Campaign behind a California initiative to require healthcare union members to approve of union political spending files signatures
The California Hospital Association is sponsoring a citizen-initiated state statute that would require healthcare labor unions to inform members annually how member dues are being spent on political activities, specifically spending on state and local ballot measures, and require a majority of members to approve such expenditures. The campaign submitted more than 900,000 signatures for…
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Campaign to make permanent additional income tax to fund public education in California submits signatures
A campaign sponsored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) submitted more than 1.6 million signatures on April 28 for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would make permanent the additional income tax enacted with the approval of Proposition 30 in 2012, which funds education and early childhood programs. The additional income tax is set to expire…
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Over the past two weeks, seven new ballot measures were certified in three states — California, Missouri, and Oklahoma
As of April 28, 99 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 36 states, 10 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks: The most recent…
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Signatures submitted for California initiative enacting one-time billionaire tax for healthcare and education funding
In California, signatures were submitted on April 27 to the secretary of state for a ballot initiative known as the billionaire tax that would impose a one-time, 5% tax on individuals whose net worth exceeds $1 billion to fund state health care programs, such as Medi-Cal, state food assistance, and public education. SEIU-UHW West, a…
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California will be the most Democratic-leaning state to vote on a voter ID ballot measure, based on presidential election results
Voters in California will decide on a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would require voter identification and establish new requirements for voter registration lists and citizenship verification. State Asm. Carl DeMaio (R) and State Sen. Tony Strickland (R), along with businessman Donald DiCostanzo, filed the ballot initiative. The campaign, named Californians for Voter ID, filed 1.37…
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Signatures submitted for California initiative to require background checks and sexual assault reporting by rideshare companies
Signatures were submitted for a California initiative that would require rideshare companies to conduct background checks and investigations related to sexual assault. If enough signatures are validated, voters will decide on the initiative on Nov. 3, 2026. The campaign supporting the initiative, Alliance Against Corporate Abuse, submitted approximately 1,100,000 signatures on April 23, 2026. In…
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California Secretary of State certifies first ballot initiatives of the 2026 cycle; voters to decide on increasing the vote requirement for initiated special local taxes and a new homeownership loan program
The California secretary of state announced on April 21 that two ballot initiatives had qualified for the November ballot — the first initiatives to qualify this election cycle in California. One is an initiated constitutional amendment that would increase the vote requirement to pass citizen-initiated local special taxes from a simple majority (50%+1) to a…
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Eric Swalwell’s resignation leaves California’s 14th Congressional District vacant
On April 14, 2026, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) resigned, leaving California’s 14th Congressional District vacant. Swalwell resigned after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported on allegations of sexual misconduct. As of April 14, 2026, Republicans have a 217 to 213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, with four vacancies. Additionally, Rep. Kevin Kiley…
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Incumbent Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, Nithya Raman, and 13 others running in nonpartisan primary for mayor of Los Angeles
Incumbent Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, Nithya Raman, and 13 others are running in the nonpartisan primary for mayor of Los Angeles, California, on June 2. Bass, Pratt, and Raman lead in polling and media attention. The Los Angeles Times' Julia Wick and David Zahniser write of Bass' re-election bid: "Bass appeared to be on the…