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"content": "\u003cp>Conservative school board president Sonja Shaw, a Trump-aligned Republican known for her role in the high-profile battle over \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069570/california-advocates-fearful-as-supreme-court-weighs-bans-of-trans-student-athletes\">transgender athletes in school sports\u003c/a>, has advanced to the November runoff to serve as California’s next \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/educationnews\">state superintendent\u003c/a> of public instruction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board, will likely face Richard Barrera, the San Diego school board president, who garnered the largest portion of a splintered Democratic vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel honored and inspired,” Barrera told KQED on Wednesday. “I’m energized, and I think we’re going to carry this coalition that has a positive unifying vision for what public schools can be in our state … to victory in November.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw, who has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california\">amassed 24.8% of votes\u003c/a> in early reporting on Wednesday, rose to notoriety in 2023 after she ousted the current superintendent, Tony Thurmond, from a school board meeting in the Inland Empire. Thurmond said \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/TonyThurmond/status/1682240216491520000\">on social media\u003c/a> that students had invited him to speak in opposition to a proposed policy that would force schools to inform parents if their child identified as transgender, mirroring failed statewide legislation, before the Chino Valley School Board heckled and forcibly removed him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw and Barrera were among 10 candidates in the race for the job of overseeing the state’s 10,000 public schools as they grapple with funding cuts, higher costs and the challenges of AI.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw has built her campaign around the culture war issue of transgender rights in schools — particularly opposing transgender girls’ participation on athletic teams that match their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086065\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12086065 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, left, and California state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw are seen during a news conference and protest against the participation of a transgender athlete in the 106th California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships outside Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, California, on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Your daughters are in locker rooms with boys all across California,” she \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/realSonjaShaw/status/2060535081199174039\">said\u003c/a> at a press conference days before the election at the California Interscholastic Federation’s Track and Field championships, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084083/california-quietly-brings-back-controversial-scoring-policy-for-trans-student-athletes\">transgender athlete AB Hernandez\u003c/a> won two state titles. CIF reinstituted a pilot policy launched ahead of the competition that allows an additional girl to compete and medal in any event that includes a transgender athlete.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When are you going to stand up and say no? … Fix it at the ballot box,” Shaw continued, standing alongside Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw told KQED on Wednesday that her victory sends a clear message: “Parents and people all throughout California have had enough.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Barrera, who’s been endorsed by the California Teachers Association and Thurmond, is likely to pick up most of the votes from a slew of Democratic opponents. He currently sits comfortably ahead of the pack with 18.9% of the votes.[aside label=\"Live 2026 Election Results\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/governor,Learn about the results of the California Governor Election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Governor-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]Barrera has been a school board member in San Diego since 2008 and served as board president during San Diego Unified’s rise as one of the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/newscenter/all_news/2024NAEP\"> top-performing urban districts\u003c/a> in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrett Snider, an education lobbyist with Capitol Advisors, said he expects the school board president to pick up supporters from educator Wendy Castaneda Leal, Los Angeles Community College District board member Nichelle Henderson and multiple statewide lawmakers, who garnered between 8% and 10% of the vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Shaw] got the most because she was really the only prominent conservative running in that race. And then you had just a large bench of sort of blue candidates,” he told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Snider said that CTA has a long track record of successfully ushering candidates into the state superintendent’s seat. He expects that now that Barrera is presumed to advance to the general election, the union will ramp up opposition to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to move the Department of Education under his control — changing the nature of the superintendent role.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Newsom’s 2026-27 budget, which suggested overhauling California’s education governance system, the state superintendent would mostly serve as an independent advocate for the state’s public education system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrera called the plan to move the Department of Education under the governor’s office “undemocratic.” The state Senate rejected Newsom’s proposal in their version of the budget, and the Assembly has proposed handling the potential restructuring through different legislation. Newsom terms out this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086202\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12086202 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Diego Unified Board Member Richard Barrera speaks during a press conference to announce a bill that adds COVID-19 vaccines to California’s list of required inoculations for attending K-12 schools at Arleta High School on Jan. 24, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. \u003ccite>(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Arne Johnson, an advocate with the Bay Area-based transgender rights group Rainbow Family Action, said he wasn’t surprised to see Shaw advance to the general election, but worries that she’ll continue to have a platform for “stunts” and “politically motivated heat” toward transgender children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She’ll get trounced in the general election,” he said. “It’s just more funding and more time for her to cause damage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrera said he respects that Shaw — as a school board president — brings a local perspective to the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What I don’t respect is that she chooses to use her platform and influence to divide her community, and to single out groups of students,” he said. “It’s two very different visions of what California public schools can be. And I’m confident that in the general election, Californians are going to side with a positive unifying vision.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw, who has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california\">amassed 24.8% of votes\u003c/a> in early reporting on Wednesday, rose to notoriety in 2023 after she ousted the current superintendent, Tony Thurmond, from a school board meeting in the Inland Empire. Thurmond said \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/TonyThurmond/status/1682240216491520000\">on social media\u003c/a> that students had invited him to speak in opposition to a proposed policy that would force schools to inform parents if their child identified as transgender, mirroring failed statewide legislation, before the Chino Valley School Board heckled and forcibly removed him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw and Barrera were among 10 candidates in the race for the job of overseeing the state’s 10,000 public schools as they grapple with funding cuts, higher costs and the challenges of AI.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw has built her campaign around the culture war issue of transgender rights in schools — particularly opposing transgender girls’ participation on athletic teams that match their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086065\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12086065 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, left, and California state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw are seen during a news conference and protest against the participation of a transgender athlete in the 106th California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships outside Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, California, on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Your daughters are in locker rooms with boys all across California,” she \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/realSonjaShaw/status/2060535081199174039\">said\u003c/a> at a press conference days before the election at the California Interscholastic Federation’s Track and Field championships, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084083/california-quietly-brings-back-controversial-scoring-policy-for-trans-student-athletes\">transgender athlete AB Hernandez\u003c/a> won two state titles. CIF reinstituted a pilot policy launched ahead of the competition that allows an additional girl to compete and medal in any event that includes a transgender athlete.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When are you going to stand up and say no? … Fix it at the ballot box,” Shaw continued, standing alongside Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shaw told KQED on Wednesday that her victory sends a clear message: “Parents and people all throughout California have had enough.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Barrera, who’s been endorsed by the California Teachers Association and Thurmond, is likely to pick up most of the votes from a slew of Democratic opponents. He currently sits comfortably ahead of the pack with 18.9% of the votes.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Barrera has been a school board member in San Diego since 2008 and served as board president during San Diego Unified’s rise as one of the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/newscenter/all_news/2024NAEP\"> top-performing urban districts\u003c/a> in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrett Snider, an education lobbyist with Capitol Advisors, said he expects the school board president to pick up supporters from educator Wendy Castaneda Leal, Los Angeles Community College District board member Nichelle Henderson and multiple statewide lawmakers, who garnered between 8% and 10% of the vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Shaw] got the most because she was really the only prominent conservative running in that race. And then you had just a large bench of sort of blue candidates,” he told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Snider said that CTA has a long track record of successfully ushering candidates into the state superintendent’s seat. He expects that now that Barrera is presumed to advance to the general election, the union will ramp up opposition to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to move the Department of Education under his control — changing the nature of the superintendent role.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Newsom’s 2026-27 budget, which suggested overhauling California’s education governance system, the state superintendent would mostly serve as an independent advocate for the state’s public education system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrera called the plan to move the Department of Education under the governor’s office “undemocratic.” The state Senate rejected Newsom’s proposal in their version of the budget, and the Assembly has proposed handling the potential restructuring through different legislation. Newsom terms out this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086202\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12086202 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Richard-Barerra-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Diego Unified Board Member Richard Barrera speaks during a press conference to announce a bill that adds COVID-19 vaccines to California’s list of required inoculations for attending K-12 schools at Arleta High School on Jan. 24, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. \u003ccite>(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Arne Johnson, an advocate with the Bay Area-based transgender rights group Rainbow Family Action, said he wasn’t surprised to see Shaw advance to the general election, but worries that she’ll continue to have a platform for “stunts” and “politically motivated heat” toward transgender children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She’ll get trounced in the general election,” he said. “It’s just more funding and more time for her to cause damage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrera said he respects that Shaw — as a school board president — brings a local perspective to the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What I don’t respect is that she chooses to use her platform and influence to divide her community, and to single out groups of students,” he said. “It’s two very different visions of what California public schools can be. And I’m confident that in the general election, Californians are going to side with a positive unifying vision.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "democrat-ma-and-republican-romero-in-a-close-race-for-lieutenant-governor",
"title": "Democrat Ma and Republican Romero in a Close Race for Lieutenant Governor",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two candidates for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s second-highest job were virtually tied in the race for lieutenant governor as votes trickled in early Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a Democrat, and former state legislator Republican Gloria Romero were leading a tight pack of mostly Democratic hopefuls with nearly 20% each. Newsom cabinet official Josh Fryday followed with about 14%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lieutenant governor is mostly a ceremonial position with a lukewarm reputation in Sacramento. But the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/04/california-lieutenant-governor-race/\">No. 2 job in the state\u003c/a> has been used as a slingshot to the governor’s office before, drawing in four major candidates eager to replace Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who terms out this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ma, Fryday and former Stockton Mayor Tubbs are the leading Democratic candidates in a top-two primary that will send two candidates on to the November general election. Fryday, who heads volunteer programs for the state, has amassed the biggest treasure chest — nearly $4 million — and is backed by teachers unions and the governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ma, a longtime politician with deep roots in San Francisco, is endorsed by influential labor unions and has raised about $2.8 million. But her run for the second-highest statewide office is shadowed by \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article253382258.html\">2021 sexual harassment allegations\u003c/a> that Tubbs supporters have latched onto. Ma has called the allegation “frivolous”, but the state paid $350,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by one of her former employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11946514\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11946514\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A profile picture of a man looking off-camera to his right.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton, implemented an 18-month trial of Universal Basic Income for 125 residents in the city. \u003ccite>(Nick Otto/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tubbs was among the first to announce his campaign in 2024. Once a progressive star, he rose to political stardom 10 years ago as a young big city mayor who piloted a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2023/04/california-guaranteed-income/\">guaranteed income program\u003c/a> in Stockton.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ousted by a Republican newcomer, his political career seemed to fade and he went on to lead Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, an advocacy organization. It’s his first crack at public office since then, and he’s garnered support from progressive Democrats and the powerful union SEIU California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Longtime state lawmaker Romero is the leading Republican. Romero spent 12 years representing East Los Angeles in the state Legislature as a Democrat. She switched parties in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Higher education at the forefront\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The major Democratic candidates have struggled to set themselves apart on policy. Because the lieutenant governor sits on all three college governing boards, each has claimed they would work to make universities build more housing and lower tuition costs. This has included practical solutions from directing Federal Student Aid applicants to food assistance program CalFresh, to more far-fetched ones, such as free tuition for in-demand programs, such as nursing.[aside label=\"Live 2026 Election Results\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/governor,Learn about the results of the California Governor Election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Governor-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]The lieutenant governor also sits on the commission responsible for millions of acres of public land. Fryday thinks identifying more undeveloped land to build student housing on will help lower tuition costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ma wants Cal State universities, which rely heavily on state funding, to find other revenue sources through partnerships with private companies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At an April candidate debate in Los Angeles, Tubbs said he supports freezing tuition but did not elaborate on how he would make up the loss in revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Romero seeks greater transparency about faculty, salaries and housing allowances and would push for more student representation on the UC Board of Regents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To set themselves apart, the Democrats have leaned on their distinct backgrounds. Fryday has made clean energy a core part of his campaign as a former executive of a clean energy organization started by billionaire gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer. Ma has framed the job as another bulwark against the Trump administration. Tubbs, who works as an unpaid economic adviser to Newsom, has focused on affordability and cutting tuition for low-income families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-primary-lieutenant-governor/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two candidates for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s second-highest job were virtually tied in the race for lieutenant governor as votes trickled in early Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a Democrat, and former state legislator Republican Gloria Romero were leading a tight pack of mostly Democratic hopefuls with nearly 20% each. Newsom cabinet official Josh Fryday followed with about 14%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lieutenant governor is mostly a ceremonial position with a lukewarm reputation in Sacramento. But the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/04/california-lieutenant-governor-race/\">No. 2 job in the state\u003c/a> has been used as a slingshot to the governor’s office before, drawing in four major candidates eager to replace Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who terms out this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ma, Fryday and former Stockton Mayor Tubbs are the leading Democratic candidates in a top-two primary that will send two candidates on to the November general election. Fryday, who heads volunteer programs for the state, has amassed the biggest treasure chest — nearly $4 million — and is backed by teachers unions and the governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ma, a longtime politician with deep roots in San Francisco, is endorsed by influential labor unions and has raised about $2.8 million. But her run for the second-highest statewide office is shadowed by \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article253382258.html\">2021 sexual harassment allegations\u003c/a> that Tubbs supporters have latched onto. Ma has called the allegation “frivolous”, but the state paid $350,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by one of her former employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11946514\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11946514\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A profile picture of a man looking off-camera to his right.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/04/RS43525_GettyImages-1208196864-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton, implemented an 18-month trial of Universal Basic Income for 125 residents in the city. \u003ccite>(Nick Otto/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tubbs was among the first to announce his campaign in 2024. Once a progressive star, he rose to political stardom 10 years ago as a young big city mayor who piloted a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2023/04/california-guaranteed-income/\">guaranteed income program\u003c/a> in Stockton.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ousted by a Republican newcomer, his political career seemed to fade and he went on to lead Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, an advocacy organization. It’s his first crack at public office since then, and he’s garnered support from progressive Democrats and the powerful union SEIU California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Longtime state lawmaker Romero is the leading Republican. Romero spent 12 years representing East Los Angeles in the state Legislature as a Democrat. She switched parties in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Higher education at the forefront\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The major Democratic candidates have struggled to set themselves apart on policy. Because the lieutenant governor sits on all three college governing boards, each has claimed they would work to make universities build more housing and lower tuition costs. This has included practical solutions from directing Federal Student Aid applicants to food assistance program CalFresh, to more far-fetched ones, such as free tuition for in-demand programs, such as nursing.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The lieutenant governor also sits on the commission responsible for millions of acres of public land. Fryday thinks identifying more undeveloped land to build student housing on will help lower tuition costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ma wants Cal State universities, which rely heavily on state funding, to find other revenue sources through partnerships with private companies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At an April candidate debate in Los Angeles, Tubbs said he supports freezing tuition but did not elaborate on how he would make up the loss in revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Romero seeks greater transparency about faculty, salaries and housing allowances and would push for more student representation on the UC Board of Regents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To set themselves apart, the Democrats have leaned on their distinct backgrounds. Fryday has made clean energy a core part of his campaign as a former executive of a clean energy organization started by billionaire gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer. Ma has framed the job as another bulwark against the Trump administration. Tubbs, who works as an unpaid economic adviser to Newsom, has focused on affordability and cutting tuition for low-income families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-primary-lieutenant-governor/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Ballots Are All In, but California Election Results Could Take Weeks to Settle. Why?",
