Tag

California Politics

All articles tagged with #california politics

california-politics4 days ago•5 min saved

Wahab Clinches East Bay Seat to Finish Swalwell’s Term

California Democrat Aisha Wahab won the special election to replace Rep. Eric Swalwell in the East Bay, defeating Melissa Hernandez 53.1% to 46.9% after Alameda County’s final update and will meet Hernandez again in November for a full term starting in 2027 in a redrawn district. Wahab, the first Afghan American elected to Congress, credited voters and said she’ll fight for the district amid heavy campaign spending and ongoing Gaza-Israel debates.

via Los Angeles Times|

#afghan-american #california #california-politics

politics5 days ago•1 min saved

Progressive Wahab Secures Swalwell’s Seat Amid Spending Clash

Progressive Aisha Wahab defeated moderate Democrat Hernandez in CA-14 to win the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term, despite more than $6 million in outside PAC spending including groups tied to AIPAC. The result underscores ongoing tensions between progressive and establishment wings of the Democratic Party and sets up a November rematch in a newly drawn district.

via Politico|

#aisha-wahab #california-politics #democrats

politics5 days ago•387 min saved

Wahab Clinches Swalwell's CA House Seat in 14th District Special Election

Democrat stateSen. Aisha Wahab has won NBC News projection to fill the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term in California’s 14th District, defeating fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez in a runoff after neither candidate won a majority in the June primary. With about 95% of votes counted, Wahab led 53% to 47%. The race drew heavy spending from an AIPAC-aligned super PAC opposing Wahab, while Swalwell resigned in April amid sexual assault allegations, which he denies.

via NBC News|

#14th-district #aisha-wahab #california-politics

politics6 days ago•4 min saved

California Rep. Gomez Faces Ethics Inquiry Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations

A woman has accused California Democrat Rep. Jimmy Gomez of sexual assault and harassment; Gomez denies wrongdoing. The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into whether he violated conduct rules, including inappropriate contact with a staffer, though the probe is not proof of misconduct. The case comes amid a wave of ethics inquiries and resignations on Capitol Hill as the midterm elections approach.

via USA Today|

#california-politics #congress #ethics-committee

politics7 days ago•15 min saved

California Dems’ East Bay seat showdown becomes a high-stakes power struggle

A vacant East Bay House seat to replace Rep. Eric Swalwell has become a public internecine battle between Rep. Zoe Lofgren and state Sen. Aisha Wahab, with Lofgren endorsing Melissa Hernandez and accusing Wahab of blocking a caretaker plan for self-interest. The feud has drawn more than $6 million in outside spending, much of it from groups tied to AIPAC, and has exposed rifts between populist progressives and establishment Democrats, as labor unions back Wahab and private complaints (including a FEC allegation that Wahab laundered campaign funds) surface. The controversy centers on how to manage the vacancy and who should lead the district, highlighting broader battles over money in politics and the party’s direction.

via Politico|

#california-politics #campaign-finance #democratic-party

politics8 days ago•27 min saved

FBI files reveal Swalwell admitted to drug-fueled encounter with suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang

New FBI files released under a White House Transparency initiative reveal that former Rep. Eric Swalwell had at least two physical encounters with Christine Fang—an associate described as a suspected Chinese spy—one at his apartment after he had taken Ambien, which left Swalwell with only hazy memories of the tryst. Fang allegedly cultivated relationships with U.S. politicians, urged Swalwell to visit China, and helped place an intern in Swalwell’s D.C. office. The disclosures are part of a broader counterintelligence probe; Swalwell remains under investigation by agencies and the FPPC, but no charges have been filed against him.

via New York Post|

#california-politics #chinese-spy #eric-swalwell

california-politics11 days ago•9 min saved

California voters split on billionaire wealth tax and voter-ID ballot measures, poll shows

A UC Berkeley/Times poll finds California voters are deeply divided on Prop 40, a one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires’ assets to backfill federal healthcare cuts; 48% support, 41% oppose, and 11% undecided, with younger, minority, and lower-income voters more supportive, while unions back the measure though concerns about wealthy residents fleeing persist. Prop 39, a voter ID and citizenship verification measure, is just over half opposed, with Democrats largely against and Republicans in favor. Countermeasures Prop 41 (tax/spending audits) and Prop 42 (ban on certain new taxes) show mixed support (Prop 41: 35%/37% oppose; Prop 42: 40%/37% oppose; ~25% undecided). Turnout and messaging in November could swing the outcomes, per polling of 4,207 registered voters (2,310 likely voters) conducted Aug. 3–9 with ~2.5-point MOE.

