Officials in states including California, New York, Illinois, Washington, and New Jersey are preparing to contest President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming policies—related to immigration, abortion, and environmental regulations—when he assumes office on Jan. 20. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Nov. 7 statement that he was convening a special session of the Legislature—beginning Dec. 2—to […]

Though seen by many as a deep blue state sporting a Democrat trifecta—with the governor’s office and both legislative chambers controlled by the party with supermajority margins—California has millions of Republicans and independent voters who could determine the balance of power in Congress in November. Republicans control the House with a slim eight seat majority, […]

Oil giant Phillips 66 said on Oct. 16 that it plans to shut down its refinery in the Los Angeles area of California in the fourth quarter of 2025. About 900 people are involved in operating the oil refinery, including approximately 600 employees and hundreds of contractors, according to the company. “We understand this decision […]

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former baseball player Steve Garvey, a Republican, faced off in a one-hour, back-and-forth session on Tuesday—their only debate before the Nov. 5 election—as both men vie for the Senate seat left vacant by the late Dianne Feinstein. During the televised Senate Candidate Forum, hosted by ABC7, both candidates said that […]

Californians will have more than 800 new laws taking effect after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed hundreds of bills in September, with his last actions coming hours before the midnight deadline on Sept. 30. The last law signed, Assembly Bill 179, allows the state to save more money during surplus years to better prepare for economic […]

Vowing that “California won’t wait” until the next mass shooting to act, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 24 signed a package of bills with a goal of strengthening firearms regulations and preventing gun violence. One new law, Assembly Bill 2642—authored by Assemblyman Marc Berman and also known as the PEACE Act—prohibits intimidation, threats, coercion and […]

Citing budget constraints and limited funding in the state’s housing assistance programs, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Sept. 6 that would have expanded eligibility to include illegal immigrants. “Given the finite funding available for [California’s Housing and Finance Agency] programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the […]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom cautioned city and county officials statewide Aug. 8 that if efforts are not undertaken to remove homeless camps, he will redirect money to other local governments that are showing results. “We’ve been providing the support, local government embraces those efforts … we’re going to double down,” Newsom said at a news […]

After the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June that allows local governments to enforce laws related to illegal camping and homelessness, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on July 25 directing state departments and agencies to start clearing encampments. “This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments […]

SACRAMENTO—California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined the Legislative Women’s Caucus to announce a new bill, which would allow licensed doctors in Arizona to provide abortions to their patients while temporarily practicing in California, at a press conference held at the Capitol on April 24. “If you care about women and girls and their future … this […]

Democrats bested Republicans in California’s senatorial primary and most of the state’s 52 congressional contests on Super Tuesday. Republicans, though outnumbered two-to-one in registered voters, managed to hold their ground by winning several congressional primaries that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) had targeted to flip in 2024. In California’s open or “jungle” primary system, the […]

After nearly 5 million Californians voted to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, organizers of the effort are again seeking to remove him from office. The governor was served with recall documents Feb. 26, and signature gathering is underway, according to Anne Dunsmore with Rescue California, the group that launched the recall campaign. Mr. […]

Weak revenue collections in December and January are impacting California’s finances and increasing its estimated budget deficit to about $73 billion, according to a Feb. 20 report from the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. Receipts failed to meet expectations across the board, as withholding, personal income, and corporate taxes fell short of projections by $24 […]

With communities across the state impacted by criminal activity, a newly introduced ballot initiative aims to amend a measure passed by California voters in 2014 that some say is contributing to a decreased sense of public safety. The bipartisan initiative, known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, Retail Theft Reduction Act, would alter Proposition 47—which was […]

Hundreds of protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza disrupted westbound morning traffic into San Francisco Nov. 16 beginning around 7:40 a.m., as individuals stretched across lanes with some chained to the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge. Videos circulating on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, showed protesters chanting “ceasefire now,” as they shut down […]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is “on the way” to Israel for discussions with locals and officials following recent incidents in the Middle East. “I’ll be meeting with those impacted by the horrific terrorist attacks and offering California’s support,” Mr. Newsom wrote Oct. 19 on X, formerly known as Twitter. Mr. Newsom’s office declined to comment, […]

A bill designed to increase involuntary commitment for those in need of mental health treatment, but unwilling or unable to seek it themselves, was signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom Oct. 10. “California is undertaking a major overhaul of our mental health system. The mental health crisis affects us all, and people who […]

With homeless encampments encroaching on sidewalks throughout the city, Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho announced a series of lawsuits filed against the City of Sacramento for failing to uphold civil codes and enforce the law. “We are simply holding the city accountable to the same law they enforce on us,” Mr. Ho said during a […]

With the wildfire season ramping up—as hot, dry weather combines with high winds—many California residents are reporting their nerves are on edge due to recent fires in Maui and a series of blazes currently impacting Oregon, and now more than 50,000 families will be looking for new insurance after another two companies recently announced they […]

After a child sex trafficking bill was killed by the Assembly Public Safety Committee July 11, pressure from the public, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and the governor led to an abrupt about-face July 13, with the committee passing the measure in a tense, one-minute meeting. Following a contentious debate on the floor […]