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"headTitle": "Ballots Are All In, but California Election Results Could Take Weeks to Settle. Why? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After months of campaigning, millions of dollars’ worth of advertisements and a 61-candidate ballot for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085541/california-governor-race-becerra-hilton-lead-early-with-millions-of-votes-to-be-counted\">governor\u003c/a> that included names such as LivingForGod AndCountry DeMott and Barack D. Obama Shaw, California voters have arrived at the next phase of the election:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wait.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After counting late into election night, just 54% of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/governor\">vote for governor\u003c/a> has been tallied as of Wednesday afternoon, according to an estimate from the\u003cem> Associated Press\u003c/em>. Many of the state’s largest counties won’t issue another update until Thursday — or even Friday — meaning longer waits for hundreds of thousands of votes that could have an impact on the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once again, the crawling pace could draw false accusations, largely from national Republicans, that something nefarious is happening with the count in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged that concern when he recently urged election officials to speed up their work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those registrars and experts argue that without more resources, California will continue to endure \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081363/california-election-officials-face-false-choice-count-votes-quickly-or-count-them-right\">days or weeks of uncertainty\u003c/a> in the closest contests on the ballot as long as it relies so heavily on voting by mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The two biggest variables of how long it takes a state actually to count ballots aren’t so much the policies. It is, one, the margin of victory, and two, the number of mail ballots that are cast at the last minute,” said David Becker, executive director and founder of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, which works to ensure elections are trustworthy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said there’s an important distinction between how long it takes for election watchers like the \u003cem>AP\u003c/em> to call winners in a race and how long it takes for local officials to count all the ballots. Many races are called days or weeks before the votes are finished being tabulated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085889\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085889\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters cast their ballots at UC Davis in Davis on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The quicker the call is, the wider the margins are,” he said. “Californians know that on election night in a presidential election at 8:01 Pacific time, the media is going to call California already, right? That’s not because they’re counting ballots that fast. It’s because the margins were big. In different statewide races, particularly in primaries and in district races, margins can often be very, very narrow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s true this year in the top-two primaries for several \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085513/california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-today\">congressional races\u003c/a> around the state, as well as the much-watched contests for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086040/race-too-close-to-call-for-california-governor\">governor\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086090/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-advances-to-november-runoff-as-she-seeks-second-term\">Los Angeles mayor\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Who votes when also matters in those races, Political Data Inc. Vice President Paul Mitchell, whose firm crunches voter data, said. This election cycle, Republicans seemed more eager to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084978/california-democrats-anxious-about-wasted-votes-are-clinging-to-their-ballots\">turn in their ballots early\u003c/a>, he said, while Democrats waited — meaning the early returns may overrepresent more conservative voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to providing more funding for county election offices, Becker said one thing California could do to speed up its count is “encourage those who are willing and able to go vote in person, to vote in person, particularly early.”[aside label=\"Live 2026 Election Results\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/governor,Learn about the results of the California Governor Election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Governor-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]California began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11890023/california-adopts-vote-by-mail-system-for-all-future-elections\">sending every registered voter a mail ballot\u003c/a> by default during the pandemic, in an effort to make voting as easy as possible. In California’s 2024 general election, more than 80% of voters cast a vote-by-mail ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trade-off: processing time. With traditional in-person voting, voters’ signatures are reviewed \u003cem>before \u003c/em>they cast a ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With vote-by-mail, the verification and processing happens after election officials receive a ballot. Every signature on every envelope is reviewed to match the voter’s signature on file, a check meant to prevent voter fraud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everybody wants efficient and fast counting, but let’s be clear, efficient and accurate is way more important than fast,” said Darius Kemp, executive director of California Common Cause, a nonpartisan political watchdog organization.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When voters wait until close to Election Day to return their ballots, as many Democrats did in this race, those ballots can pile up in election offices — only to be processed and added to the count days later, especially in large counties with millions of votes to tally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, claimed earlier this year that Republican leads in California have “magically whittled away” during the vote-counting process. But that’s false, Kemp said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s no mystery there; it’s simple to understand, and it’s simple to digest,” Kemp said. “It just takes someone who cares about honesty and truth to actually do the proper research and understand what’s going on, instead of — excuse me for this colloquialism, I’m originally from Alabama — just talking out the side of their necks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Still, even some Democrats acknowledge the slow count has frustrated members of the public and opened the door to disinformation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a letter last month calling on county election officials to speed up their counts, Newsom pointed to legislation he signed last year that requires counties to report results by the 13th day after the election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We must acknowledge that the longer the voting count takes, the more mis- and disinformation spreads,” Newsom wrote. “That means we must do all that we can to tabulate votes quickly and accurately. Time is of the essence in preventing election lies from taking hold.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet the new policies have not been paired with new money for counting the ballots.[aside postID=news_12085541 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-2279541285-KQED.jpg']“If I had more space, if I had more staff and had more equipment to scan, I could pick up some of the speed,” said Jesse Salinas, registrar of voters in Yolo County and president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Salinas said only about 30% of ballots received by his office can be signature-verified by a machine; the rest require an election worker to visually validate the signatures. After verification, election workers open the envelopes and prepare the ballots to be scanned and read by the machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While that process slowly plays out, Salinas acknowledged that he prefers to release the returns in large batches. As a result, Yolo County — like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda\">Alameda\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta\">Contra Costa\u003c/a> counties in the Bay Area — will not have its next update until Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I do 1,000 a day or 2,000 a day, that’s not going to move as much of a needle as if I used a little longer window of two and a half days … almost three,” Salinas said. “Then I can have a 3,000 or 4,000, or maybe even a 5,000 [vote] needle swing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becker, the elections expert, said he’s not sure why county officials would wait that long, noting that some states, such as Florida, have laws dictating regular updates — whether or not there’s anything new to report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Becker said election officials are doing their best under difficult circumstances — and cautioned that no changes to the process will satisfy election conspiracy theorists, who he said, “very conveniently try to latch onto anything to delegitimize results that aren’t in their favor.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The reality is that we’ve seen those same conspiracy theorists who say it takes too long to count ballots in California say ballot counting was too fast when they didn’t like the results if those results were early on against them,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After months of campaigning, millions of dollars’ worth of advertisements and a 61-candidate ballot for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085541/california-governor-race-becerra-hilton-lead-early-with-millions-of-votes-to-be-counted\">governor\u003c/a> that included names such as LivingForGod AndCountry DeMott and Barack D. Obama Shaw, California voters have arrived at the next phase of the election:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wait.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After counting late into election night, just 54% of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/governor\">vote for governor\u003c/a> has been tallied as of Wednesday afternoon, according to an estimate from the\u003cem> Associated Press\u003c/em>. Many of the state’s largest counties won’t issue another update until Thursday — or even Friday — meaning longer waits for hundreds of thousands of votes that could have an impact on the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once again, the crawling pace could draw false accusations, largely from national Republicans, that something nefarious is happening with the count in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged that concern when he recently urged election officials to speed up their work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those registrars and experts argue that without more resources, California will continue to endure \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081363/california-election-officials-face-false-choice-count-votes-quickly-or-count-them-right\">days or weeks of uncertainty\u003c/a> in the closest contests on the ballot as long as it relies so heavily on voting by mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The two biggest variables of how long it takes a state actually to count ballots aren’t so much the policies. It is, one, the margin of victory, and two, the number of mail ballots that are cast at the last minute,” said David Becker, executive director and founder of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, which works to ensure elections are trustworthy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said there’s an important distinction between how long it takes for election watchers like the \u003cem>AP\u003c/em> to call winners in a race and how long it takes for local officials to count all the ballots. Many races are called days or weeks before the votes are finished being tabulated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085889\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085889\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters cast their ballots at UC Davis in Davis on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The quicker the call is, the wider the margins are,” he said. “Californians know that on election night in a presidential election at 8:01 Pacific time, the media is going to call California already, right? That’s not because they’re counting ballots that fast. It’s because the margins were big. In different statewide races, particularly in primaries and in district races, margins can often be very, very narrow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s true this year in the top-two primaries for several \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085513/california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-today\">congressional races\u003c/a> around the state, as well as the much-watched contests for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086040/race-too-close-to-call-for-california-governor\">governor\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086090/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-advances-to-november-runoff-as-she-seeks-second-term\">Los Angeles mayor\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Who votes when also matters in those races, Political Data Inc. Vice President Paul Mitchell, whose firm crunches voter data, said. This election cycle, Republicans seemed more eager to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084978/california-democrats-anxious-about-wasted-votes-are-clinging-to-their-ballots\">turn in their ballots early\u003c/a>, he said, while Democrats waited — meaning the early returns may overrepresent more conservative voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to providing more funding for county election offices, Becker said one thing California could do to speed up its count is “encourage those who are willing and able to go vote in person, to vote in person, particularly early.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>California began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11890023/california-adopts-vote-by-mail-system-for-all-future-elections\">sending every registered voter a mail ballot\u003c/a> by default during the pandemic, in an effort to make voting as easy as possible. In California’s 2024 general election, more than 80% of voters cast a vote-by-mail ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trade-off: processing time. With traditional in-person voting, voters’ signatures are reviewed \u003cem>before \u003c/em>they cast a ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With vote-by-mail, the verification and processing happens after election officials receive a ballot. Every signature on every envelope is reviewed to match the voter’s signature on file, a check meant to prevent voter fraud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everybody wants efficient and fast counting, but let’s be clear, efficient and accurate is way more important than fast,” said Darius Kemp, executive director of California Common Cause, a nonpartisan political watchdog organization.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When voters wait until close to Election Day to return their ballots, as many Democrats did in this race, those ballots can pile up in election offices — only to be processed and added to the count days later, especially in large counties with millions of votes to tally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, claimed earlier this year that Republican leads in California have “magically whittled away” during the vote-counting process. But that’s false, Kemp said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s no mystery there; it’s simple to understand, and it’s simple to digest,” Kemp said. “It just takes someone who cares about honesty and truth to actually do the proper research and understand what’s going on, instead of — excuse me for this colloquialism, I’m originally from Alabama — just talking out the side of their necks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Still, even some Democrats acknowledge the slow count has frustrated members of the public and opened the door to disinformation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a letter last month calling on county election officials to speed up their counts, Newsom pointed to legislation he signed last year that requires counties to report results by the 13th day after the election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We must acknowledge that the longer the voting count takes, the more mis- and disinformation spreads,” Newsom wrote. “That means we must do all that we can to tabulate votes quickly and accurately. Time is of the essence in preventing election lies from taking hold.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet the new policies have not been paired with new money for counting the ballots.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“If I had more space, if I had more staff and had more equipment to scan, I could pick up some of the speed,” said Jesse Salinas, registrar of voters in Yolo County and president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Salinas said only about 30% of ballots received by his office can be signature-verified by a machine; the rest require an election worker to visually validate the signatures. After verification, election workers open the envelopes and prepare the ballots to be scanned and read by the machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While that process slowly plays out, Salinas acknowledged that he prefers to release the returns in large batches. As a result, Yolo County — like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda\">Alameda\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta\">Contra Costa\u003c/a> counties in the Bay Area — will not have its next update until Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I do 1,000 a day or 2,000 a day, that’s not going to move as much of a needle as if I used a little longer window of two and a half days … almost three,” Salinas said. “Then I can have a 3,000 or 4,000, or maybe even a 5,000 [vote] needle swing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becker, the elections expert, said he’s not sure why county officials would wait that long, noting that some states, such as Florida, have laws dictating regular updates — whether or not there’s anything new to report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Becker said election officials are doing their best under difficult circumstances — and cautioned that no changes to the process will satisfy election conspiracy theorists, who he said, “very conveniently try to latch onto anything to delegitimize results that aren’t in their favor.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The reality is that we’ve seen those same conspiracy theorists who say it takes too long to count ballots in California say ballot counting was too fast when they didn’t like the results if those results were early on against them,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"headTitle": "Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Advances to November Runoff as She Seeks Second Term | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After a tough first term framed by the most destructive wildfire in city history and an ongoing struggle with widespread homelessness, Los Angeles Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/karen-bass\">Karen Bass\u003c/a> advanced to a November runoff Tuesday as she \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085535/election-day-is-here-from-governor-to-la-mayor-these-are-the-races-to-watch\">fights to stay in City Hall\u003c/a> against challengers from both ends of the political spectrum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I appreciate you for standing with me when others doubted me, because you know who I am,” she told supporters. “I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I’m going to continue to do that all the way to victory in November.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Associated Press has not yet called a second candidate to advance to the runoff. California has a history of substantial vote updates after Election Day that can sometimes shift the outcome as late-arriving mail and drop-off ballots are counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of the reality television show “The Hills,” was second in early returns. Pratt accuses Bass of letting the fires get out of control and failing to make enough progress on the homeless crisis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking to reporters outside a restaurant where he gathered with supporters, Pratt signaled he would welcome a matchup with Bass, a former member of Congress and the first Black woman to serve as mayor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086100\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086100\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spencer Pratt, a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, fields interviews during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(AP Photo/Jill Connelly)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is not a candidate that I’m too concerned about,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I got in this because as a citizen, I felt like my city failed — myself, my neighbors, my family,” Pratt said. “Mayor Bass has allowed the city to be covered in potholes. We don’t have sidewalks. We don’t have lights.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m an Angeleno who said ‘Enough is enough,’” Pratt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bass has acknowledged that her time in office has been bumpy but pointed to reductions in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate in the nation’s second most populous city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Running behind Bass and Pratt was Nithya Raman, a former ally of the mayor and a progressive city council member elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America. A Democrat, Raman campaigned on promises to reduce inequality, revive the slumping entertainment industry and build more housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Political observers said a November runoff would be likely with 14 names on the ballot, including tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bass defends her record\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Pratt’s candidacy drew national attention as a barometer for dissatisfaction with liberal urban governance and because of viral videos that supporters created with artificial intelligence.\u003cbr>\nBass lined up most of the Democratic establishment behind her, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with the city’s powerful labor unions.[aside label=\"2026 Bay Area Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/bayarea,Learn about races and measures across the nine Bay Area counties' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-Bay-Area-Voter-Guide-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]Candidates made a rush of last-minute appeals to voters, urging them to cast ballots in an election that appeared headed for a light turnout. Bass made a swing through the heavily Hispanic Boyle Heights neighborhood, where she recalled federal immigration raids in which she said Pratt and Raman were “nowhere to be found.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In online posts before polls closed, Pratt said the contest had become a two-person race between him and Bass and said a vote for either Raman or Miller would be wasted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At this point, it’s me and Karen,” Pratt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Voter Jose Rivera said he backed Bass because she deserves a second term to deliver on her promises: “She’s done a pretty good job in my opinion overall.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another, Leo Blain, said he was drawn to Raman’s progressive agenda and believes she can be effective at building coalitions in the diverse city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think she has a really good understanding about how the city of LA works and would be a really effective mayor,” Blain said outside his polling place.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Los Angeles faces questions about its future\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The race unfolded at an unsettled time for the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mayor is still trying to overcome fallout from her absence when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/eaton-fire\">the most destructive wildfire\u003c/a> in Los Angeles history ignited in a wealthy seaside neighborhood in January 2025. Bass was on a trip to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation. Pratt lost his home in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/palisades-fire\">the Palisades Fire\u003c/a>, which killed 12 people. And some say the recovery is happening too slowly.[aside label=\"From the 2026 Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor,Learn about the California Governor Election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Governor-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]While statistics suggest that Bass has made headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace across the city. Complaints about the rising cost of living — whether for rent, taxes or groceries — are a constant refrain. Dirty, pocked streets and sidewalks abound.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile Hollywood jobs have been decamping for years to more affordable filming locales. Trump administration immigration raids also shook the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Population in the once-booming region is falling — Los Angeles County lost about 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the largest numeric population drop in the nation, according to federal figures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crime statistics are down, but public safety is still an issue. World Cup games begin in Southern California in June, and Los Angeles is readying to host the 2028 Olympics. The federal government spearheads security at the Olympics, but there are already concerns that the Los Angeles Police Department will not have adequate funding or personnel to hold up its end of the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bass has acknowledged making missteps but argued that a drop in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate show she is making progress. “I’ll keep fighting for LA,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pratt has focused his campaign on reducing homelessness and boosting police ranks, arguing that an outsider is needed to shake up city hall. Looking to tap into voter frustration, he says he is “an Angeleno who’s had enough” and rails against “homeless drug zombies” on the streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He received a nod of approval — if not an actual endorsement — from President Donald Trump, who recently said, “I heard he’s a big MAGA person.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That remark could haunt Pratt in a city where Trump is widely unpopular beyond his conservative base and Republicans account for less than 15% of registered voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A tally of mail-in votes on Tuesday shows Bass is trailed by outsider Spencer Pratt in the city's mayoral race. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After a tough first term framed by the most destructive wildfire in city history and an ongoing struggle with widespread homelessness, Los Angeles Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/karen-bass\">Karen Bass\u003c/a> advanced to a November runoff Tuesday as she \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085535/election-day-is-here-from-governor-to-la-mayor-these-are-the-races-to-watch\">fights to stay in City Hall\u003c/a> against challengers from both ends of the political spectrum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I appreciate you for standing with me when others doubted me, because you know who I am,” she told supporters. “I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I’m going to continue to do that all the way to victory in November.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Associated Press has not yet called a second candidate to advance to the runoff. California has a history of substantial vote updates after Election Day that can sometimes shift the outcome as late-arriving mail and drop-off ballots are counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of the reality television show “The Hills,” was second in early returns. Pratt accuses Bass of letting the fires get out of control and failing to make enough progress on the homeless crisis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking to reporters outside a restaurant where he gathered with supporters, Pratt signaled he would welcome a matchup with Bass, a former member of Congress and the first Black woman to serve as mayor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086100\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086100\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154201194476-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spencer Pratt, a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, fields interviews during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(AP Photo/Jill Connelly)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is not a candidate that I’m too concerned about,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I got in this because as a citizen, I felt like my city failed — myself, my neighbors, my family,” Pratt said. “Mayor Bass has allowed the city to be covered in potholes. We don’t have sidewalks. We don’t have lights.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m an Angeleno who said ‘Enough is enough,’” Pratt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bass has acknowledged that her time in office has been bumpy but pointed to reductions in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate in the nation’s second most populous city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Running behind Bass and Pratt was Nithya Raman, a former ally of the mayor and a progressive city council member elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America. A Democrat, Raman campaigned on promises to reduce inequality, revive the slumping entertainment industry and build more housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Political observers said a November runoff would be likely with 14 names on the ballot, including tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bass defends her record\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Pratt’s candidacy drew national attention as a barometer for dissatisfaction with liberal urban governance and because of viral videos that supporters created with artificial intelligence.\u003cbr>\nBass lined up most of the Democratic establishment behind her, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with the city’s powerful labor unions.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Candidates made a rush of last-minute appeals to voters, urging them to cast ballots in an election that appeared headed for a light turnout. Bass made a swing through the heavily Hispanic Boyle Heights neighborhood, where she recalled federal immigration raids in which she said Pratt and Raman were “nowhere to be found.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In online posts before polls closed, Pratt said the contest had become a two-person race between him and Bass and said a vote for either Raman or Miller would be wasted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At this point, it’s me and Karen,” Pratt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Voter Jose Rivera said he backed Bass because she deserves a second term to deliver on her promises: “She’s done a pretty good job in my opinion overall.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another, Leo Blain, said he was drawn to Raman’s progressive agenda and believes she can be effective at building coalitions in the diverse city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think she has a really good understanding about how the city of LA works and would be a really effective mayor,” Blain said outside his polling place.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Los Angeles faces questions about its future\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The race unfolded at an unsettled time for the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mayor is still trying to overcome fallout from her absence when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/eaton-fire\">the most destructive wildfire\u003c/a> in Los Angeles history ignited in a wealthy seaside neighborhood in January 2025. Bass was on a trip to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation. Pratt lost his home in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/palisades-fire\">the Palisades Fire\u003c/a>, which killed 12 people. And some say the recovery is happening too slowly.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>While statistics suggest that Bass has made headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace across the city. Complaints about the rising cost of living — whether for rent, taxes or groceries — are a constant refrain. Dirty, pocked streets and sidewalks abound.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile Hollywood jobs have been decamping for years to more affordable filming locales. Trump administration immigration raids also shook the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Population in the once-booming region is falling — Los Angeles County lost about 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the largest numeric population drop in the nation, according to federal figures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crime statistics are down, but public safety is still an issue. World Cup games begin in Southern California in June, and Los Angeles is readying to host the 2028 Olympics. The federal government spearheads security at the Olympics, but there are already concerns that the Los Angeles Police Department will not have adequate funding or personnel to hold up its end of the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bass has acknowledged making missteps but argued that a drop in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate show she is making progress. “I’ll keep fighting for LA,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pratt has focused his campaign on reducing homelessness and boosting police ranks, arguing that an outsider is needed to shake up city hall. Looking to tap into voter frustration, he says he is “an Angeleno who’s had enough” and rails against “homeless drug zombies” on the streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He received a nod of approval — if not an actual endorsement — from President Donald Trump, who recently said, “I heard he’s a big MAGA person.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That remark could haunt Pratt in a city where Trump is widely unpopular beyond his conservative base and Republicans account for less than 15% of registered voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "FBI Fatally Shoots a Man Holding Hostages in Bakersfield Office Building, Police Say",
