California Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to use his final State of the State address on Thursday to portray the state as a governing model for the nation, drawing a sharp contrast with what he describes as instability and dysfunction at the federal level under President Donald Trump. The Democratic governor plans to argue that California’s policy direction and values stand in opposition to those coming from Washington, positioning the state as both a counterweight and an alternative to the curre

California voters have overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial redistricting plan that reshapes congressional boundaries across the state. The measure, which effectively suspends California’s independent redistricting commission until the next census in 2030, has drawn both praise and criticism for its potential impact on partisan balance and democratic fairness. Early results show Proposition 50 passing decisively, with approximately 65 per

With Governor Gavin Newsom signing Senate Bill 63, known as the Connect Bay Area Transit Act, a major regional push to secure the future of public transportation in Northern California has officially begun. The bill, signed on October 13, authorizes a voter initiative for a 14-year regional sales tax measure that would appear on the November 2026 ballot. The proposal seeks to generate billions in funding to sustain and expand Bay Area transit networks, including BART, Caltrain, and the Valley

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has joined several other states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully refusing to provide federal food assistance benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the legal action Tuesday, stating that the decision by the administration to withhold funds under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will leave millions of residents without

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a significant package of new laws crafted by Silicon Valley legislators, focusing on improving transparency in law enforcement, strengthening labor rights, and increasing wildfire resilience across the state. The legislative actions, finalized earlier this month, mark another step in the state’s ongoing efforts to modernize government accountability and strengthen protections for both workers and communities. Most of the new laws will take effect on

Former President Barack Obama has entered the political fray ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, appearing in a new campaign advertisement urging California voters to approve Proposition 50 — a ballot measure that could significantly alter the state’s congressional landscape in favor of Democrats. The 30-second ad, released this week, features Obama directly addressing voters as he calls for support of the measure, which seeks to redraw California’s congressional districts. T

California has begun voting on one of the most significant ballot measures in recent memory, a proposal that could alter the national political balance and shape the direction of future elections. The measure asks voters to approve or reject new congressional district maps that would dramatically change California’s representation in Congress by potentially adding up to five Democrat-leaning seats. This decision could have wide-ranging effects on which party controls the U.S. House of Repr

A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops during immigration enforcement protests in Southern California was illegal, declaring the administration violated long-standing federal law. The decision, handed down by Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco, found that Trump’s use of the Guard during the protests in Los Angeles crossed legal boundaries meant to prevent the military from enforcing domestic laws. Judge Breye

Donald Trump has ordered the termination of Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, a move that has generated significant political debate just weeks before she begins her new book tour and memoir release. In a letter dated Thursday and directed to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump formally revoked the special protection Harris had been receiving since leaving office, effective September 1, 2025. His directive stated that no se

The Pentagon announced Monday that 700 US Marines deployed in Los Angeles will be withdrawn, ending a contentious military presence that had drawn widespread criticism from both city and state officials. The Marines were dispatched last month under a directive from President Donald Trump, who ordered both National Guard and active-duty troops to cities facing large-scale protests triggered by federal immigration raids. The protests had led to civil unrest across major Californi

Nearly 100,000 California state workers will have their return-to-office mandate delayed by another year, thanks to a new agreement between the state and SEIU Local 1000, California’s largest public employee union. The revised deal, announced Sunday, pauses Governor Gavin Newsom’s previously mandated office return schedule for union-represented workers, shifting the timeline from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. The decision marks a significant development for thousands of public em

In an unprecedented show of domestic force, President Donald Trump has deployed more military personnel to Los Angeles than currently stationed in Iraq and Syria combined. A total of 4,700 troops including over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines have been sent to quell immigration-related protests that have rocked the city for six consecutive days. For comparison, the Pentagon confirms that only 2,000 troops remain in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq.

In a controversial and incendiary statement, US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday called for California Governor Gavin Newsom to be "tarred and feathered" amid intensifying political clashes over the federal government’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles. Johnson made the comment during a House Republican leadership press conference, where he stopped short of advocating Newsom’s arrest but said the governor should be publicly punish

Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a statewide initiative to ban homeless encampments across California, aligning with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s push to eliminate tents and makeshift shelters from public spaces. The plan would limit public camping to no more than three consecutive nights and prohibit sitting, lying, or sleeping on sidewalks and streets where it impedes movement. It would also make constructing temporary shelters like sheds on public land unlawful. This announcement was t

California Governor Gavin Newsom is reversing his stance on expanding free health care access for undocumented immigrants, a move that once underscored his push toward universal health care in the state. In a major policy shift, Newsom is proposing to halt new Medi-Cal enrollment for low-income immigrants without legal status beginning in 2026 and require monthly premium payments from current enrollees starting in 2027. The decision comes as the state grapples with a growing $6.2 bi