State GovernmentBecerra, Hilton leading in most uncertain California governor’s race in yearsJune 2, 2026Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are leading in the race for California governor.
State GovernmentCalifornia voting ends Tuesday. The results? Don’t expect them anytime soonJune 2, 2026California has new rules meant to speed up ballot counting, but elections experts and county officials say close races could still take weeks to resolve.
State GovernmentCalifornia judges are testing a new AI clerk, and you won’t know if it’s looking at your caseMay 27, 2026Courts in Los Angeles and Riverside counties are testing an artificial intelligence tool and deciding whether it can be used in high-stakes criminal cases.
EnvironmentData centers are guzzling California’s water. We have no idea how muchMay 18, 2026Data centers are expanding into water-stressed California communities. Lax disclosure rules keep the public in the dark about actual water usage.
ImmigrationSix people died in California ICE detention centers as Trump deportations soaredMay 15, 2026The Trump administration immigration crackdown swelled the population inside California’s immigrant detention centers. State investigators in a report described strained medical resources inside the sites.
State GovernmentNewsom’s last budget: Cut California spending now, save for the AI bubble to burstMay 15, 2026California tax revenue is soaring thanks to tech stocks. But Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing more cuts, warning that the boom won’t last and Trump cuts will hit the state hard.
State GovernmentBillionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132 million campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor raceApril 27, 2026San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan dominated fellow Democrats in fundraising, bringing in $13 million. Katie Porter raised $2.8 million, Xavier Becerra brought in $1 million, Antonio Villaraigosa raised $707,000 and Tony Thurmond raised just $62,000.
ImmigrationICE quietly opens another detention center in a former California prisonApril 24, 2026California now has eight ICE detention centers. Two opened since President Trump took office in 2025, with both operating in former state prisons.
State GovernmentNew bill would stop DMV from making millions off auctioned cars without telling the ownersApril 22, 2026The bill is inspired by a CalMatters story that revealed state law allows the DMV to collect money from towed cars in secret.
State GovernmentTrump wanted California Republicans to back Steve Hilton. They didn’t listenApril 13, 2026The California Republican Party failed to endorse a candidate for governor, demonstrating that Trump’s influence only goes so far in California, even among his party’s most faithful.