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"headTitle": "FBI Fatally Shoots a Man Holding Hostages in Bakersfield Office Building, Police Say | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>A man who was holding hostages inside a downtown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bakersfield\">Bakersfield\u003c/a> office building for about 12 hours was shot and killed by the FBI early Wednesday, police said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The hostages were found unharmed inside the building that houses a bank and a school district office, the Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suspect was killed in “an officer-involved shooting” involving FBI personnel, the department said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The standoff began Tuesday afternoon when officers responded to a call of a bomb threat at the Chase Bank building, a four-story office building with dark-tinted glass windows all around. Police said the man had barricaded himself inside with several people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The department’s crisis negotiation team talked with the suspect by telephone and eventually two hostages were released Tuesday night, police said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086073\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154188927281-scaled-e1780505995833.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086073\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154188927281-scaled-e1780505995833.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">FBI agents respond after a man barricaded himself inside a building with hostages Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Bakersfield, Calif. \u003ccite>(AP Photo/David Dennis)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Nearby buildings, including City Hall and the police headquarters that are just a block away, were evacuated and some roads were temporarily closed during the hostage situation. Bakersfield, a city of about 380,000 residents, is the seat of largely rural Kern County and is about 100 miles (160 kms) northeast of Los Angeles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the bank branch is on the ground floor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Officers established a perimeter around the area and warned the public to stay away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have every single resource at our disposal out here to bring this to the safest resolution possible,” Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon said Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jacob Davidson, a livestreamer known as Dad’s Gone Live, was a block from the bank at his family’s tattoo shop when he started getting calls about the bomb threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I went into the bank’s parking garage and watched the cops enter the back of the bank. This is the biggest police presence I’ve ever seen in this town,” Davidson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His livestream captured through a window in the building a woman rocking back and forth Tuesday night before crouching below the window. Later, two hands could be seen waving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Bakersfield Police Department said that the suspect was shot and killed by the FBI early Wednesday morning. All the hostages are free and none were harmed. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A man who was holding hostages inside a downtown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bakersfield\">Bakersfield\u003c/a> office building for about 12 hours was shot and killed by the FBI early Wednesday, police said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The hostages were found unharmed inside the building that houses a bank and a school district office, the Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suspect was killed in “an officer-involved shooting” involving FBI personnel, the department said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The standoff began Tuesday afternoon when officers responded to a call of a bomb threat at the Chase Bank building, a four-story office building with dark-tinted glass windows all around. Police said the man had barricaded himself inside with several people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The department’s crisis negotiation team talked with the suspect by telephone and eventually two hostages were released Tuesday night, police said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086073\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154188927281-scaled-e1780505995833.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086073\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/AP26154188927281-scaled-e1780505995833.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">FBI agents respond after a man barricaded himself inside a building with hostages Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Bakersfield, Calif. \u003ccite>(AP Photo/David Dennis)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Nearby buildings, including City Hall and the police headquarters that are just a block away, were evacuated and some roads were temporarily closed during the hostage situation. Bakersfield, a city of about 380,000 residents, is the seat of largely rural Kern County and is about 100 miles (160 kms) northeast of Los Angeles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the bank branch is on the ground floor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Officers established a perimeter around the area and warned the public to stay away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have every single resource at our disposal out here to bring this to the safest resolution possible,” Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon said Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jacob Davidson, a livestreamer known as Dad’s Gone Live, was a block from the bank at his family’s tattoo shop when he started getting calls about the bomb threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I went into the bank’s parking garage and watched the cops enter the back of the bank. This is the biggest police presence I’ve ever seen in this town,” Davidson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His livestream captured through a window in the building a woman rocking back and forth Tuesday night before crouching below the window. Later, two hands could be seen waving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "What’s the Election Vibe at Bay Area Polling Places on California Primary Day?",
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"content": "\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085513/california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-today\">primary\u003c/a> is coming to a close — with voters casting their final ballots to decide on the state’s future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their long list of choices included an unusually \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085576/governors-race-enters-the-final-stretch-and-down-ballot-races-to-watch\">close\u003c/a> governor’s race and consequential local races, including the fight to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But on Tuesday morning, polling places across the Bay Area were quiet, reflecting some of the uneasiness of constituents. At North and West Oakland satellite locations, poll workers said turnout was lower than expected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is probably the least hopeful I felt in an election, to be completely frank,” said Oakland resident Josh Adams, 35, who said he’s most concerned about the governor’s race. Adams, whose partner is an educator, said he researched the candidates’ policies to see who would support funding public education and infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t know if there is a right answer — someone who scratches all of the itches of the state,” Adams said, after voting at the Oakland Main Branch Library. “I hope I made the right decision.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085812\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085812\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Josh Adams stands outside the Oakland Main Library after casting his ballot in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke with voters at multiple Bay Area polling places to hear from them about the Election Day vibes. Those who did turn out said they were invested in the results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in San Francisco, Chiraag Hebbar, 26, cast his ballot at City Hall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With both Gavin Newsom and Pelosi leaving, I think it’s a critical election,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085818\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085818\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters fill out their ballots at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Big money has poured into campaigns, with major financial backing from tech and oil for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085483/whos-backing-californias-next-governor-and-why\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, the Democratic frontrunner, and for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">Saikat Chakrabarti\u003c/a>, who is vying against state Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan for Pelosi’s seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of money getting thrown around,” said Gwynn Beasley, a Lower Haight resident, who said she votes at City Hall to feel more “civic.” Beasley said she saw a lot of major donors “putting money behind candidates they don’t necessarily support to [get others] out of the race.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Widya Batin, a 27-year-old Fillmore resident, said the political moment can feel discouraging, so she wanted to vote in the primary to exercise her civil right as a citizen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085822\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085822\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A polling place at SOMArts Cultural Center in San Francisco on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We don’t really get educated on how our vote works or how the political system works. That’s why I get discouraged. If you don’t really go into the measures or candidates yourself, you can easily be caught up in the ads they run before the election.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Batin said she will vote for candidates that she’s seen in action, but “for the propositions, I kind of rely on the homies and what we are sharing around in our groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Democracy was in full swing down in East San José, where the Dr. Robert Cruz Alum Rock Library had a steady stream of voters. Every few minutes, someone walked through the double doors to drop off a ballot or vote in person, though most came to drop off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085824\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085824\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Shireman Ichikawa family leaves the Bernal Heights Library polling place in San Francisco after casting their ballots on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>No two voters looked alike — old, young, Hispanic, Black, Asian, white — pushing strollers, holding a partner’s hand, or pulling their dog’s leash. Staff who have worked at the location for years say this is the busiest voting site in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Melissa Martinez came to drop off both her and her sister’s ballots. Martinez, born and raised in the South Bay, started voting as soon as she turned 18. A child of immigrants, she said she’s been politically active since high school.[aside postID=news_12085513 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/voter.jpg']“I just always knew that if I wanted to keep them safe, in some ways, it depends on how I voted and who I voted for,” Martinez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José resident Pam Payton, whose dad was planning commissioner for the city, and who was part of the campaign to elect Norman Mineta as mayor, said voting has been ingrained in her family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you want to make a change, it’s not going to happen if you don’t vote.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Payton, the economy was top of mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“California is a hot mess right now,” she said, laughing. “I don’t know that there’s anything the potential governors will do to lower the price of gas.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She described going to the store and buying one bag of groceries without meat, and spending $80. “That’s crazy,” Payton said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Payton did her patriotic duty. For those who didn’t vote Tuesday, Payton had simple advice: “Don’t complain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aaliahmad\">\u003cem>Ayah Ali-Ahmad\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, Desmond Meagley, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/psibulo\">\u003cem>Paula Sibulo\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/emanoukian\">\u003cem>Elize Manoukian\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085513/california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-today\">primary\u003c/a> is coming to a close — with voters casting their final ballots to decide on the state’s future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their long list of choices included an unusually \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085576/governors-race-enters-the-final-stretch-and-down-ballot-races-to-watch\">close\u003c/a> governor’s race and consequential local races, including the fight to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But on Tuesday morning, polling places across the Bay Area were quiet, reflecting some of the uneasiness of constituents. At North and West Oakland satellite locations, poll workers said turnout was lower than expected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is probably the least hopeful I felt in an election, to be completely frank,” said Oakland resident Josh Adams, 35, who said he’s most concerned about the governor’s race. Adams, whose partner is an educator, said he researched the candidates’ policies to see who would support funding public education and infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t know if there is a right answer — someone who scratches all of the itches of the state,” Adams said, after voting at the Oakland Main Branch Library. “I hope I made the right decision.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085812\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085812\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Josh Adams stands outside the Oakland Main Library after casting his ballot in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke with voters at multiple Bay Area polling places to hear from them about the Election Day vibes. Those who did turn out said they were invested in the results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in San Francisco, Chiraag Hebbar, 26, cast his ballot at City Hall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With both Gavin Newsom and Pelosi leaving, I think it’s a critical election,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085818\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085818\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters fill out their ballots at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Big money has poured into campaigns, with major financial backing from tech and oil for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085483/whos-backing-californias-next-governor-and-why\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, the Democratic frontrunner, and for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">Saikat Chakrabarti\u003c/a>, who is vying against state Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan for Pelosi’s seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of money getting thrown around,” said Gwynn Beasley, a Lower Haight resident, who said she votes at City Hall to feel more “civic.” Beasley said she saw a lot of major donors “putting money behind candidates they don’t necessarily support to [get others] out of the race.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Widya Batin, a 27-year-old Fillmore resident, said the political moment can feel discouraging, so she wanted to vote in the primary to exercise her civil right as a citizen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085822\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085822\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A polling place at SOMArts Cultural Center in San Francisco on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We don’t really get educated on how our vote works or how the political system works. That’s why I get discouraged. If you don’t really go into the measures or candidates yourself, you can easily be caught up in the ads they run before the election.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Batin said she will vote for candidates that she’s seen in action, but “for the propositions, I kind of rely on the homies and what we are sharing around in our groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Democracy was in full swing down in East San José, where the Dr. Robert Cruz Alum Rock Library had a steady stream of voters. Every few minutes, someone walked through the double doors to drop off a ballot or vote in person, though most came to drop off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085824\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085824\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Shireman Ichikawa family leaves the Bernal Heights Library polling place in San Francisco after casting their ballots on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>No two voters looked alike — old, young, Hispanic, Black, Asian, white — pushing strollers, holding a partner’s hand, or pulling their dog’s leash. Staff who have worked at the location for years say this is the busiest voting site in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Melissa Martinez came to drop off both her and her sister’s ballots. Martinez, born and raised in the South Bay, started voting as soon as she turned 18. A child of immigrants, she said she’s been politically active since high school.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I just always knew that if I wanted to keep them safe, in some ways, it depends on how I voted and who I voted for,” Martinez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José resident Pam Payton, whose dad was planning commissioner for the city, and who was part of the campaign to elect Norman Mineta as mayor, said voting has been ingrained in her family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you want to make a change, it’s not going to happen if you don’t vote.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Payton, the economy was top of mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“California is a hot mess right now,” she said, laughing. “I don’t know that there’s anything the potential governors will do to lower the price of gas.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She described going to the store and buying one bag of groceries without meat, and spending $80. “That’s crazy,” Payton said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Payton did her patriotic duty. For those who didn’t vote Tuesday, Payton had simple advice: “Don’t complain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aaliahmad\">\u003cem>Ayah Ali-Ahmad\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, Desmond Meagley, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/psibulo\">\u003cem>Paula Sibulo\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/emanoukian\">\u003cem>Elize Manoukian\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "election-day-is-here-from-governor-to-la-mayor-these-are-the-races-to-watch",
"title": "Polls Are Closed in California. From Governor to LA Mayor, These Are the Races to Watch",
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"headTitle": "Polls Are Closed in California. From Governor to LA Mayor, These Are the Races to Watch | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Polls are now closed in California’s primary election, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results\">the first tallies\u003c/a> are starting to trickle in from some counties. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> has loomed large in media coverage and political advertisements, but there’s a lot more on the ballot. Here’s what we will be watching closely on election night and in the days to come as votes continue to be counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, one reminder: California has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083839/what-is-californias-jungle-primary-and-why-does-it-matter-so-much-for-the-governors-race\">top-two primary system\u003c/a>, meaning the top two vote-getters in statewide races and congressional races move on to the November runoff — regardless of party affiliation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A messy, confusing race for California governor\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s first truly open governor’s race in more than two decades has remained unsettled to the end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Polls now show three candidates likely competing for the two spots in the November general election: Democratic former Health and Human Services Secretary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, Republican businessman and former Fox News host \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/steve-hilton\">Steve Hilton\u003c/a> and billionaire Democratic activist \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tom-steyer\">Tom Steyer\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Becerra secures one of the top spots, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085276/becerra-hilton-lead-in-california-governors-race-poll-ahead-of-june-primary\">as the latest polling suggests\u003c/a>, it would cap one of the most surprising and dramatic comebacks in recent state political history. As recently as April, polls were showing Becerra — also a former member of Congress and California attorney general — languishing in single digits in a crowded field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082916\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2274719112-scaled-e1778887506369.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1316\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California gubernatorial candidates former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, businessman Tom Steyer, businessman Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan look on during a CNN California Governor Primary Debate at East Los Angeles College on May 5, 2026, in Monterey Park, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Becerra’s campaign was boosted after former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress following multiple accusations of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">sexual assault and harassment\u003c/a>. Shortly after Swalwell’s exit, Becerra began rising in the polls, outpacing most of his Democratic rivals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">endorsed Hilton\u003c/a> in April, propelling him to the top of the field alongside Becerra. But neither has cracked more than 25% support in most public polls — and Steyer, who’s spent more than $213 million of his own fortune in the race, remains within striking distance of the top two in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085443/new-california-governor-poll-shows-a-slim-but-growing-chance-of-2-democrats-advancing\">recent surveys\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That state of play helped quell fears among Democrats that a crowded field without a superstar candidate could result in two Republicans moving on to the general election, locking out Democrats entirely.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An open congressional seat in San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062796/nancy-pelosi-leaves-congress-after-38-years-defining-generations-of-democratic-power\">retirement\u003c/a> of Democratic powerhouse Nancy Pelosi, most San Francisco voters are facing an open congressional seat for the first time since 1987.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pelosi’s exit has spurred a tight and spirited contest among three leading Democrats to replace her: state Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/scott-wiener\">Scott Wiener\u003c/a>, San Francisco Supervisor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/connie-chan\">Connie Chan\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/saikat-chakrabarti\">Saikat Chakrabarti\u003c/a>, a former tech engineer who previously worked as chief of staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078159\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078159 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Candidates running for California’s 11th Congressional District (from left) Saikat Chakrabarti, state Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan take part in a forum at UC Law San Francisco on Jan. 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Polls show the race boiling down to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">a fight for the No. 2 spot\u003c/a>, with Wiener leading and expected to make the November runoff. He’s made a name for himself as a staunch champion of increasing housing development and funding public transit, and defending gay rights. Wiener is seen as the more business-friendly moderate in the race — though on the national stage, he’d be considered incredibly liberal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan has racked up the endorsements of labor groups and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084132/nancy-pelosi-endorses-san-francisco-supervisor-connie-chan-for-congress\">Pelosi\u003c/a>, as well as some other big-name Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. She’s running as a tried-and-true San Francisco progressive and has leaned on her personal story as an immigrant and mother.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chakrabarti, who’s used his own personal wealth to help fund his upstart campaign, is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">running as an outsider\u003c/a> who will shake things up. He’s had to introduce himself to an electorate unfamiliar with him and is banking on frustration with the Democratic Party establishment to help fuel his run.