CALIFORNIA POLITICS
State Legislature
Yesterday, CDT and Voices for Progress announced our endorsement of Dave Cortese in state Senate District 15. He joins our state legislative primary endorsement slate with Abigail Medina in SD23, Susan Talamantes Eggman in SD5, Johnathon Ervin in AD36 and DeniAntionette Mazingo in AD42. We are now five months out from the California primary election, and early contributions to our endorsed candidates’ campaigns are critical to helping them reach more voters and leveraging more progressive support behind them. Contact Ludovic if you are interested in supporting our endorsed candidates beyond direct contributions to their campaigns.
The California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus pulled its endorsement of Modesto City Councilman Mani Grewal in SD5 for his refusal to apologize for his homophobic comments and campaign ads on the SB145 bill.
The Republican Party of the Orange County has asked Assemblymember Bill Brough (AD73) — whose facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment — to drop out of his 2020 re-election campaign.
Californians
CalMatters investigates how immigrants are avoiding food stamps and MediCal on the threat of federal administration’s rule on “public charge.” “The new rule could affect more than 2 million Californians, most of whom are not subject to the regulation, and could result in 765,000 people dis-enrolling from MediCal and CalFresh, according to UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research.”
According to the latest Census figures, the number of Californians living in poverty has decreased, but more than 1 in 6 residents still struggle to afford basic necessities. Additionally, income inequality has increased in the state; median household income has increased from 2006-2018, but real income for the households in the lowest 20% of income has decreased.
CDT-endorsed Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs is piloting universal basic income in Stockton, and the first data from the 18-month-long pilot (launched in February) shows that the 125 recipients of the additional $500 per month are spending the money mostly on basic needs, including food, clothes and utility bills.
A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California shows how the voting population of California does NOT reflect the true diversity and perspectives of the state. “…California once again faces the prospect of an electorate making policy decisions that neglect the realities and problems facing large and growing segments of society. … Expanding the electorate even more might inject some optimism into politics, given nonvoters are much more optimistic about the prospects that Americans of different political views can still come together and work out their differences. … In the long run, …having a larger and more engaged electorate that is more broadly representative of the people of California would be a source of political stability for a state that increasingly relies on the ballot box to make its major policy decisions.” CDT’s central purpose is to build the political power of new majority communities, and this report underlines the urgency and importance of our work in partnership with POC-led regional tables and community groups throughout the state.
Criminal Justice
George Gascon resigned as San Francisco District Attorney and announced he is moving to Los Angeles to explore a challenge to LA DA Jackie Lacey.
The bail industry has decided not to pursue an initiative to amend the state constitution and will focus on the already-qualified referendum to overturn SB10 cash bail reform bill passed last year and put on hold until after the 2020 election.
Hate crimes declined statewide in 2018 (after increasing for three straight years), but are still up in Los Angeles, where Black and LGBTQ people have primarily been targeted, and in Orange County, where Jewish people, Latinxs and people of Middle Eastern descent have primarily been targeted. “Experts have said the increase can be linked to President Trump’s vitriolic rhetoric toward minorities and the resurgence of hate groups across the state.”
Congressional Races
A new poll shows CDT-supported Ammar Campa-Najjar leading in the race for CD50. Of the polled residents of CD50, 31% said they would vote for Ammar, versus 20% for Republican Carl DeMaio, 16% for Darrell Issa, and 11% for Duncan Hunter. Though the cumulative percentage for Republicans is higher, the poll is promising for a top-two primary in a district in which there are more registered Republicans (44%) than Democrats (30%). Independents/NPP are 24%.
San Diego City Council President and CDT ally Georgette Gomez has announced that she is running in CD53 to replace retiring Representative Susan Davis. Georgette is a progressive, lesbian Latinx who long organized in San Diego with the Environmental Health Coalition, an environmental justice organization that co-founded our partner regional table, Engage San Diego.
Republican Representative Paul Cook announced he won’t seek re-election in CD8 – San Bernardino/Inland Empire.
Politico does a deep dive into Orange County’s changing demographics and politics, through the lens of congressional races.