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"content": "\u003cp>Election Day — your last day to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california\"> vote\u003c/a> — is less than two weeks away, on Tuesday, June 2. And every registered California voter will receive a mail-in ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if your ballot still hasn’t shown up yet?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The deadline for Bay Area counties to start mailing out their ballots was May 4, so if you’re registered to vote, your ballot should have shown up by now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But don’t worry: You have time — and several options — to fix things and make sure you get to cast your vote by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Looking for information about what’s on your ballot instead?\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\"> Take a look at KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a>, including information about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">California’s governor race. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’ve made a mistake on your ballot, we also have a guide to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\"> how to address different kinds of ballot — and signature — goofs.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#Whatsthequickestwaytogetareplacementballot\">What’s the quickest way to get a replacement ballot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>First, check if your voter registration is correct — and if your ballot was actually sent out\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the Secretary of State’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This site will show whether you’re correctly registered to vote and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> Read our guide to making sure you’re correctly registered to vote.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">the Where’s My Ballot? Tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding out if your voter registration is correct will help you determine next steps in getting your ballot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your ballot was sent to the wrong address\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it turns out your ballot was missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The deadline to update your voter registration online using\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> was May 18. But if you missed that date, you can still\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> reregister with your new address in person through Same Day Registration (also called “conditional registration”). \u003c/a>You can do this in person right up until when polls close on 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084656\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084656\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020, election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can reregister to vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> your county elections office during business hours\u003c/a>, which is now open for early voting. You can also ask for Same Day Registration at an open voting location near you. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>May 23 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening May 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you do this, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and give you a new one to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">Read more about registering (or reregistering) to vote in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"Whatsthequickestwaytogetareplacementballot\">\u003c/a>If your voter registration address was correct, but your ballot never showed up\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can just\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> call your county elections office \u003c/a>and ask them to send a new ballot. Scroll to the bottom of this story to find your Bay Area county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day because it can’t be sure the ballot will reach you in time. So, if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978435\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1990px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11978435 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1990\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581.jpg 1990w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-1920x1286.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1990px) 100vw, 1990px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘I Voted’ stickers at the ready atop a table at the Allen Temple Voting Center on March 5, 2024, in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Your county elections office is also already open for early voting through Election Day, so you could also go there and vote in person at the same time.\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> More early voting locations will be opening throughout May.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote or need to reregister to update details like your address or your legal name, you always have the option of\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\"> Same Day Registration\u003c/a> at an open voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your ballot showed up, but it has your former name on it\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve legally changed your name since you last voted in California, you’ll need to reregister to vote with your current (new) name.[aside postID=news_12082074 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/007_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg']The deadline to update your voter registration online using\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> the Secretary of State’s voter status page\u003c/a> was May 18, and if you missed that date, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083100/am-i-registered-to-vote-california-primary-2026-voting-for-governor-check-voter-registration\"> reregister with your new address in person through Same Day Registration (also called “conditional registration”).\u003c/a> You can do this in person right up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can reregister to vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> your county elections office during business hours\u003c/a>, which is now open for early voting. You can also ask for Same Day Registration at an open voting location near you when many early voting locations open around the Bay Area on May 23.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\"> Read more about how to find your closest voting location.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you do this, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and give you a new one to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">Read more about registering (or reregistering) to vote in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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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"excerpt": "If your election ballot never showed up, here’s how registered voters can get a new one ahead of Election Day on June 2.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Election Day — your last day to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california\"> vote\u003c/a> — is less than two weeks away, on Tuesday, June 2. And every registered California voter will receive a mail-in ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if your ballot still hasn’t shown up yet?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The deadline for Bay Area counties to start mailing out their ballots was May 4, so if you’re registered to vote, your ballot should have shown up by now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But don’t worry: You have time — and several options — to fix things and make sure you get to cast your vote by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Looking for information about what’s on your ballot instead?\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\"> Take a look at KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a>, including information about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">California’s governor race. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’ve made a mistake on your ballot, we also have a guide to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\"> how to address different kinds of ballot — and signature — goofs.