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other congressional races\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The real action in California’s congressional swing seats won’t start until the fall, when Democrats are hoping to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085418/two-democrats-are-fighting-for-the-chance-to-flip-californias-only-toss-up-house-race\">flip multiple Republican-held districts\u003c/a> in their push to retake the House of Representatives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But a pair of primaries Tuesday will set the stage for those battles. In the Bakersfield-area 22nd District, Democrats Jasmeet Bains, a moderate state Assembly member and Randy Villegas, a progressive school board member, are competing to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085466/two-democrats-battling-to-unseat-longtime-central-valley-congressman\">challenge incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071887\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071887\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. David Valadao of California speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. \u003ccite>(Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And in the newly drawn 48th District, San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Navy Reserve officer Ammar Campa-Najjar are among the Democrats vying to make the general election, where they will likely face Republican Jim Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In safe Democratic seats, a handful of primaries are dividing along generational lines. Longtime incumbents Mike Thompson, Doris Matsui and Brad Sherman are all facing youthful challengers arguing for a changing of the guard.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An important race for insurance commissioner\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/insurance-commissioner\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Compare insurance commissioner candidates in the KQED Voter Guide \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside of governor, the primary for California’s insurance commissioner is the statewide election with the highest stakes. The next commissioner will assume \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000611/california-insurance-commissioner-candidates-debate-solutions-to-wildfire-driven-crisis\">oversight of an insurance market in crisis\u003c/a> — with insurers issuing nonrenewals and limiting new policies in the face of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000990/california-must-move-faster-on-wildfire-risk-experts-warn\">massive wildfire threats and liabilities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The field of Democrats running includes state Sen. Ben Allen and former state Sen. Steven Bradford, along with former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim and financial analyst Patrick Wolff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five Republicans are also on the ballot, though unlikely to win statewide election. Insurance agent Stacy Korsgaden has won the party’s official endorsement.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Local taxes as cities face budget crunches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Voters in the Bay Area’s three largest cities will decide whether to approve new taxes to help bolster struggling local budgets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco and Oakland, the tax votes could provide a key measure of the political clout of Mayors Daniel Lurie and Barbara Lee a year into their terms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078516\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078516\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mayor Barbara Lee speaks during a press conference announcing new affordable housing for Oakland Unified School District teachers and school employees at a recently purchased residential building in Oakland on April 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lee is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084482/oakland-mayor-barbara-lee-signals-shell-run-for-full-term-in-november\">pushing for the passage of Measure E\u003c/a>, a parcel tax of $192 a year for single-family properties that is expected to raise $34 million annually. Across the bay, Lurie is asking voters to reject \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/proposition-d\">Proposition D\u003c/a>, a union-backed measure that would increase business taxes on corporations whose CEOs make 100 times more than their median San Francisco employee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San José, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/santaclara/measure-a\">Measure A\u003c/a> has been met with less debate: The city’s entire political establishment is behind the idea of increasing the hotel tax from 10% to 12% to bring in $10 million a year for the general fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Los Angeles mayor’s race takes statewide spotlight\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The L.A. mayor’s race has emerged after the governor’s race as one of the most surprising contests in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mayor Karen Bass, a longtime fixture in L.A. Democratic politics, is facing challenges from both the left and the right: City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a former Bass ally, is running as a more progressive alternative; and former reality TV star and Republican Spencer Pratt is running on an anti-establishment platform.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much of the race has been fueled by lingering anger over Bass’ response to the 2025 L.A. wildfires; Pratt lost his Pacific Palisades home in one of the blazes. Polls show a \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/28/la-mayor-poll-bass-vulnerable-close-race-raman-pratt-00941128\">close race among all three candidates\u003c/a>, a remarkable turn for Bass, who has represented L.A. in Congress and the state Legislature for decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How much will we know on election night?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As always, Californians’ reliance on vote-by-mail will mean a longer wait for definitive results. That’s especially true if many voters wait until Tuesday to return their ballot.[aside label=\"2026 California Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide,Learn everything you need to cast an informed ballot for the 2026 primary election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Voter-Guide-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]If the leading candidates in the race for governor remain separated by just a handful of percentage points, the top two finishers may not become clear for days or even weeks as ballots are counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the results could shift — data suggests the early vote has been more heavily Republican than in previous primaries, meaning the ballots that remain to be counted could be more heavily Democratic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2022, the second- and third-place finishers in the statewide race for insurance commissioner were separated by less than a percentage point. The race was not decided \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-07-06/marc-levine-concedes-in-primary-race-for-state-insurance-commissioner\">until a month\u003c/a> after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For state and federal races, KQED relies on the Associated Press to “call” the winner, which is determined through an analysis of surveys, results and remaining ballots to declare when a trailing candidate or measure cannot catch the leader.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California’s primary election includes a number of races worth following on election night and in the days to come as ballots continue to be counted.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Polls are now closed in California’s primary election, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results\">the first tallies\u003c/a> are starting to trickle in from some counties. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> has loomed large in media coverage and political advertisements, but there’s a lot more on the ballot. Here’s what we will be watching closely on election night and in the days to come as votes continue to be counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, one reminder: California has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083839/what-is-californias-jungle-primary-and-why-does-it-matter-so-much-for-the-governors-race\">top-two primary system\u003c/a>, meaning the top two vote-getters in statewide races and congressional races move on to the November runoff — regardless of party affiliation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A messy, confusing race for California governor\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s first truly open governor’s race in more than two decades has remained unsettled to the end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Polls now show three candidates likely competing for the two spots in the November general election: Democratic former Health and Human Services Secretary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, Republican businessman and former Fox News host \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/steve-hilton\">Steve Hilton\u003c/a> and billionaire Democratic activist \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tom-steyer\">Tom Steyer\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Becerra secures one of the top spots, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085276/becerra-hilton-lead-in-california-governors-race-poll-ahead-of-june-primary\">as the latest polling suggests\u003c/a>, it would cap one of the most surprising and dramatic comebacks in recent state political history. As recently as April, polls were showing Becerra — also a former member of Congress and California attorney general — languishing in single digits in a crowded field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082916\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2274719112-scaled-e1778887506369.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1316\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California gubernatorial candidates former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, businessman Tom Steyer, businessman Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan look on during a CNN California Governor Primary Debate at East Los Angeles College on May 5, 2026, in Monterey Park, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Becerra’s campaign was boosted after former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress following multiple accusations of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">sexual assault and harassment\u003c/a>. Shortly after Swalwell’s exit, Becerra began rising in the polls, outpacing most of his Democratic rivals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">endorsed Hilton\u003c/a> in April, propelling him to the top of the field alongside Becerra. But neither has cracked more than 25% support in most public polls — and Steyer, who’s spent more than $213 million of his own fortune in the race, remains within striking distance of the top two in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085443/new-california-governor-poll-shows-a-slim-but-growing-chance-of-2-democrats-advancing\">recent surveys\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That state of play helped quell fears among Democrats that a crowded field without a superstar candidate could result in two Republicans moving on to the general election, locking out Democrats entirely.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An open congressional seat in San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062796/nancy-pelosi-leaves-congress-after-38-years-defining-generations-of-democratic-power\">retirement\u003c/a> of Democratic powerhouse Nancy Pelosi, most San Francisco voters are facing an open congressional seat for the first time since 1987.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pelosi’s exit has spurred a tight and spirited contest among three leading Democrats to replace her: state Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/scott-wiener\">Scott Wiener\u003c/a>, San Francisco Supervisor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/connie-chan\">Connie Chan\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/saikat-chakrabarti\">Saikat Chakrabarti\u003c/a>, a former tech engineer who previously worked as chief of staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078159\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078159 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-19-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Candidates running for California’s 11th Congressional District (from left) Saikat Chakrabarti, state Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan take part in a forum at UC Law San Francisco on Jan. 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Polls show the race boiling down to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">a fight for the No. 2 spot\u003c/a>, with Wiener leading and expected to make the November runoff. He’s made a name for himself as a staunch champion of increasing housing development and funding public transit, and defending gay rights. Wiener is seen as the more business-friendly moderate in the race — though on the national stage, he’d be considered incredibly liberal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan has racked up the endorsements of labor groups and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084132/nancy-pelosi-endorses-san-francisco-supervisor-connie-chan-for-congress\">Pelosi\u003c/a>, as well as some other big-name Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. She’s running as a tried-and-true San Francisco progressive and has leaned on her personal story as an immigrant and mother.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chakrabarti, who’s used his own personal wealth to help fund his upstart campaign, is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">running as an outsider\u003c/a> who will shake things up. He’s had to introduce himself to an electorate unfamiliar with him and is banking on frustration with the Democratic Party establishment to help fuel his run.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other congressional races\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The real action in California’s congressional swing seats won’t start until the fall, when Democrats are hoping to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085418/two-democrats-are-fighting-for-the-chance-to-flip-californias-only-toss-up-house-race\">flip multiple Republican-held districts\u003c/a> in their push to retake the House of Representatives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But a pair of primaries Tuesday will set the stage for those battles. In the Bakersfield-area 22nd District, Democrats Jasmeet Bains, a moderate state Assembly member and Randy Villegas, a progressive school board member, are competing to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085466/two-democrats-battling-to-unseat-longtime-central-valley-congressman\">challenge incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071887\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071887\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. David Valadao of California speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. \u003ccite>(Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And in the newly drawn 48th District, San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Navy Reserve officer Ammar Campa-Najjar are among the Democrats vying to make the general election, where they will likely face Republican Jim Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In safe Democratic seats, a handful of primaries are dividing along generational lines. Longtime incumbents Mike Thompson, Doris Matsui and Brad Sherman are all facing youthful challengers arguing for a changing of the guard.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An important race for insurance commissioner\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/insurance-commissioner\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Compare insurance commissioner candidates in the KQED Voter Guide \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside of governor, the primary for California’s insurance commissioner is the statewide election with the highest stakes. The next commissioner will assume \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000611/california-insurance-commissioner-candidates-debate-solutions-to-wildfire-driven-crisis\">oversight of an insurance market in crisis\u003c/a> — with insurers issuing nonrenewals and limiting new policies in the face of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000990/california-must-move-faster-on-wildfire-risk-experts-warn\">massive wildfire threats and liabilities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The field of Democrats running includes state Sen. Ben Allen and former state Sen. Steven Bradford, along with former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim and financial analyst Patrick Wolff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five Republicans are also on the ballot, though unlikely to win statewide election. Insurance agent Stacy Korsgaden has won the party’s official endorsement.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Local taxes as cities face budget crunches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Voters in the Bay Area’s three largest cities will decide whether to approve new taxes to help bolster struggling local budgets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco and Oakland, the tax votes could provide a key measure of the political clout of Mayors Daniel Lurie and Barbara Lee a year into their terms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078516\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078516\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-OAKTEACHERHOUSING-12-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mayor Barbara Lee speaks during a press conference announcing new affordable housing for Oakland Unified School District teachers and school employees at a recently purchased residential building in Oakland on April 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lee is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084482/oakland-mayor-barbara-lee-signals-shell-run-for-full-term-in-november\">pushing for the passage of Measure E\u003c/a>, a parcel tax of $192 a year for single-family properties that is expected to raise $34 million annually. Across the bay, Lurie is asking voters to reject \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/proposition-d\">Proposition D\u003c/a>, a union-backed measure that would increase business taxes on corporations whose CEOs make 100 times more than their median San Francisco employee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San José, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/santaclara/measure-a\">Measure A\u003c/a> has been met with less debate: The city’s entire political establishment is behind the idea of increasing the hotel tax from 10% to 12% to bring in $10 million a year for the general fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Los Angeles mayor’s race takes statewide spotlight\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The L.A. mayor’s race has emerged after the governor’s race as one of the most surprising contests in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mayor Karen Bass, a longtime fixture in L.A. Democratic politics, is facing challenges from both the left and the right: City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a former Bass ally, is running as a more progressive alternative; and former reality TV star and Republican Spencer Pratt is running on an anti-establishment platform.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much of the race has been fueled by lingering anger over Bass’ response to the 2025 L.A. wildfires; Pratt lost his Pacific Palisades home in one of the blazes. Polls show a \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/28/la-mayor-poll-bass-vulnerable-close-race-raman-pratt-00941128\">close race among all three candidates\u003c/a>, a remarkable turn for Bass, who has represented L.A. in Congress and the state Legislature for decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How much will we know on election night?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As always, Californians’ reliance on vote-by-mail will mean a longer wait for definitive results. That’s especially true if many voters wait until Tuesday to return their ballot.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If the leading candidates in the race for governor remain separated by just a handful of percentage points, the top two finishers may not become clear for days or even weeks as ballots are counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the results could shift — data suggests the early vote has been more heavily Republican than in previous primaries, meaning the ballots that remain to be counted could be more heavily Democratic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2022, the second- and third-place finishers in the statewide race for insurance commissioner were separated by less than a percentage point. The race was not decided \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-07-06/marc-levine-concedes-in-primary-race-for-state-insurance-commissioner\">until a month\u003c/a> after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For state and federal races, KQED relies on the Associated Press to “call” the winner, which is determined through an analysis of surveys, results and remaining ballots to declare when a trailing candidate or measure cannot catch the leader.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "california-primary-2026-key-congressional-races-to-watch-today",
"title": "California Primary 2026: Key Congressional Races to Watch on Election Day",
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"headTitle": "California Primary 2026: Key Congressional Races to Watch on Election Day | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>It’s Primary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California. Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., and hundreds of thousands of Californians are expected to cast — or mail in — their votes in a host of federal, state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike ordinary primaries, which Californians often approach with a shrug, this election has all the makings of a Trump-era dogfight. It’s the first election California has seen since approving \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062781/proposition-50-passes-in-california-boosting-democrats-in-fight-for-us-house-control\">Proposition 50\u003c/a> last year, which redrew U.S. congressional districts to favor Democrats and allow voters to flip up to five seats currently held by Republicans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but by small margins — if they lose two House seats, Democrats will reclaim power in at least one chamber of government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California uses a top-two primary system, in which the two candidates with the most votes — regardless of party preference — proceed to a runoff race in November’s general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NPR member stations across California have been tracking these changes to the state’s congressional map, the candidates and the issues in their communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 48\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has represented the San Diego area in Congress for about a quarter of a century. Democrats have long dreamed of ousting Issa, and Proposition 50 may have given Democrats the edge they’ve long needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the passage of the controversial measure, Issa’s reelection race flipped from a double-digit Republican advantage to a 10-point lead for Democrats. In March, Issa announced he wasn’t seeking reelection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056383\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056383\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa speaks to media outside of a House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 14, 2023. \u003ccite>(Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Despite Proposition 50, the question remains: Can the Democrats flip the 48th Congressional District?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Twelve candidates are in the race for Issa’s seat, including San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who’s running as a Republican; San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, who is running as a Democrat; and former Obama official Ammar Campa-Najjar, also a Democrat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from KPBS:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/05/22/48th-congressional-district-campaigns-find-ways-around-campaign-finance-rules\">48th Congressional District campaigns find ways around campaign finance rules\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/californias-48th-congressional-district-race-ammar-campa-najjar\">California’s 48th Congressional District race: Ammar Campa-Najjar\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/californias-48th-congressional-district-race-marni-von-wilpert\">California’s 48th Congressional District race: Marni Von Wilpert\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/californias-48th-congressional-district-race-brandon-riker\">California’s 48th Congressional District race: Brandon Riker\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 22\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One of the country’s most competitive primary races for Congress this year — and the only California race rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report — is a swing district in the Central Valley, where Democrats are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican Rep. David Valadao.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While District 22 has been trending purple, Valadao has held his seat. But since the passage of Proposition 50, former dairy farmer Valadao faces another headwind: Californians voted to redraw his district narrowly in favor of Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071887\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071887\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. David Valadao of California speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. \u003ccite>(Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Valadao is the last remaining House Republican who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, he did vote in favor of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill slashed Medicaid funding, and Valadao’s congressional district has one of the highest Medicaid enrollment rates in the country. Democratic opponents are trying to rally voters to hold him accountable for his vote to cut healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This congressional race is also one of many emerging around the country where progressive Democrats are challenging their party’s establishment.[aside label=\"2026 California Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide,Learn everything you need to cast an informed ballot for the 2026 primary election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Voter-Guide-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]Democrat Randy Villegas has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Villegas is a political science professor at a local community college and an elected trustee of the Visalia Unified School District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also vying for the number 2 spot in California’s top-two primary is state Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains. She’s been endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from KVPR:\u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2026-05-27/a-tug-of-war-for-the-identity-of-the-party-why-a-valley-congressional-race-is-key-for-democrats\">‘A tug of war for the identity of the party’: Why a Valley congressional race is key for Democrats\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from CalMatters:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/05/central-valley-congress-dccc/\">National Democrats said they’d stay out of this California race. Then they picked a side\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/02/bains-villegas-democrats-central-valley/\">‘Valleycrat’ or Mamdani wannabe?: California Democrats are split on how to win swing votes\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 11\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has held her seat representing San Francisco for nearly 40 years. But with the former House speaker \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062796/nancy-pelosi-leaves-congress-after-38-years-defining-generations-of-democratic-power\">retiring\u003c/a>, all eyes are on the race to succeed her. The frontrunner is state Sen. Scott Wiener, a moderate Democrat by San Francisco standards. He’s polling at about 40% with likely voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The race to face off against Wiener includes two Democrats appealing to more progressive voters in the liberal city: San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and former tech engineer Saikat Chakrabarti.