UNIONS, POST-JANUS
In appreciation of the powerful and necessary role labor unions play in progressive politics…. CalMatters looks at how labor unions are still politically powerful, but declining membership is part of the question about their future influence.
CALIFORNIA POLITICS
Schools and Communities First
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative donated $1 million in support of the revised Schools and Communities First, the split roll ballot measure led by CDT partner Million Voters Project.
Congressional Races
NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed CDT-supported Ammar Campa-Najjar in his campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter in CD50 in San Diego. Hunter is also facing Republican challenges from Carl DeMaio and potentially former Representative Darrell Issa (whose former CD49 seat is now held by Democrat Mike Levin).
San Diego Democrat Representative Susan Davis announced she will not be seeking re-election in CD53. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, CDT-endorsed Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and CDT-endorsed Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez have already confirmed they will not be running for the seat. San Diego City Council president Georgette Gómez — who is lesbian Latina — is expected to run. Per Scott Lay’s The Nooner: “Toni and Lorena, who are not always on the same page, were big supporters of Georgette’s council bid in 2016. Georgette supported Nathan’s supe bid last year, which was key. Remember Nathan went from Republican to Democrat in the matter of five years. Georgette was an important local endorsement by a solid Democrat for Nathan to validate his credentials as part of a major shift in San Diego politics that has been happening over the last decade. It’s very likely that Toni, Lorena, Nathan, and labor (remember, Lorena was secretary-treasurer of the county labor fed) are all there for Georgette next year and she is able to clear the field of serious Democratic candidates in a safe Dem seat and the clear favorite to serve in the 117th Congress.” CDT will be tracking this race.
David Valadao announced that he is challenging Democratic incumbent TJ Cox to take back his seat in CD21 in the Central Valley.
San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco reaches a settlement to eliminate cash bail in favor of risk assessment. “The settlement will take effect after approval by San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, which has 90 days to consider the agreement and an additional 90 days to come up with funding.”
San Diego
And the blue wave continues in San Diego…. Republicans are are risk of losing more seats on a majority Democratic San Diego City Council. “Democrats increased their majority on the council from 5-4 to 6-3 in last November, and Councilman Mark Kersey changed his registration from Republican to independent last spring.”
Inland Empire
The federal General Services Administration is proposing opening a child detention facility for up to 430 unaccompanied migrant children in the Inland Empire. CDT-endorsed Assemblymember Eloise Reyes joined a coalition of lawmakers to denounce the news: “As representatives of the Inland Empire, we condemn the use of space in any location, but especially in our community, to detain unaccompanied children…. Together, we have sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency to end its search for a location in the Inland Empire that would assist the Trump Administration in its efforts to expand detention centers, allow families to be separated and detained, or weaken the safeguards that currently exist to protect children in government custody.”