CALIFORNIA POLITICS
California Voter Trends
Univision and L2 released research with 2018 Latinx voter registration data. California-related highlights:
- Nearly 1.2 million more Latinx citizens (29%) registered to vote in 2018, compared to 13% for non-Latinx. That meant that 2 in 5 new registered voters in California were Latinx.
- Registration amongst Latinx voters under the age of 35 increased 40%.
- The biggest increases in registration were in Sacramento (46%), San Diego (40%) and Fresno (33%).
The Pew Research Center also released research on 2018 voter turnout. California-related highlights:
- Nearly 4 million more Californians voted in the 2018 midterms than the 2014 midterms.
- Black and Latinx voter turnout (in age groups 25-to-34 and 35-to-44) increased 26%, more than any other racial or ethnic group.
2020 Census
The U.S. Census Bureau will be cutting the number of California Census offices from 54 in 2010 to 30 for 2020. California is home to disproportionately large hard-to-count (HTC) populations, as is detailed in an LA Times article on the challenges in Los Angeles County. Several of CDT/F’s partner groups are working on Census outreach to diverse HTC communities: AAPIs (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) for Civic Engagement Education Fund, Communities for a New California Education Fund, Engage San Diego, and California Calls. Contact Ludovic if you are interested in supporting our partners’ Census efforts.
Governor’s Budget Revision
Governor Gavin Newsom released his May budget revision, which includes expanding health coverage for undocumented immigrants, expanding paid family leave and doubling eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
San Diego
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-to-2 to oppose Assemblymember Shirley Weber’s police deadly use-of-force bill. “The Board of Supervisors’ action makes San Diego County one of a few non-law enforcement groups to oppose the bill statewide. … ‘This is the wrong decision, at the wrong time and done for the wrong reasons,’ [Supervisor Nathan] Fletcher said in a statement after the vote. “Today’s vote failed to acknowledge the reality of what is happening to our communities of color.”
CDT endorsed Democrat Supervisor Fletcher for the previously exclusively Republican Board in 2018, and we are working closely with our partner regional tables and community groups to identify other local endorsements that will have similar impact in making local governing bodies more reflective and progressive. These local elections take on added significance with the potential for these very bodies to be making critical funding decisions if the Schools and Communities First ballot initiative passes in 2020.
And as an indicator of how the Board of 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat is not reflective of the San Diego region, a San Diego city council member recently announced he is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent.
POLICY
Legislation from our endorsed elected officials:
- Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (AD45) authored a bill, AB 791, to protect low-income communities in federally-designated opportunity zones where investors can take advantage of federal tax benefits. The bill “would provide $100 million in new tax credits to keep affordable homes in designated opportunity zones and would create an additional $200 million in credits to encourage housing construction in those communities.”
- Senator Holly Mitchell (SD30) authored a bill, SB 321, to increase access to services under CalWORKS.
- Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (AD47) authored a bill, AB 194, to provide $1 billion in childcare assistance for families.