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067934\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(From left) San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, Saikat Chakrabarti and State Senator Scott Wiener. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED; Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pelosi has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084132/nancy-pelosi-endorses-san-francisco-supervisor-connie-chan-for-congress\">endorsed\u003c/a> Chan. Chan was born in Hong Kong and moved to San Francisco’s Chinatown as a child. She has centered her campaign on her background as an immigrant, mother and longtime civil servant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan is running neck and neck with Chakrabarti, who has poured nearly $10 million of his own money into the race. Chakrabarti was the former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a key organizer of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from KQED:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">After Pelosi, young SF voters want change. 2 progressives are competing to offer it\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080294/big-money-pours-into-san-francisco-race-to-replace-rep-nancy-pelosi\">Big money pours into San Francisco race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078152/in-bid-to-succeed-pelosi-san-francisco-house-candidates-set-to-debate\">SF House Candidates Clash on Taxes, Transit in Debate to Replace Pelosi\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 1\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When longtime Republican Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-01-06/heres-what-to-know-about-congressman-doug-lamalfa-death-cause-special-election-trump\">Doug LaMalfa unexpectedly died\u003c/a> in emergency surgery earlier this year, he left his seat vacant. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special election to replace LaMalfa, which also falls on the day of California’s primary election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because LaMalfa’s seat was set to expire in January 2027, the winner of the special election will serve only the remaining months of his term. Some voters in the district will see these candidates on their ballots twice: once for the special election to fill the vacancy, and again in the regular primary to determine who represents the redrawn district for the full term when Congress begins in January 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064004\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064004\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Mike McGuire speaks during a press conference, before Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the Election Rigging Response Act in Sacramento on Aug. 21, 2025. \u003ccite>(Miguel Gutierrez Jr./CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This district — which covers much of rural, inland Northern California, including Chico and Redding — has historically voted red. But the redrawn lines bring in more liberal areas like Sonoma County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One long-tenured Democrat has thrown his hat into the race: Mike McGuire, who currently represents a stretch of coast from the North Bay up to the Oregon border in California’s state Senate. He’s running against fellow state Assemblymember James Gallagher, a Republican who represents the northern Sacramento Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Democrat Audrey Denney, an educator from Chico, is also running in District 1 — for the third time. (She ran in 2018 and 2020.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from North State Public Radio:\u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-01-14/james-gallagher-runs-for-doug-lamalfa-congress-seat-special-election-newsom\">What to know about James Gallagher’s run for Congress\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-05-05/james-gallagher-interview-california-1st-congressional-district-2026-primary-election\">Gallagher targets rising cost of living in 1st Congressional District\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-05-05/mike-mcguire-interview-california-1st-congressional-district-2026\">McGuire says healthcare is at a ‘crisis point’ in 1st Congressional District\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-05-05/audrey-denney-interview-california-1st-congressional-district-2026\">Denney links affordability crisis to corporate influence in 1st Congressional District\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 7\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Democrat Doris Matsui has represented California’s 7th Congressional District for over two decades. She stepped into the role in 2005, winning a special election after her husband, Robert T. Matsui, died and left the seat vacant. Prior to his death, Robert Matsui represented the district — which covers the Sacramento County area — for over 25 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doris Matsui has easily won in past elections, but now faces her most serious challenge. Mai Vang, a Sacramento City Council member and more progressive Democrat, has pledged not to take donations from corporations or political action committees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085750\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085750\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. Doris Matsui listens during the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy hearing on Thursday, April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Several other candidates hope to unseat Matsui, including faith-based housing nonprofit employee and Sacramento State student Zachariah Wooden, who is running as a Republican; small manufacturing business owner Robby Morin, who is running as a Democrat; and entrepreneur Enayat Nazhat, also running as a Democrat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 7th Congressional District has also shifted under Proposition 50 to include some rural areas in El Dorado and San Joaquin counties, which could shift the district more red.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from CapRadio:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/05/08/how-campaign-money-is-shaping-sacramentos-7th-congressional-district-race/\">How campaign money is shaping Sacramento’s 7th Congressional District race\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from CalMatters:\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/02/california-democrats-endorsements/https:/calmatters.org/politics/2026/02/california-democrats-endorsements/\">California Democrats back establishment candidates despite progressive pushback\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://california-newsroom.beehiiv.com/\">The California Newsroom\u003c/a> is a statewide public media collaboration that includes NPR, CalMatters, KQED in San Francisco, LAist and KCRW in Los Angeles, KPBS in San Diego and other partner stations across California.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California’s 2026 primary is the first since voters passed Proposition 50, which redrew congressional maps to give Democrats a shot at flipping up to five Republican-held seats. From the Central Valley to San Diego, here’s what’s at stake.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s Primary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California. Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., and hundreds of thousands of Californians are expected to cast — or mail in — their votes in a host of federal, state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike ordinary primaries, which Californians often approach with a shrug, this election has all the makings of a Trump-era dogfight. It’s the first election California has seen since approving \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062781/proposition-50-passes-in-california-boosting-democrats-in-fight-for-us-house-control\">Proposition 50\u003c/a> last year, which redrew U.S. congressional districts to favor Democrats and allow voters to flip up to five seats currently held by Republicans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but by small margins — if they lose two House seats, Democrats will reclaim power in at least one chamber of government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California uses a top-two primary system, in which the two candidates with the most votes — regardless of party preference — proceed to a runoff race in November’s general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NPR member stations across California have been tracking these changes to the state’s congressional map, the candidates and the issues in their communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 48\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has represented the San Diego area in Congress for about a quarter of a century. Democrats have long dreamed of ousting Issa, and Proposition 50 may have given Democrats the edge they’ve long needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the passage of the controversial measure, Issa’s reelection race flipped from a double-digit Republican advantage to a 10-point lead for Democrats. In March, Issa announced he wasn’t seeking reelection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056383\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056383\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Newsom-Gerry_CalMatters-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa speaks to media outside of a House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 14, 2023. \u003ccite>(Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Despite Proposition 50, the question remains: Can the Democrats flip the 48th Congressional District?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Twelve candidates are in the race for Issa’s seat, including San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who’s running as a Republican; San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, who is running as a Democrat; and former Obama official Ammar Campa-Najjar, also a Democrat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from KPBS:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/05/22/48th-congressional-district-campaigns-find-ways-around-campaign-finance-rules\">48th Congressional District campaigns find ways around campaign finance rules\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/californias-48th-congressional-district-race-ammar-campa-najjar\">California’s 48th Congressional District race: Ammar Campa-Najjar\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/californias-48th-congressional-district-race-marni-von-wilpert\">California’s 48th Congressional District race: Marni Von Wilpert\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition/californias-48th-congressional-district-race-brandon-riker\">California’s 48th Congressional District race: Brandon Riker\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 22\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One of the country’s most competitive primary races for Congress this year — and the only California race rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report — is a swing district in the Central Valley, where Democrats are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican Rep. David Valadao.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While District 22 has been trending purple, Valadao has held his seat. But since the passage of Proposition 50, former dairy farmer Valadao faces another headwind: Californians voted to redraw his district narrowly in favor of Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071887\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071887\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/092222-DAVID-VALADAO-REUTERS-GS-CM-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. David Valadao of California speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. \u003ccite>(Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Valadao is the last remaining House Republican who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, he did vote in favor of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill slashed Medicaid funding, and Valadao’s congressional district has one of the highest Medicaid enrollment rates in the country. Democratic opponents are trying to rally voters to hold him accountable for his vote to cut healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This congressional race is also one of many emerging around the country where progressive Democrats are challenging their party’s establishment.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Democrat Randy Villegas has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Villegas is a political science professor at a local community college and an elected trustee of the Visalia Unified School District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also vying for the number 2 spot in California’s top-two primary is state Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains. She’s been endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from KVPR:\u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2026-05-27/a-tug-of-war-for-the-identity-of-the-party-why-a-valley-congressional-race-is-key-for-democrats\">‘A tug of war for the identity of the party’: Why a Valley congressional race is key for Democrats\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from CalMatters:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/05/central-valley-congress-dccc/\">National Democrats said they’d stay out of this California race. Then they picked a side\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/02/bains-villegas-democrats-central-valley/\">‘Valleycrat’ or Mamdani wannabe?: California Democrats are split on how to win swing votes\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 11\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has held her seat representing San Francisco for nearly 40 years. But with the former House speaker \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062796/nancy-pelosi-leaves-congress-after-38-years-defining-generations-of-democratic-power\">retiring\u003c/a>, all eyes are on the race to succeed her. The frontrunner is state Sen. Scott Wiener, a moderate Democrat by San Francisco standards. He’s polling at about 40% with likely voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The race to face off against Wiener includes two Democrats appealing to more progressive voters in the liberal city: San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and former tech engineer Saikat Chakrabarti.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067934\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251218-PELOSIS-SEAT-MD-01-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(From left) San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, Saikat Chakrabarti and State Senator Scott Wiener. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED; Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pelosi has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084132/nancy-pelosi-endorses-san-francisco-supervisor-connie-chan-for-congress\">endorsed\u003c/a> Chan. Chan was born in Hong Kong and moved to San Francisco’s Chinatown as a child. She has centered her campaign on her background as an immigrant, mother and longtime civil servant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan is running neck and neck with Chakrabarti, who has poured nearly $10 million of his own money into the race. Chakrabarti was the former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a key organizer of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from KQED:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084959/after-pelosi-young-sf-voters-want-change-two-progressives-are-competing-to-offer-it\">After Pelosi, young SF voters want change. 2 progressives are competing to offer it\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080294/big-money-pours-into-san-francisco-race-to-replace-rep-nancy-pelosi\">Big money pours into San Francisco race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078152/in-bid-to-succeed-pelosi-san-francisco-house-candidates-set-to-debate\">SF House Candidates Clash on Taxes, Transit in Debate to Replace Pelosi\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 1\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When longtime Republican Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-01-06/heres-what-to-know-about-congressman-doug-lamalfa-death-cause-special-election-trump\">Doug LaMalfa unexpectedly died\u003c/a> in emergency surgery earlier this year, he left his seat vacant. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special election to replace LaMalfa, which also falls on the day of California’s primary election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because LaMalfa’s seat was set to expire in January 2027, the winner of the special election will serve only the remaining months of his term. Some voters in the district will see these candidates on their ballots twice: once for the special election to fill the vacancy, and again in the regular primary to determine who represents the redrawn district for the full term when Congress begins in January 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064004\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064004\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/082125_Redistricting-Newsom_MG_CM_20-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Mike McGuire speaks during a press conference, before Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the Election Rigging Response Act in Sacramento on Aug. 21, 2025. \u003ccite>(Miguel Gutierrez Jr./CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This district — which covers much of rural, inland Northern California, including Chico and Redding — has historically voted red. But the redrawn lines bring in more liberal areas like Sonoma County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One long-tenured Democrat has thrown his hat into the race: Mike McGuire, who currently represents a stretch of coast from the North Bay up to the Oregon border in California’s state Senate. He’s running against fellow state Assemblymember James Gallagher, a Republican who represents the northern Sacramento Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Democrat Audrey Denney, an educator from Chico, is also running in District 1 — for the third time. (She ran in 2018 and 2020.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from North State Public Radio:\u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-01-14/james-gallagher-runs-for-doug-lamalfa-congress-seat-special-election-newsom\">What to know about James Gallagher’s run for Congress\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-05-05/james-gallagher-interview-california-1st-congressional-district-2026-primary-election\">Gallagher targets rising cost of living in 1st Congressional District\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-05-05/mike-mcguire-interview-california-1st-congressional-district-2026\">McGuire says healthcare is at a ‘crisis point’ in 1st Congressional District\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mynspr.org/news/2026-05-05/audrey-denney-interview-california-1st-congressional-district-2026\">Denney links affordability crisis to corporate influence in 1st Congressional District\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Congressional District 7\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Democrat Doris Matsui has represented California’s 7th Congressional District for over two decades. She stepped into the role in 2005, winning a special election after her husband, Robert T. Matsui, died and left the seat vacant. Prior to his death, Robert Matsui represented the district — which covers the Sacramento County area — for over 25 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doris Matsui has easily won in past elections, but now faces her most serious challenge. Mai Vang, a Sacramento City Council member and more progressive Democrat, has pledged not to take donations from corporations or political action committees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085750\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085750\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2271050812-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. Doris Matsui listens during the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy hearing on Thursday, April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Several other candidates hope to unseat Matsui, including faith-based housing nonprofit employee and Sacramento State student Zachariah Wooden, who is running as a Republican; small manufacturing business owner Robby Morin, who is running as a Democrat; and entrepreneur Enayat Nazhat, also running as a Democrat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 7th Congressional District has also shifted under Proposition 50 to include some rural areas in El Dorado and San Joaquin counties, which could shift the district more red.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from CapRadio:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/05/08/how-campaign-money-is-shaping-sacramentos-7th-congressional-district-race/\">How campaign money is shaping Sacramento’s 7th Congressional District race\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more from CalMatters:\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/02/california-democrats-endorsements/https:/calmatters.org/politics/2026/02/california-democrats-endorsements/\">California Democrats back establishment candidates despite progressive pushback\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://california-newsroom.beehiiv.com/\">The California Newsroom\u003c/a> is a statewide public media collaboration that includes NPR, CalMatters, KQED in San Francisco, LAist and KCRW in Los Angeles, KPBS in San Diego and other partner stations across California.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "where-to-vote-election-day-california-primary-governor-find-dropbox-near-me-where-is-my-polling-place",
"title": "Primary 2026: Still Need to Vote on Election Day? Here’s Where to Do It (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot)",
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"headTitle": "Primary 2026: Still Need to Vote on Election Day? Here’s Where to Do It (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot) | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, so it’s your last chance to vote in the state primary election — and to cast your vote for who should be the next governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you still need to vote before 8 p.m., you’re not alone. As of Sunday, less than\u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/bsr-statistics.pdf\"> 17%\u003c/a> of registered voters in California returned their ballots, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">data\u003c/a> from the Secretary of State.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily, you have lots of options for how to cast your vote on Election Day itself. One big thing to know: At this stage, officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">you should definitely \u003cem>not \u003c/em>mail your ballot\u003c/a> using a United States Postal Service mail collection box, since it now runs the risk of being postmarked too late to be counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you still want to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">our guide on addressing common ballot errors\u003c/a> before you submit it. The good news: If you’re \u003cem>really \u003c/em>concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">make sure you’ve signed the back\u003c/a> of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a secure election drop box near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Check the “Drop Off Location” box.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11847168\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11847168\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Voters drop off their mail-in ballots at the Chase Center official ballot drop-off location on Oct. 31, 2020.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters drop off their mail-in ballots at the Chase Center official ballot drop-off location on Oct. 31, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Submit it at a voting location near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Use the\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> state of California lookup tool\u003c/a> and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t mail your ballot using USPS on Tuesday\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">you shouldn’t \u003cem>mail \u003c/em>your ballot on Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall.\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11846400\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11846400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Columbarium and Funeral Home polling place on Nov. 3, 2020 \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.[aside label=\"2026 California Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide,Learn everything you need to cast an informed ballot for the 2026 primary election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Voter-Guide-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve changed your name or the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> reregister\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can’t do this online on Election Day, but you can still complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\"> send a form email\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "Primary 2026: Still Need to Vote on Election Day? Here’s Where to Do It (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot) | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, so it’s your last chance to vote in the state primary election — and to cast your vote for who should be the next governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you still need to vote before 8 p.m., you’re not alone. As of Sunday, less than\u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/bsr-statistics.pdf\"> 17%\u003c/a> of registered voters in California returned their ballots, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">data\u003c/a> from the Secretary of State.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily, you have lots of options for how to cast your vote on Election Day itself. One big thing to know: At this stage, officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">you should definitely \u003cem>not \u003c/em>mail your ballot\u003c/a> using a United States Postal Service mail collection box, since it now runs the risk of being postmarked too late to be counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you still want to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">our guide on addressing common ballot errors\u003c/a> before you submit it. The good news: If you’re \u003cem>really \u003c/em>concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">make sure you’ve signed the back\u003c/a> of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a secure election drop box near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Check the “Drop Off Location” box.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11847168\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11847168\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Voters drop off their mail-in ballots at the Chase Center official ballot drop-off location on Oct. 31, 2020.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45623_026_KQED_SanFrancisco_BallotDropOff_10312020-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters drop off their mail-in ballots at the Chase Center official ballot drop-off location on Oct. 31, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Submit it at a voting location near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Use the\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> state of California lookup tool\u003c/a> and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t mail your ballot using USPS on Tuesday\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">you shouldn’t \u003cem>mail \u003c/em>your ballot on Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall.\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11846400\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11846400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_PollingPlaces_Columbarium_11032020-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Columbarium and Funeral Home polling place on Nov. 3, 2020 \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve changed your name or the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> reregister\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can’t do this online on Election Day, but you can still complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\"> send a form email\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "What Can Prediction Markets Tell Us About the California Governor’s Race?",