via Los Angeles Times|

#ballot-measures #california-politics #prop-39

business13 days ago•17 min saved

Ellison's high-stakes bid to reshape Hollywood via Warner deal

Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison is pushing a $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger but faces mounting antitrust challenges and regulatory hurdles. He has floated relocating Paramount's Hollywood headquarters and even selling major lots to fund the deal, while ticking-fee penalties and a March trial threaten to derail it, prompting a public-relations push and cautious optimism about a settlement with California's attorney general.

via Yahoo Finance|

#antitrust #business #california-politics

politics16 days ago•11 min saved

Pelosi deploys her machine to back Chan in SF succession fight

Nancy Pelosi is using her vast political network to back Connie Chan in San Francisco’s open House seat, aiming to block Scott Wiener amid a feud that has spilled into an AI chatbot controversy and a debate over female representation in the region’s Democratic leadership. Wiener, who led in the primary, says Pelosi has effectively taken over Chan’s campaign, while Chan’s side emphasizes labor ties and the legacy Pelosi wants to shape for the city.

via Politico|

#california-politics #connie-chan #nancy-pelosi

politics19 days ago•7 min saved

Pelosi blasts Wiener’s AI impersonation tactic as sexist

Rep. Nancy Pelosi and allies condemned Scott Wiener’s use of an AI chatbot that imitates rival Connie Chan, calling the tactic sexist and potentially racist. Wiener says the bot is meant to educate voters about Chan’s record and to spotlight AI safety, while Chan’s campaign and Pelosi argue it degrades women of color and weaponizes AI in politics. The controversy adds fuel to the ongoing debate over AI’s role in campaigns, with calls from Pelosi and others to remove the bot and broader scrutiny of how AI is used in elections.

via Politico|

#ai #california-politics #campaign-tactics

politics19 days ago•6 min saved

Hilton’s energy-populist gambit reshapes California’s governor race

Republican Steve Hilton is running on a populist energy platform: break up PG&E’s monopoly, slash renewable-energy mandates, and cut refinery environmental rules to drive down gas and electricity costs. The plan mirrors Tom Steyer’s anti-utility approach but diverges on renewables policy and aims to tap voter frustration over high prices in California, though it faces pushback from Democrats and questions about feasibility in a deep-blue state.

via Politico|

#california-politics #energy-policy #gas-prices

politics23 days ago•6 min saved

CA Dems Back Prop. 40 Billionaire Tax Amid Budget Debates

The California Democratic Party executive board endorsed Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on billionaires’ assets to fund healthcare and restore safety-net programs, signaling party unity amid broader debates. Polls show 54% of likely voters and 76% of Democrats would vote for the measure, which aims to raise about $100 billion over five years to backfill Medicaid and food-assistance cuts tied to a federal act signed by President Trump. Opponents warn it could destabilize the state budget and prompt billionaire flight, while supporters argue the tax would reverse funding gaps created by federal policy.

via Los Angeles Times|

#billionaire-tax #budget #california-politics

california-politics23 days ago•4 min saved

California Democrats Back Billionaire Wealth Tax, Splitting From Newsom and Unions

California’s Democratic Party executive board endorsed a November ballot measure to tax billionaire wealth with a one-time 5% levy, moving in line with progressive advocates like Rep. Maxine Waters and Bernie Sanders but clashing with Gov. Gavin Newsom and major unions; supporters argue it would fund healthcare and public services, while opponents warn it could hurt budgets and drive the ultrawealthy out of state, and rivals are mounting efforts to undercut Prop 40.

via Politico|

#billionaire-tax #california-democrats #california-politics

politics23 days ago•26 min saved

California Democrats back billionaire tax, fueling intra-party clash with Newsom and Becerra

At its San Diego convention, the California Democratic Party endorsed Proposition 40—a one-time 5% tax on about 200 billionaires, expected to raise around $100 billion for healthcare funding—over the objections of Gov. Newsom and gubernatorial candidate Becerra, highlighting a split within the party as the measure heads to the November ballot.

via New York Post|

#billionaire-tax #california-politics #gavin-newsom

politics27 days ago•3 min saved

Former Newsom aide reveals details of 2005 affair in Vanity Fair essay

Ruby Rippey, Newsom’s former appointments secretary and the affair partner, recounts in a Vanity Fair essay how the 2005 relationship unfolded, disputing Newsom’s later portrayal of it as brief and detailing power imbalance and her own struggle with alcohol. She says she came clean to campaign manager Alex Tourk, who resigned after confronting Newsom; Newsom publicly apologized in 2007 and was reelected, and Rippey notes Kamala Harris urged her to pause before speaking. The piece adds to ongoing scrutiny of Newsom ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.

via ABC7 Chicago|

#california-politics #gavin-newsom #metoo