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"headTitle": "What Can Prediction Markets Tell Us About the California Governor’s Race? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor%5C\">top-two primary for governor\u003c/a> is coming down to the final turn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the last few polls before Election Day, Democrat Xavier Becerra has kept a steady — but small — lead. One survey \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085443/new-california-governor-poll-shows-a-slim-but-growing-chance-of-2-democrats-advancing\">showed\u003c/a> Becerra leading with 25% support among likely voters, followed closely by Republican Steve Hilton with 21%. Another poll \u003ca href=\"https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-becerra-leads-steyer-and-hilton-toss-up-for-second-spot/\">published\u003c/a> last Saturday also had Becerra ahead, but with Democrat Tom Steyer in second position instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Polls ask likely voters who they think they will vote for. But what if instead you ask voters who they think \u003cem>will win\u003c/em> the race? Two different questions, two different kinds of information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Californians follow this year’s governor’s race, they have access not only to polls but also to data from prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. Major media outlets like \u003ca href=\"https://news.kalshi.com/p/kalshi-cnn-prediction-market-partnership\">CNN\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://news.kalshi.com/p/fox-kalshi-partnership-prediction-market-data-integration\">Fox News\u003c/a> now include the probabilities listed on Kalshi as part of their election coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And earlier this year, Polymarket \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Polymarket/status/2024217326065783058\">announced\u003c/a> an exclusive partnership with the newsletter platform Substack, claiming that “journalism is better when it’s backed by live markets.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of this story’s publishing, Becerra’s odds are listed at 74% on Polymarket and 72% on Kalshi. Steyer comes in second position on both sites, just shy of 20%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071100\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071100\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum at the UCSF Mission Bay campus in San Francisco on Jan. 26, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Becerra’s odds on both prediction markets have steadily increased as more traders put money down on him becoming the next governor. The more people believe something will happen, the more valuable those “shares” become — unlike traditional betting, in which oddsmakers set odds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But just how good are prediction markets and what can they tell us that polls can’t?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While prediction markets have advertised themselves as \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA5bY4K9XPs\">powerful tools\u003c/a> to predict what will happen in the future, the experts KQED spoke with recommended looking at predictions on the governor’s race with a critical eye, as these markets can be informative but remain vulnerable to inefficiencies and manipulation.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What markets know (and don’t)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Kalshi and Polymarket let people become “traders” and make predictions about future events by putting money down on a specific outcome. There are wagers for almost anything that involves some uncertainty: whether the United States and Iran will \u003ca href=\"https://kalshi.com/markets/kxusairanagreement/us-iran-nuclear-deal/kxusairanagreement-27\">sign a new nuclear deal\u003c/a>, which nation will win the \u003ca href=\"https://kalshi.com/markets/kxmenworldcup/mens-world-cup-winner/kxmenworldcup-26\">FIFA Men’s World Cup\u003c/a> and even whether Jesus Christ \u003ca href=\"https://polymarket.com/event/will-jesus-christ-return-before-2027\">will return\u003c/a> — before 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But just don’t call it “betting” — both sites avoid that terminology as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/u-s-sports-betting-where-all-50-states-stand-on-legalizing-online-sports-betting-sites-proposed-legislation/\">most states\u003c/a> prohibit online sports gambling, which makes up the bulk of the billions of dollars traded.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prediction markets listing Becerra’s odds at 70% does not mean he will end up with 70% of the vote on Tuesday. Rather, this number lets traders know how much each share costs and the expected payout if he’s elected governor. If you were to buy the “yes” position on Becerra becoming the next governor, you would essentially be entering into a contract that pays $1 if he wins and $0 if he doesn’t. With 70% odds, each contract for a Becerra win will cost $.70.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082916\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2274719112-scaled-e1778887506369.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1316\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California gubernatorial candidates former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, businessman Tom Steyer, businessman Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan look on during a CNN California Governor Primary Debate at East Los Angeles College on May 5, 2026, in Monterey Park, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As more users — and their money — join Polymarket and Kalshi to trade on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/12/23/nx-s1-5647749/rise-of-prediction-markets\">outcomes of elections\u003c/a>, both sites have sought to brand themselves as more effective alternatives to polls. A spokesperson for Polymarket told KQED that the platform “has proved to be an accurate tool for political forecasting, oftentimes even more so than traditional polling data.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while Kalshi did not respond to KQED’s questions, CEO Tarek Mansour said in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztDWEjW8xNg&t=21s\">recent interview\u003c/a> that people tend to be more truthful when they have money on the line. “I think there’s a little bit of elegance in the idea that markets don’t lie,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prediction markets can aggregate a lot of different information at once, as traders are usually keeping up with the news and different polls, said Neil Malhotra, professor of political economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The assumption, he said, “is that people are incentivized to make good predictions because if they don’t, they’ll lose money.”[aside label=\"From the 2026 Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor,Learn about the California Governor Election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Governor-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]Traders can sell and buy shares of a race at any given time before election officials announce results. So the odds for a candidate can reflect changes on the campaign trail a lot faster than what it would take pollsters to conduct a survey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in March, for example, then-Congressman Eric Swalwell saw his odds on Kalshi reach 75% but then quickly sink as more women \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079505/sexual-assault-allegations-against-rep-eric-swalwell-could-upend-california-governors-race\">spoke up\u003c/a> to accuse him of sexual harassment. The day before he announced his exit from the race, Swalwell’s odds were almost at zero.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Malhotra also cautioned that it’s still unclear how much the actions of a single trader could influence the probabilities listed on the platform. A single person could pump tens of thousands of dollars into the market for a specific outcome and potentially make one candidate look like they have a much stronger chance of victory. Earlier this year, major Democratic donor Stephen Cloobeck \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/24/swalwell-ally-blocked-from-prediction-market-in-california-governors-race-00796988\">was blocked\u003c/a> from Kalshi after trying to place approximately $1,000 on ally and close friend Swalwell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if traders are looking at different polls to make their predictions, any problems in polling, Malhotra said, “might be reflected in the prediction markets as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s why other researchers believe that prediction markets are flawed tools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that the movements that we see day to day in these markets oftentimes should be purely ignored,” said Eben Lazarus, assistant professor of finance at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Markets move so much in response to small trades and small pieces of news,” he said. “That adds to the uncertainty that you should attach to the numbers that you see in them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11989914\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11989914 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/AP24164510666254-scaled-e1780339017880.jpg\" alt=\"A logo of a blue, white and red silhouette with a man dribbling a basketball.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The NBA logo is shown on a basketball court in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Aug. 28, 2020. \u003ccite>(Ashley Landis/The Associated Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Let’s run that back — on the basketball court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By studying how basketball fans bet over NBA games, Lazarus \u003ca href=\"https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/sports-betting-and-financial-market-data-show-how-people-misinterpret-new-information-in-predictable-ways/\">found\u003c/a> that individuals can be heavily influenced by small, insignificant news and actually underestimate much more important pieces of information. Participants in his study would place a lot of importance on things that would happen during the first quarter and underreact during the last few minutes of the game — when the game’s actual outcome is decided.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traders might get really excited that Stephen Curry hits a three-pointer for the Golden State Warriors early in the first quarter, but, Lazarus said, “that means very little for the eventual outcome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similar behavior comes up in other types of markets that wager on predictions, he said. “People tend to treat pieces of information as sort of too similar to one another,” he said. “Then you’re going to overreact to basically useless stuff and often underreact to stuff that matters a lot.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that the odds listed in prediction markets are dependent not just on \u003cem>who’s\u003c/em> betting on what outcome, but \u003cem>how\u003c/em> traders process the information they’re being exposed to throughout the race. A flashy debate performance or big policy announcement may not actually move voters as much as it could influence traders who may be constantly consuming a lot more election coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the price of knowing?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s important to remember that prediction markets have also been wrong many times, said Julian Vogel, assistant professor of finance at San José State University and \u003ca href=\"https://career.rady.ucsd.edu/blog/2023/01/24/what-is-a-chartered-financial-analyst-cfa/\">chartered financial analyst\u003c/a>. “This doesn’t show you what will actually happen; it shows you what most people — who invest in this platform in particular — think might happen,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These platforms \u003ca href=\"https://news.kalshi.com/p/fox-kalshi-partnership-prediction-market-data-integration\">may insist\u003c/a> that they offer data that’s accurate and unbiased, but for markets to be a “truth machine”, Vogel said, “there have to be insiders who know the truth [also] trading.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He pointed to the case of the U.S. soldier \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-soldier-charged-using-classified-information-profit-prediction-market-bets\">charged\u003c/a> with using classified information about the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to make more than $400,000 \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/04/23/nx-s1-5797957/maduro-raid-charges-polymarket-insider\">on Polymarket\u003c/a>. Having someone with access to real, classified information “tipped the scales in favor of what turned out to be the correct outcome,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068661\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068661\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty-1536x1140.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026, in New York City. \u003ccite>(XNY/Star Max via GC Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“If that person would not have traded, then it would have been anybody’s best guess,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But having people with access to delicate information trade — and profit — from this knowledge raises both ethical and legal questions. The Senate \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/g-s1-121820/house-holds-off-on-prediction-market-ban-despite-bipartisan-calls-for-prohibition\">banned\u003c/a> earlier this year staff and Senators from using prediction markets, including buying shares related to federal policy. And in April, Kalshi \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/kalshi-fines-and-suspends-3-congressional-candidates-for-betting-on-their-own-elections\">suspended\u003c/a> the accounts of three users who were also congressional candidates and wagered on the outcome of their own elections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As more money flows into these sites, individual states have stepped up regulation. Last month, Minnesota became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5821265/minnesota-ban-prediction-markets\">first state\u003c/a> to specifically ban prediction markets — including wagers over the outcome of “a federal, state, or local election.” However, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency tasked with regulating prediction markets, almost immediately filed \u003ca href=\"https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9233-26\">a lawsuit\u003c/a> against Minnesota over the new law, claiming the legislation undermines federal authority.[aside label=\"2026 California Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide,Learn everything you need to cast an informed ballot for the 2026 primary election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Voter-Guide-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]President Donald Trump, in a recent \u003ca href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116642964849373081\">Truth Social post\u003c/a>, sided with the CFTC, insisting that the agency maintains “exclusive authority” over prediction markets and that it’s “critically important” that these companies “thrive.” Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump, Jr., is an advisor for both Kalshi and Polymarket — a relationship that independent experts \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/how-prediction-markets-and-crypto-firms-steamrolled-a-watchdog-agency.html\">have questioned\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even in California, prediction market companies are flexing their own muscles. As first \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/kalshi-becerra-prediction-governor/\">reported\u003c/a> by CalMatters on Monday, Kalshi donated $39,200 to Becerra’s campaign, one of the company’s largest political contributions to date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for individual voters looking at prediction markets now, they should consider if the people making wagers are actually “learning from other people’s wisdom,” Malhotra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this strategy comes with its own risks, he said. The wisdom of crowds doesn’t work when the judgment of each individual is correlated, meaning that the same outside factor influences us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we’re judging a candidate by how handsome they are or something like that, rather than their quality or their policy issues … then you might actually not have the wisdom of crowds because our mistakes might be correlated with each other,” Malhotra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Financial markets help us understand the price of almost anything — something economists call “price discovery.” How much you pay to fill up your car’s gas tank is \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/prices-and-outlook.php\">directly correlated\u003c/a> with the actions of investors in petroleum markets worldwide. But with prediction data now available alongside polls, voters have the power to decide how much markets will influence \u003cem>their \u003c/em>individual decisions when filling out a ballot, Malhotra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A big social question we have to ask: Is the price discovery about things that are important to us as a society — like who’s going to win an election — should that be put in the same category as what’s the price of an apple?” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s something we have to struggle with,” he said. “What are the pros and cons of these prediction markets on our democracy?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Kalshi and Polymarket have promoted themselves as more accurate alternatives to opinion polls. But just how good are prediction markets — and what can they tell us that opinion polls can’t?",
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"headline": "What Can Prediction Markets Tell Us About the California Governor’s Race?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor%5C\">top-two primary for governor\u003c/a> is coming down to the final turn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the last few polls before Election Day, Democrat Xavier Becerra has kept a steady — but small — lead. One survey \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085443/new-california-governor-poll-shows-a-slim-but-growing-chance-of-2-democrats-advancing\">showed\u003c/a> Becerra leading with 25% support among likely voters, followed closely by Republican Steve Hilton with 21%. Another poll \u003ca href=\"https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-becerra-leads-steyer-and-hilton-toss-up-for-second-spot/\">published\u003c/a> last Saturday also had Becerra ahead, but with Democrat Tom Steyer in second position instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Polls ask likely voters who they think they will vote for. But what if instead you ask voters who they think \u003cem>will win\u003c/em> the race? Two different questions, two different kinds of information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Californians follow this year’s governor’s race, they have access not only to polls but also to data from prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. Major media outlets like \u003ca href=\"https://news.kalshi.com/p/kalshi-cnn-prediction-market-partnership\">CNN\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://news.kalshi.com/p/fox-kalshi-partnership-prediction-market-data-integration\">Fox News\u003c/a> now include the probabilities listed on Kalshi as part of their election coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And earlier this year, Polymarket \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Polymarket/status/2024217326065783058\">announced\u003c/a> an exclusive partnership with the newsletter platform Substack, claiming that “journalism is better when it’s backed by live markets.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of this story’s publishing, Becerra’s odds are listed at 74% on Polymarket and 72% on Kalshi. Steyer comes in second position on both sites, just shy of 20%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071100\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071100\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260226-GOVRACEFORUM-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum at the UCSF Mission Bay campus in San Francisco on Jan. 26, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Becerra’s odds on both prediction markets have steadily increased as more traders put money down on him becoming the next governor. The more people believe something will happen, the more valuable those “shares” become — unlike traditional betting, in which oddsmakers set odds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But just how good are prediction markets and what can they tell us that polls can’t?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While prediction markets have advertised themselves as \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA5bY4K9XPs\">powerful tools\u003c/a> to predict what will happen in the future, the experts KQED spoke with recommended looking at predictions on the governor’s race with a critical eye, as these markets can be informative but remain vulnerable to inefficiencies and manipulation.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What markets know (and don’t)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Kalshi and Polymarket let people become “traders” and make predictions about future events by putting money down on a specific outcome. There are wagers for almost anything that involves some uncertainty: whether the United States and Iran will \u003ca href=\"https://kalshi.com/markets/kxusairanagreement/us-iran-nuclear-deal/kxusairanagreement-27\">sign a new nuclear deal\u003c/a>, which nation will win the \u003ca href=\"https://kalshi.com/markets/kxmenworldcup/mens-world-cup-winner/kxmenworldcup-26\">FIFA Men’s World Cup\u003c/a> and even whether Jesus Christ \u003ca href=\"https://polymarket.com/event/will-jesus-christ-return-before-2027\">will return\u003c/a> — before 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But just don’t call it “betting” — both sites avoid that terminology as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/u-s-sports-betting-where-all-50-states-stand-on-legalizing-online-sports-betting-sites-proposed-legislation/\">most states\u003c/a> prohibit online sports gambling, which makes up the bulk of the billions of dollars traded.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prediction markets listing Becerra’s odds at 70% does not mean he will end up with 70% of the vote on Tuesday. Rather, this number lets traders know how much each share costs and the expected payout if he’s elected governor. If you were to buy the “yes” position on Becerra becoming the next governor, you would essentially be entering into a contract that pays $1 if he wins and $0 if he doesn’t. With 70% odds, each contract for a Becerra win will cost $.70.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082916\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2274719112-scaled-e1778887506369.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1316\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California gubernatorial candidates former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, businessman Tom Steyer, businessman Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan look on during a CNN California Governor Primary Debate at East Los Angeles College on May 5, 2026, in Monterey Park, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As more users — and their money — join Polymarket and Kalshi to trade on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/12/23/nx-s1-5647749/rise-of-prediction-markets\">outcomes of elections\u003c/a>, both sites have sought to brand themselves as more effective alternatives to polls. A spokesperson for Polymarket told KQED that the platform “has proved to be an accurate tool for political forecasting, oftentimes even more so than traditional polling data.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while Kalshi did not respond to KQED’s questions, CEO Tarek Mansour said in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztDWEjW8xNg&t=21s\">recent interview\u003c/a> that people tend to be more truthful when they have money on the line. “I think there’s a little bit of elegance in the idea that markets don’t lie,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prediction markets can aggregate a lot of different information at once, as traders are usually keeping up with the news and different polls, said Neil Malhotra, professor of political economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The assumption, he said, “is that people are incentivized to make good predictions because if they don’t, they’ll lose money.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Traders can sell and buy shares of a race at any given time before election officials announce results. So the odds for a candidate can reflect changes on the campaign trail a lot faster than what it would take pollsters to conduct a survey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in March, for example, then-Congressman Eric Swalwell saw his odds on Kalshi reach 75% but then quickly sink as more women \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079505/sexual-assault-allegations-against-rep-eric-swalwell-could-upend-california-governors-race\">spoke up\u003c/a> to accuse him of sexual harassment. The day before he announced his exit from the race, Swalwell’s odds were almost at zero.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Malhotra also cautioned that it’s still unclear how much the actions of a single trader could influence the probabilities listed on the platform. A single person could pump tens of thousands of dollars into the market for a specific outcome and potentially make one candidate look like they have a much stronger chance of victory. Earlier this year, major Democratic donor Stephen Cloobeck \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/24/swalwell-ally-blocked-from-prediction-market-in-california-governors-race-00796988\">was blocked\u003c/a> from Kalshi after trying to place approximately $1,000 on ally and close friend Swalwell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if traders are looking at different polls to make their predictions, any problems in polling, Malhotra said, “might be reflected in the prediction markets as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s why other researchers believe that prediction markets are flawed tools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that the movements that we see day to day in these markets oftentimes should be purely ignored,” said Eben Lazarus, assistant professor of finance at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Markets move so much in response to small trades and small pieces of news,” he said. “That adds to the uncertainty that you should attach to the numbers that you see in them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11989914\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11989914 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/AP24164510666254-scaled-e1780339017880.jpg\" alt=\"A logo of a blue, white and red silhouette with a man dribbling a basketball.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The NBA logo is shown on a basketball court in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Aug. 28, 2020. \u003ccite>(Ashley Landis/The Associated Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Let’s run that back — on the basketball court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By studying how basketball fans bet over NBA games, Lazarus \u003ca href=\"https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/sports-betting-and-financial-market-data-show-how-people-misinterpret-new-information-in-predictable-ways/\">found\u003c/a> that individuals can be heavily influenced by small, insignificant news and actually underestimate much more important pieces of information. Participants in his study would place a lot of importance on things that would happen during the first quarter and underreact during the last few minutes of the game — when the game’s actual outcome is decided.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traders might get really excited that Stephen Curry hits a three-pointer for the Golden State Warriors early in the first quarter, but, Lazarus said, “that means very little for the eventual outcome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similar behavior comes up in other types of markets that wager on predictions, he said. “People tend to treat pieces of information as sort of too similar to one another,” he said. “Then you’re going to overreact to basically useless stuff and often underreact to stuff that matters a lot.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that the odds listed in prediction markets are dependent not just on \u003cem>who’s\u003c/em> betting on what outcome, but \u003cem>how\u003c/em> traders process the information they’re being exposed to throughout the race. A flashy debate performance or big policy announcement may not actually move voters as much as it could influence traders who may be constantly consuming a lot more election coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the price of knowing?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s important to remember that prediction markets have also been wrong many times, said Julian Vogel, assistant professor of finance at San José State University and \u003ca href=\"https://career.rady.ucsd.edu/blog/2023/01/24/what-is-a-chartered-financial-analyst-cfa/\">chartered financial analyst\u003c/a>. “This doesn’t show you what will actually happen; it shows you what most people — who invest in this platform in particular — think might happen,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These platforms \u003ca href=\"https://news.kalshi.com/p/fox-kalshi-partnership-prediction-market-data-integration\">may insist\u003c/a> that they offer data that’s accurate and unbiased, but for markets to be a “truth machine”, Vogel said, “there have to be insiders who know the truth [also] trading.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He pointed to the case of the U.S. soldier \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-soldier-charged-using-classified-information-profit-prediction-market-bets\">charged\u003c/a> with using classified information about the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to make more than $400,000 \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/04/23/nx-s1-5797957/maduro-raid-charges-polymarket-insider\">on Polymarket\u003c/a>. Having someone with access to real, classified information “tipped the scales in favor of what turned out to be the correct outcome,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068661\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068661\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/NicolasMaduroGetty-1536x1140.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026, in New York City. \u003ccite>(XNY/Star Max via GC Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“If that person would not have traded, then it would have been anybody’s best guess,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But having people with access to delicate information trade — and profit — from this knowledge raises both ethical and legal questions. The Senate \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/g-s1-121820/house-holds-off-on-prediction-market-ban-despite-bipartisan-calls-for-prohibition\">banned\u003c/a> earlier this year staff and Senators from using prediction markets, including buying shares related to federal policy. And in April, Kalshi \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/kalshi-fines-and-suspends-3-congressional-candidates-for-betting-on-their-own-elections\">suspended\u003c/a> the accounts of three users who were also congressional candidates and wagered on the outcome of their own elections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As more money flows into these sites, individual states have stepped up regulation. Last month, Minnesota became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5821265/minnesota-ban-prediction-markets\">first state\u003c/a> to specifically ban prediction markets — including wagers over the outcome of “a federal, state, or local election.” However, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency tasked with regulating prediction markets, almost immediately filed \u003ca href=\"https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9233-26\">a lawsuit\u003c/a> against Minnesota over the new law, claiming the legislation undermines federal authority.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>President Donald Trump, in a recent \u003ca href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116642964849373081\">Truth Social post\u003c/a>, sided with the CFTC, insisting that the agency maintains “exclusive authority” over prediction markets and that it’s “critically important” that these companies “thrive.” Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump, Jr., is an advisor for both Kalshi and Polymarket — a relationship that independent experts \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/how-prediction-markets-and-crypto-firms-steamrolled-a-watchdog-agency.html\">have questioned\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even in California, prediction market companies are flexing their own muscles. As first \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/kalshi-becerra-prediction-governor/\">reported\u003c/a> by CalMatters on Monday, Kalshi donated $39,200 to Becerra’s campaign, one of the company’s largest political contributions to date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for individual voters looking at prediction markets now, they should consider if the people making wagers are actually “learning from other people’s wisdom,” Malhotra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this strategy comes with its own risks, he said. The wisdom of crowds doesn’t work when the judgment of each individual is correlated, meaning that the same outside factor influences us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we’re judging a candidate by how handsome they are or something like that, rather than their quality or their policy issues … then you might actually not have the wisdom of crowds because our mistakes might be correlated with each other,” Malhotra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Financial markets help us understand the price of almost anything — something economists call “price discovery.” How much you pay to fill up your car’s gas tank is \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/prices-and-outlook.php\">directly correlated\u003c/a> with the actions of investors in petroleum markets worldwide. But with prediction data now available alongside polls, voters have the power to decide how much markets will influence \u003cem>their \u003c/em>individual decisions when filling out a ballot, Malhotra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A big social question we have to ask: Is the price discovery about things that are important to us as a society — like who’s going to win an election — should that be put in the same category as what’s the price of an apple?” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s something we have to struggle with,” he said. “What are the pros and cons of these prediction markets on our democracy?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The woman nodded nervously as the judge told her, through a Spanish interpreter, that this was her last chance to apply for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/asylum\">asylum\u003c/a>. She’d already been given two opportunities. Now she had until July.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Thank you,” the woman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside the immigration courtroom in Concord, Sergio Jaime Lopez greeted her with a smile. Sharply dressed and warm, the 39-year-old explained he was there to help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The woman, Rosaura, was from Mexico. Small, middle-aged and visibly flustered, she stumbled through an explanation in Spanish. “It’s just that sometimes — I mean, how would I know?” she said. “I told my daughters, but — well, no. So where do I go to apply for that, then? Or — I don’t know.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What I want is to help you,” Jaime said, handing her an asylum application.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rosaura, who, like other asylum seekers KQED spoke to, asked to use only her first name for fear of retribution, told him she lived far away, in a small town near the southern end of the Central Valley. He handed her a packet listing free and low-cost legal resources by region, then offered to connect her with a volunteer who could help her fill out the paperwork — aware that, with most \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078868/as-legal-aid-groups-face-budget-cuts-san-francisco-awards-1-group-millions\">immigration legal aid groups\u003c/a> overwhelmed by calls, she’d be unlikely to get a lawyer in time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to show up with the application in hand,” he told her, referring to her next court date. “Otherwise, the judge told you, ‘I will deport you if you don’t bring me anything.’ OK?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065491\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065491\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stickers and flyers on a table in the Undocumented Community Center at the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, on Nov. 28, 2023. At this center, students without legal status can access financial and legal aid as well as guidance in navigating grant applications. \u003ccite>(Photo by Amaya Edwards for CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He took down her phone number and told her to expect a call.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaime’s days are filled with Rosauras — people navigating the complex bureaucracy of immigration court, often without attorneys, interpreters or a clear sense of what judges are asking of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In my experience, people are too afraid in that courtroom to understand what is happening,” said Jaime, the community defense program manager for the \u003ca href=\"https://www.oursafecenter.org/\">SAFE Center\u003c/a> in Contra Costa County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His work to help people understand has taken on new urgency as the Trump administration aggressively reshapes the nation’s immigration system, including by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082287/trump-closes-san-franciscos-immigration-court-for-good\">shutting down San Francisco’s longtime immigration court\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, it was Northern California’s principal immigration court. Over time, advocates built around it one of the most extensive immigrant-defense networks in the U.S. — a web of nonprofit legal organizations, volunteer court companions, rapid-response groups and pro bono attorneys who help immigrants find their way through a system where they’re not guaranteed legal representation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But by the end of this year, thousands of cases handled at the downtown courtroom on Montgomery Street are expected to be transferred to Concord, about 30 miles to the northeast, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11975904/new-bay-area-immigration-court-opens-aims-to-tackle-deportation-backlog\">the immigration court is only a couple of years old\u003c/a> and the support infrastructure around it is still developing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaime knows the importance of building up that network. He once stood in front of an immigration judge himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A firsthand look at a complex system\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Growing up in Granada, a picturesque colonial city on the shores of Nicaragua’s largest lake, Jaime studied business administration, worked in sales, married and started a family. Then, he said, the political situation changed. “It was not safe.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Out of concern for relatives still in Nicaragua, he spoke only cautiously about why he fled. “People in power … want to remain in power no matter what,” he said. “And that’s when it’s really dangerous for other people to speak against them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2019, he left behind his pregnant wife and began a six-month journey north through Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Along the way, he spent two weeks in a derelict jail in Chiapas and was slashed by a stranger with a knife.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12011934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12011934\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The heavily fortified U.S.-Mexico border fence ends in the Pacific Ocean between the Playas de Tijuana neighborhood and Border Field State Park in San Diego, Sept. 16, 2024. \u003ccite>(Zoë Meyers for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At the U.S. border, he applied for asylum from Tijuana under the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/migrant-protection-protocols/\">“Remain in Mexico” program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After one of his hearings, he was unexpectedly detained while returning to Tijuana and spent six months in a San Diego detention facility. There, he began teaching himself the intricacies of the U.S. immigration system, studying books and case law in the library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At that point I realized, oh my God, this is so complex,” he said. “Because even with my education level, I couldn’t understand much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He wrote letters to immigration legal aid organizations until one agreed to take his case. After his release, he moved to the Bay Area, where a woman with extra space in her Piedmont home offered him a place to stay through an immigrant support network.[aside postID=news_12082287 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/250820-ICEActivity-05_qed.jpg']He lived there until 2023, when he was granted asylum. “It felt so good … because I had the hope that I’m going to see my family soon,” he said. The following year, his wife and two children joined him in California. So when Jaime learned about a new job helping immigrants like him navigate the Concord court, he immediately felt drawn to it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, he’s at the court nearly every day it’s open, helping people find their courtrooms, understand judges’ instructions and connect with services, while training a growing cohort of volunteers to do the same. He runs the volunteer \u003ca href=\"https://www.im4humanintegrity.org/2025/03/welcome-navigator-bienvenidos-navegadores/\">welcome navigator program\u003c/a> at the court, a collaboration between various community and legal services organizations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the people appearing in Concord immigration court were released into the United States after crossing the border and issued notices to appear before an immigration judge. Many are seeking asylum. Their first hearings are often brief procedural appearances where judges explain charges, deadlines and legal rights. Individual asylum hearings, where a judge decides whether someone can remain in the country, are typically scheduled years into the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, at Syracuse University, \u003ca href=\"https://tracreports.org/phptools/immigration/backlog/\">more than 3 million\u003c/a> cases are pending in immigration courts across the country. Concord alone already has nearly 60,000 such cases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084722\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084722 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The office building that houses the immigration court in Concord on May 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With thousands more cases coming from San Francisco, the backlog means “people are going to have longer and longer waits to actually have their day in court,” said Milli Atkinson, who runs the San Francisco Bar Association’s Immigrant Legal Defense Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many immigration advocates and legal observers see the restructuring of the Bay Area courts as part of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068969/sf-immigration-courts-looming-closure-raises-concerns-about-path-to-asylum\">broader shift in the culture of the immigration court system\u003c/a> under the Trump administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By closing courts and reassigning cases — and in this case, to Concord — the Executive Office for Immigration Review is thinking, ‘How do we change that pro-immigrant culture that we saw in the immigration courts for many years?’” UC Davis law professor Kevin Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘The kids feel their fear’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On a morning in late April, Jaime stood near the door of a packed courtroom. Next to him, a volunteer court observer took careful notes on the proceedings, sweat stippling his forehead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge sat behind two computer screens, the top of her head barely visible above them. Lawyers from around the state appeared remotely on large monitors while their neatly dressed clients sat in person before the judge, one after another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An hour in, it was hot, and the kids in the audience were starting to squirm. Jaime spotted a girl, maybe 5 years old, with dark bushy bangs, in the back row of the gallery, and he quietly squeezed through the aisle to hand her a picture book.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085604\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12085604 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sergio Jaime Lopez, community defense program manager for the SAFE Center, outside the Concord immigration court on May 7, 2026. Jaime helps people in deportation proceedings navigate the court and connect with resources and legal representation. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The girl looked through the book a few times, then turned her attention to grooming her father’s hair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Jaime, seeing these children is one of the hardest parts of the work. “Sometimes they smile, they’re really happy, they don’t care about what is going on. But sometimes also, I can see the fathers are terrified,” he said. “The kids feel their fear.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon, the young girl was lying on the floor between benches while a man in an orange jumpsuit appeared by video from a detention facility in Louisiana. Amid confusion about his arrest record, which appeared to include a conviction for leaving the scene of an accident, the government attorney asked for additional time to prepare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge addressed the man: “Do you want more time to find an attorney?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Locked up in here, I can’t get one,” he said, explaining that he’d tried calling around, but nobody answered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She repeated her question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“No, I don’t want anything,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the back of the room, Jaime’s colleague crouched down to offer the girl more books. When her family was finally called before the judge, alongside several other people without attorneys, she carried one with her to the front of the courtroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the judge explained that the proceedings would determine whether the family had a right to remain in the United States, the girl sat cross-legged on the floor, paging through the comic book. Her parents took the judge up on her offer of more time to find an attorney.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12024761\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12024761\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ixchel Barragán, left, and Maria Zavaleta, associate attorney with Bean, Lloyd, Mukherji, & Taylor, LLP, at an informational session about immigration services at Willow Cove Elementary in Pittsburg, California, Jan. 29, 2025. More than 300 people attended the event organized by Stand Together Contra Costa and the Pittsburg Unified School District, which offered free, private consultations with immigration attorneys, medical services and a resource fair. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Afterward, Jaime walked them out of the courtroom and offered a free consultation with the attorney of the day — a position staffed by lawyers who volunteer their time and attorneys with \u003ca href=\"https://standtogethercontracosta.org/\">Stand Together Contra Costa\u003c/a>, a collaboration between the county and other organizations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Concord courthouse now has attorneys of the day on hand about 70% of the time, and advocates say they’re working to get to full-time coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Volunteers who aren’t attorneys have also been trained to help people complete asylum applications when they have nowhere else to turn — as in Rosaura’s case.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Reciprocating life-changing support\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Concord immigration court is housed in a modern, mirrored office building near downtown. Often, a line forms outside before it opens at 8, serenaded by a makeshift chorus made up of congregants from around the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On a Tuesday morning, a small group from Kehilla Community Synagogue in Oakland and Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek stood on the sidewalk singing “This Little Light of Mine” in alternating Spanish and English verses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They held signs that read “Keep families together,” “Don’t lose hope,” and “We are here with you.” Cars honked as they passed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084723\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084723 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mary Rae, a volunteer at the Concord immigration court, at her home in Oakland on May 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“People have come up to us, hugged us, thanked us, sometimes in tears,” said Penny Rosenwasser, of Kehilla. “The lawyers come up, too, and just thank us, because it gives them support as well. We’re all part of it together, a team.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mary Rae, a volunteer in training, started her work at the court out on the sidewalk. Today, she stood in the lobby preparing to begin a day of learning alongside Jaime. She’d already watched the required videos and tagged along with other volunteers; now she was here to learn from the man in charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rae, 73 with silver shoulder-length hair and metal-framed glasses, is a former emergency medicine doctor from Texas who moved to California after retiring in 2020. “I just feel the need to help these people. They’re coming here to start a better life,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The court occupies the top three floors of the 10-story building, also home to an urgent care center and various businesses. When Rae emerged on the top floor, she encountered a security line curled around the narrow elevator bank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One by one, people fed their bags into the X-ray scanner and stepped through the metal detector. Rae, with her replacement hip and knee, got a thorough wanding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Much more rigorous than TSA,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Inside, the walls, ceiling and linoleum floors were white. Fluorescent lights blazed down on notices tacked to the walls with warnings about asylum fraud and the “benefits and consequences” of self-deportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12024763\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12024763\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attorneys provide simultaneous translation for a member of the public attending an informational session about immigration services at Willow Cove Elementary in Pittsburg, California, Jan. 29, 2025. More than 300 people attended the event organized by Stand Together Contra Costa and the Pittsburg Unified School District, which offered free, private consultations with immigration attorneys, medical services and a resource fair. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Jaime, in an azure blazer and black-rimmed glasses, greeted Rae and launched into a tutorial. He described the role of volunteers: Be present, supportive and smile; give people resource packets and connect them with the attorney of the day. He showed her where he stores the box of donated children’s books in various languages and explained that there’s limited grant funding available to cover the $100 annual asylum application fee. He reminded her not to give legal advice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every couple of minutes, he stopped to attend to a need, speaking in Spanish to people looking for help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Do you have court?” he asked a lost-looking woman, then showed her to courtroom 17.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Volunteers wearing baby blue lanyards or blue vests that read “Contra Costa Civil Rights Alliance” stepped in and out of courtrooms, ushering people to the pro bono attorney room and explaining judges’ instructions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What’s this?” a man asked Jaime upon emerging from the courtroom with a document in hand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The judge gave you more time to get an attorney,” Jaime said. “It’s not a requirement, but it helps.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He offered the man a consultation with the attorney volunteering that day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ernesto Reyes holds a sign outside the San Francisco Immigration Court in downtown San Francisco on Oct. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Is it free?” the man said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaime assured him it was and showed him to a waiting area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have court in September. What should I do?” another man said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then a woman with a black ponytail reaching down her back asked: “Do I have to come back with an attorney?” He explained that she — like everyone else seeking asylum — would have to prove to the judge that she had a well-founded fear of persecution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You know it because you lived it, but the judge doesn’t know any of that. It’s up to you to explain it and provide evidence,” Jaime said. “An attorney can help with that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rae stood beside him, doing her best to take notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t expect you to do all that,” Jaime said with a smile. He could tell Rae was a bit overwhelmed. “It’s a lot of information. You don’t need to know everything right now.”[aside postID=news_12085305 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251124-SJHUDCUTS-JG-07-KQED.jpg']Rae is one of more than 100 volunteers Jaime has trained to do this work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of them have provided life-changing support for the people they serve — among them a weary-eyed woman from El Salvador named Janet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after arriving in the United States, Janet found someone she believed was an attorney and paid her about $4,500 to shepherd her asylum case. But when she went to court, the judge had no record of her application.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Janet reached back out to the woman she had hired, the woman assured her she would resubmit the application before Janet’s next hearing. But that day, there was still no application on file.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A welcome navigator at the Concord court encouraged her to speak with the attorney of the day. Unable to reach the person Janet had hired, or find her online, the attorney delivered a hard truth: “‘I’m going to be honest with you, she’s a scammer,’” Janet said. “I didn’t know what to do, whether to cry or — I don’t know.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge gave her one final opportunity to apply for asylum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s when I found a volunteer here,” Janet said. The volunteer helped her fill out the application, and Janet’s case is now back on track after the scam cost her a year and a half. She’s scheduled to return to court in 2029 for a decision on her asylum claim and can apply for a work permit in the meantime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She was like an angel placed in my path,” Janet said of the volunteer who worked with her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085605\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12085605 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mary Rae, a volunteer at the Concord immigration court, at her home in Oakland on May 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Jaime had his own angels helping him on his asylum journey. Now, his work is a way of honoring all the support he got and reciprocating it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As many people help me, I want to help too,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even changing one life would make the effort worthwhile in his eyes. But it’s clear that the network of volunteers he’s empowered with the empathy and savvy required of the job has gone far beyond that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside in the sunshine, he offered Rae a final piece of advice: “Be kind with everybody.” Not just people in deportation proceedings, but the guards, the judges and the government attorneys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The system is not perfect, but it’s the only one right now,” he said, and “people are still winning asylum, even in this really bad scenario.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "After San Francisco’s immigration court closed, advocates are bracing for an influx of cases in Concord and building up a support system there — and one man is at the heart of the effort.",
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"title": "‘Like an Angel’: Meet the Helpers Working at Bay Area Immigration Court | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The woman nodded nervously as the judge told her, through a Spanish interpreter, that this was her last chance to apply for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/asylum\">asylum\u003c/a>. She’d already been given two opportunities. Now she had until July.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Thank you,” the woman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside the immigration courtroom in Concord, Sergio Jaime Lopez greeted her with a smile. Sharply dressed and warm, the 39-year-old explained he was there to help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The woman, Rosaura, was from Mexico. Small, middle-aged and visibly flustered, she stumbled through an explanation in Spanish. “It’s just that sometimes — I mean, how would I know?” she said. “I told my daughters, but — well, no. So where do I go to apply for that, then? Or — I don’t know.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What I want is to help you,” Jaime said, handing her an asylum application.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rosaura, who, like other asylum seekers KQED spoke to, asked to use only her first name for fear of retribution, told him she lived far away, in a small town near the southern end of the Central Valley. He handed her a packet listing free and low-cost legal resources by region, then offered to connect her with a volunteer who could help her fill out the paperwork — aware that, with most \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078868/as-legal-aid-groups-face-budget-cuts-san-francisco-awards-1-group-millions\">immigration legal aid groups\u003c/a> overwhelmed by calls, she’d be unlikely to get a lawyer in time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to show up with the application in hand,” he told her, referring to her next court date. “Otherwise, the judge told you, ‘I will deport you if you don’t bring me anything.’ OK?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065491\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065491\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/112823_DACA-Students_AE_CM_20-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stickers and flyers on a table in the Undocumented Community Center at the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, on Nov. 28, 2023. At this center, students without legal status can access financial and legal aid as well as guidance in navigating grant applications. \u003ccite>(Photo by Amaya Edwards for CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He took down her phone number and told her to expect a call.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaime’s days are filled with Rosauras — people navigating the complex bureaucracy of immigration court, often without attorneys, interpreters or a clear sense of what judges are asking of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In my experience, people are too afraid in that courtroom to understand what is happening,” said Jaime, the community defense program manager for the \u003ca href=\"https://www.oursafecenter.org/\">SAFE Center\u003c/a> in Contra Costa County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His work to help people understand has taken on new urgency as the Trump administration aggressively reshapes the nation’s immigration system, including by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082287/trump-closes-san-franciscos-immigration-court-for-good\">shutting down San Francisco’s longtime immigration court\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, it was Northern California’s principal immigration court. Over time, advocates built around it one of the most extensive immigrant-defense networks in the U.S. — a web of nonprofit legal organizations, volunteer court companions, rapid-response groups and pro bono attorneys who help immigrants find their way through a system where they’re not guaranteed legal representation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But by the end of this year, thousands of cases handled at the downtown courtroom on Montgomery Street are expected to be transferred to Concord, about 30 miles to the northeast, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11975904/new-bay-area-immigration-court-opens-aims-to-tackle-deportation-backlog\">the immigration court is only a couple of years old\u003c/a> and the support infrastructure around it is still developing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaime knows the importance of building up that network. He once stood in front of an immigration judge himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A firsthand look at a complex system\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Growing up in Granada, a picturesque colonial city on the shores of Nicaragua’s largest lake, Jaime studied business administration, worked in sales, married and started a family. Then, he said, the political situation changed. “It was not safe.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Out of concern for relatives still in Nicaragua, he spoke only cautiously about why he fled. “People in power … want to remain in power no matter what,” he said. “And that’s when it’s really dangerous for other people to speak against them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2019, he left behind his pregnant wife and began a six-month journey north through Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Along the way, he spent two weeks in a derelict jail in Chiapas and was slashed by a stranger with a knife.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12011934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12011934\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/241031-BORDER-CROSSINGS-ZM-02-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The heavily fortified U.S.-Mexico border fence ends in the Pacific Ocean between the Playas de Tijuana neighborhood and Border Field State Park in San Diego, Sept. 16, 2024. \u003ccite>(Zoë Meyers for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At the U.S. border, he applied for asylum from Tijuana under the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/migrant-protection-protocols/\">“Remain in Mexico” program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After one of his hearings, he was unexpectedly detained while returning to Tijuana and spent six months in a San Diego detention facility. There, he began teaching himself the intricacies of the U.S. immigration system, studying books and case law in the library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At that point I realized, oh my God, this is so complex,” he said. “Because even with my education level, I couldn’t understand much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He wrote letters to immigration legal aid organizations until one agreed to take his case. After his release, he moved to the Bay Area, where a woman with extra space in her Piedmont home offered him a place to stay through an immigrant support network.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>He lived there until 2023, when he was granted asylum. “It felt so good … because I had the hope that I’m going to see my family soon,” he said. The following year, his wife and two children joined him in California. So when Jaime learned about a new job helping immigrants like him navigate the Concord court, he immediately felt drawn to it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, he’s at the court nearly every day it’s open, helping people find their courtrooms, understand judges’ instructions and connect with services, while training a growing cohort of volunteers to do the same. He runs the volunteer \u003ca href=\"https://www.im4humanintegrity.org/2025/03/welcome-navigator-bienvenidos-navegadores/\">welcome navigator program\u003c/a> at the court, a collaboration between various community and legal services organizations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the people appearing in Concord immigration court were released into the United States after crossing the border and issued notices to appear before an immigration judge. Many are seeking asylum. Their first hearings are often brief procedural appearances where judges explain charges, deadlines and legal rights. Individual asylum hearings, where a judge decides whether someone can remain in the country, are typically scheduled years into the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, at Syracuse University, \u003ca href=\"https://tracreports.org/phptools/immigration/backlog/\">more than 3 million\u003c/a> cases are pending in immigration courts across the country. Concord alone already has nearly 60,000 such cases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084722\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084722 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The office building that houses the immigration court in Concord on May 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With thousands more cases coming from San Francisco, the backlog means “people are going to have longer and longer waits to actually have their day in court,” said Milli Atkinson, who runs the San Francisco Bar Association’s Immigrant Legal Defense Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many immigration advocates and legal observers see the restructuring of the Bay Area courts as part of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068969/sf-immigration-courts-looming-closure-raises-concerns-about-path-to-asylum\">broader shift in the culture of the immigration court system\u003c/a> under the Trump administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By closing courts and reassigning cases — and in this case, to Concord — the Executive Office for Immigration Review is thinking, ‘How do we change that pro-immigrant culture that we saw in the immigration courts for many years?’” UC Davis law professor Kevin Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘The kids feel their fear’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On a morning in late April, Jaime stood near the door of a packed courtroom. Next to him, a volunteer court observer took careful notes on the proceedings, sweat stippling his forehead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge sat behind two computer screens, the top of her head barely visible above them. Lawyers from around the state appeared remotely on large monitors while their neatly dressed clients sat in person before the judge, one after another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An hour in, it was hot, and the kids in the audience were starting to squirm. Jaime spotted a girl, maybe 5 years old, with dark bushy bangs, in the back row of the gallery, and he quietly squeezed through the aisle to hand her a picture book.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085604\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12085604 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260507-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sergio Jaime Lopez, community defense program manager for the SAFE Center, outside the Concord immigration court on May 7, 2026. Jaime helps people in deportation proceedings navigate the court and connect with resources and legal representation. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The girl looked through the book a few times, then turned her attention to grooming her father’s hair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Jaime, seeing these children is one of the hardest parts of the work. “Sometimes they smile, they’re really happy, they don’t care about what is going on. But sometimes also, I can see the fathers are terrified,” he said. “The kids feel their fear.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon, the young girl was lying on the floor between benches while a man in an orange jumpsuit appeared by video from a detention facility in Louisiana. Amid confusion about his arrest record, which appeared to include a conviction for leaving the scene of an accident, the government attorney asked for additional time to prepare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge addressed the man: “Do you want more time to find an attorney?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Locked up in here, I can’t get one,” he said, explaining that he’d tried calling around, but nobody answered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She repeated her question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“No, I don’t want anything,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the back of the room, Jaime’s colleague crouched down to offer the girl more books. When her family was finally called before the judge, alongside several other people without attorneys, she carried one with her to the front of the courtroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the judge explained that the proceedings would determine whether the family had a right to remain in the United States, the girl sat cross-legged on the floor, paging through the comic book. Her parents took the judge up on her offer of more time to find an attorney.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12024761\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12024761\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02022-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ixchel Barragán, left, and Maria Zavaleta, associate attorney with Bean, Lloyd, Mukherji, & Taylor, LLP, at an informational session about immigration services at Willow Cove Elementary in Pittsburg, California, Jan. 29, 2025. More than 300 people attended the event organized by Stand Together Contra Costa and the Pittsburg Unified School District, which offered free, private consultations with immigration attorneys, medical services and a resource fair. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Afterward, Jaime walked them out of the courtroom and offered a free consultation with the attorney of the day — a position staffed by lawyers who volunteer their time and attorneys with \u003ca href=\"https://standtogethercontracosta.org/\">Stand Together Contra Costa\u003c/a>, a collaboration between the county and other organizations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Concord courthouse now has attorneys of the day on hand about 70% of the time, and advocates say they’re working to get to full-time coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Volunteers who aren’t attorneys have also been trained to help people complete asylum applications when they have nowhere else to turn — as in Rosaura’s case.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Reciprocating life-changing support\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Concord immigration court is housed in a modern, mirrored office building near downtown. Often, a line forms outside before it opens at 8, serenaded by a makeshift chorus made up of congregants from around the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On a Tuesday morning, a small group from Kehilla Community Synagogue in Oakland and Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek stood on the sidewalk singing “This Little Light of Mine” in alternating Spanish and English verses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They held signs that read “Keep families together,” “Don’t lose hope,” and “We are here with you.” Cars honked as they passed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084723\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084723 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-IMMIGRATIONCOURTVOLUNTEERS-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mary Rae, a volunteer at the Concord immigration court, at her home in Oakland on May 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“People have come up to us, hugged us, thanked us, sometimes in tears,” said Penny Rosenwasser, of Kehilla. “The lawyers come up, too, and just thank us, because it gives them support as well. We’re all part of it together, a team.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mary Rae, a volunteer in training, started her work at the court out on the sidewalk. Today, she stood in the lobby preparing to begin a day of learning alongside Jaime. She’d already watched the required videos and tagged along with other volunteers; now she was here to learn from the man in charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rae, 73 with silver shoulder-length hair and metal-framed glasses, is a former emergency medicine doctor from Texas who moved to California after retiring in 2020. “I just feel the need to help these people. They’re coming here to start a better life,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The court occupies the top three floors of the 10-story building, also home to an urgent care center and various businesses. When Rae emerged on the top floor, she encountered a security line curled around the narrow elevator bank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One by one, people fed their bags into the X-ray scanner and stepped through the metal detector. Rae, with her replacement hip and knee, got a thorough wanding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Much more rigorous than TSA,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Inside, the walls, ceiling and linoleum floors were white. Fluorescent lights blazed down on notices tacked to the walls with warnings about asylum fraud and the “benefits and consequences” of self-deportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12024763\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12024763\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250125_Immigration-Forum_DB_02190-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attorneys provide simultaneous translation for a member of the public attending an informational session about immigration services at Willow Cove Elementary in Pittsburg, California, Jan. 29, 2025. More than 300 people attended the event organized by Stand Together Contra Costa and the Pittsburg Unified School District, which offered free, private consultations with immigration attorneys, medical services and a resource fair. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Jaime, in an azure blazer and black-rimmed glasses, greeted Rae and launched into a tutorial. He described the role of volunteers: Be present, supportive and smile; give people resource packets and connect them with the attorney of the day. He showed her where he stores the box of donated children’s books in various languages and explained that there’s limited grant funding available to cover the $100 annual asylum application fee. He reminded her not to give legal advice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every couple of minutes, he stopped to attend to a need, speaking in Spanish to people looking for help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Do you have court?” he asked a lost-looking woman, then showed her to courtroom 17.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Volunteers wearing baby blue lanyards or blue vests that read “Contra Costa Civil Rights Alliance” stepped in and out of courtrooms, ushering people to the pro bono attorney room and explaining judges’ instructions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What’s this?” a man asked Jaime upon emerging from the courtroom with a document in hand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The judge gave you more time to get an attorney,” Jaime said. “It’s not a requirement, but it helps.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He offered the man a consultation with the attorney volunteering that day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251014-ANTIFAROUNDTABLEFOLO-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ernesto Reyes holds a sign outside the San Francisco Immigration Court in downtown San Francisco on Oct. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Is it free?” the man said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jaime assured him it was and showed him to a waiting area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have court in September. What should I do?” another man said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then a woman with a black ponytail reaching down her back asked: “Do I have to come back with an attorney?” He explained that she — like everyone else seeking asylum — would have to prove to the judge that she had a well-founded fear of persecution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You know it because you lived it, but the judge doesn’t know any of that. It’s up to you to explain it and provide evidence,” Jaime said. “An attorney can help with that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rae stood beside him, doing her best to take notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t expect you to do all that,” Jaime said with a smile. He could tell Rae was a bit overwhelmed. “It’s a lot of information. You don’t need to know everything right now.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Rae is one of more than 100 volunteers Jaime has trained to do this work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of them have provided life-changing support for the people they serve — among them a weary-eyed woman from El Salvador named Janet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after arriving in the United States, Janet found someone she believed was an attorney and paid her about $4,500 to shepherd her asylum case. But when she went to court, the judge had no record of her application.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Janet reached back out to the woman she had hired, the woman assured her she would resubmit the application before Janet’s next hearing. But that day, there was still no application on file.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A welcome navigator at the Concord court encouraged her to speak with the attorney of the day. Unable to reach the person Janet had hired, or find her online, the attorney delivered a hard truth: “‘I’m going to be honest with you, she’s a scammer,’” Janet said. “I didn’t know what to do, whether to cry or — I don’t know.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge gave her one final opportunity to apply for asylum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s when I found a volunteer here,” Janet said. The volunteer helped her fill out the application, and Janet’s case is now back on track after the scam cost her a year and a half. She’s scheduled to return to court in 2029 for a decision on her asylum claim and can apply for a work permit in the meantime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She was like an angel placed in my path,” Janet said of the volunteer who worked with her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085605\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12085605 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-ImmigrationCourtVolunteers-03-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mary Rae, a volunteer at the Concord immigration court, at her home in Oakland on May 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Jaime had his own angels helping him on his asylum journey. Now, his work is a way of honoring all the support he got and reciprocating it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As many people help me, I want to help too,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even changing one life would make the effort worthwhile in his eyes. But it’s clear that the network of volunteers he’s empowered with the empathy and savvy required of the job has gone far beyond that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside in the sunshine, he offered Rae a final piece of advice: “Be kind with everybody.” Not just people in deportation proceedings, but the guards, the judges and the government attorneys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The system is not perfect, but it’s the only one right now,” he said, and “people are still winning asylum, even in this really bad scenario.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545?mt=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Listen to this and more in-depth storytelling by subscribing to The California Report Magazine podcast.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12007126/uncovering-women-miners-forgotten-legacy-in-the-swiss-alps-of-sequoia-national-park\">\u003cb>Uncovering Women Miners’ Forgotten Legacy in the ‘Swiss Alps’ of Sequoia National Park \u003c/b>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mineral King is located in the southern part of Sequoia National Park but its remote location means it gets fewer visitors than other parts of the park. So the campers and backpackers that make the trek are rewarded with a spectacular mountain range with rushing waterfalls. There are only a handful of buildings here, including some historic wooden cabins that belong to a few families who’ve been here long before this was a national park. One of those cabins belongs to Laile Di Silvestro’s family. Her connection to Mineral King goes back to the 1870s. Today, she’s an archeologist, and she’s looking for the stories she didn’t hear growing up. In 2024, as part of our Hidden Gems series, host Sasha Khokha hiked Mineral King with Di Silvestro to learn about some surprising trail blazers in the California Gold Rush, and the discrimination some people faced during those boom times.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cb>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001437/meet-the-pesky-but-lovable-bishop-pine-native-to-the-northern-california-coast\">\u003cb>The World’s Largest Bishop Pine Forest Is in Point Reyes\u003c/b>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">California is home to a lot of iconic trees, including giant sequoias, windswept Monterey cypresses, and Joshua trees. The bishop pine doesn’t have that kind of celebrity status. But if you live on the Point Reyes Peninsula in west Marin County you’re all too familiar with it. These indigenous trees are so well-suited to growing here, that to locals they’re notorious pests, not because of how easily they grow, but because of how they die. In 2024, reporter Lusen Mendel took us to Tomales Bay State Park to meet someone who’s made it his mission to deal with the pesky and strangely loveable pines.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>\u003c/b>\u003cb>\u003c/b>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11627401/welcome-to-rough-and-ready-the-tiny-town-that-used-to-be-a-republic\">\u003cb>Welcome to Rough and Ready, the Tiny Town That Used to Be a Republic\u003c/b>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">We head to the Nevada County town of Rough and Ready, about 5 miles west of Grass Valley. In 1850, it seceded from the nation and temporarily became its own republic. In 2017, KQED’s Bianca Taylor spoke to a proud resident of Rough and Ready to learn more about the town’s history, and how it got its name. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2> \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400\">[ad fullwidth]\u003c/span>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
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},
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"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
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},
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"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
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"order": 8
},
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},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
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"order": 1
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"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 9
},
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},
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"id": "fresh-air",
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"hidden-brain": {
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"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "NPR"
},
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"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"jerrybrown": {
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"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"order": 18
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},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
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},
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},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
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"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
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"source": "WaitWhat"
},
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"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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