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#Whatsthequickestwaytogetareplacementballot\">What’s the quickest way to get a replacement ballot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>First, check if your voter registration is correct — and if your ballot was actually sent out\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the Secretary of State’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This site will show whether you’re correctly registered to vote and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> Read our guide to making sure you’re correctly registered to vote.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">the Where’s My Ballot? Tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding out if your voter registration is correct will help you determine next steps in getting your ballot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your ballot was sent to the wrong address\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it turns out your ballot was missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The deadline to update your voter registration online using\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> was May 18. But if you missed that date, you can still\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> reregister with your new address in person through Same Day Registration (also called “conditional registration”). \u003c/a>You can do this in person right up until when polls close on 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084656\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084656\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020, election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can reregister to vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> your county elections office during business hours\u003c/a>, which is now open for early voting. You can also ask for Same Day Registration at an open voting location near you. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>May 23 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening May 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you do this, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and give you a new one to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">Read more about registering (or reregistering) to vote in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"Whatsthequickestwaytogetareplacementballot\">\u003c/a>If your voter registration address was correct, but your ballot never showed up\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can just\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> call your county elections office \u003c/a>and ask them to send a new ballot. Scroll to the bottom of this story to find your Bay Area county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day because it can’t be sure the ballot will reach you in time. So, if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978435\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1990px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11978435 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1990\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581.jpg 1990w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GETTYIMAGES-2053492564-KQED-e1729796821581-1920x1286.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1990px) 100vw, 1990px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘I Voted’ stickers at the ready atop a table at the Allen Temple Voting Center on March 5, 2024, in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Your county elections office is also already open for early voting through Election Day, so you could also go there and vote in person at the same time.\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> More early voting locations will be opening throughout May.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote or need to reregister to update details like your address or your legal name, you always have the option of\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\"> Same Day Registration\u003c/a> at an open voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your ballot showed up, but it has your former name on it\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve legally changed your name since you last voted in California, you’ll need to reregister to vote with your current (new) name.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The deadline to update your voter registration online using\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> the Secretary of State’s voter status page\u003c/a> was May 18, and if you missed that date, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083100/am-i-registered-to-vote-california-primary-2026-voting-for-governor-check-voter-registration\"> reregister with your new address in person through Same Day Registration (also called “conditional registration”).\u003c/a> You can do this in person right up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can reregister to vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058837/election-2025-am-i-registered-to-vote-check-voter-registration-prop-50\"> your county elections office during business hours\u003c/a>, which is now open for early voting. You can also ask for Same Day Registration at an open voting location near you when many early voting locations open around the Bay Area on May 23.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\"> Read more about how to find your closest voting location.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you do this, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and give you a new one to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">Read more about registering (or reregistering) to vote in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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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"slug": "how-californias-next-governor-would-tackle-rent-insurance-and-housing-costs",
"title": "How California’s Next Governor Would Tackle Rent, Insurance and Housing Costs",
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"headTitle": "How California’s Next Governor Would Tackle Rent, Insurance and Housing Costs | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>When it comes to affording rent or a home mortgage in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>, every candidate in the race for governor seems to have a personal stake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Katie Porter wants her three teenage children to eventually move off her couch. Antonio Villaraigosa wants reliable home insurance. Matt Mahan doesn’t want to fight with his wife over their mortgage, as his parents did.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the affordability crisis literally drives \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078787/grass-is-really-greener-for-many-californians-leaving-the-state\">residents out\u003c/a> of the state, the candidates have made housing a central point of their campaigns. That’s a sea change from previous elections, said Laura Foote, executive director for YIMBY Action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everybody up there was expected to have a plan and demonstrate how they were going to execute on delivering more affordable housing in California,” she said. “That’s a crazily different place than we were eight years ago, 10 years ago.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each candidate is trying to stand out in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082125/inside-californias-billionaire-tax-fight-and-the-wide-open-governors-race\">most competitive primary\u003c/a> for California governor in two decades. But many are hitting the same broad talking points: lower the cost of construction, make homeownership more accessible and reduce homelessness. Where they differ is in the details of how they’ll get there. Meanwhile, some voters feel discouraged by key issues they say are missing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Katherine Peoples-McGill drove to Oakland from Altadena earlier this month to attend a debate sponsored by the Housing Action Coalition and other housing nonprofits. She runs the Rebuild Center for Altadenans, which assists survivors of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/la-fires\">2025 Los Angeles wildfires\u003c/a>. She was disappointed none of the candidates had visited her center, much less mentioned wildfires in their comments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12037128\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12037128 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The burnt remains of St. Mark’s Church in Altadena, California, on April 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Mette Lampcov for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Altadena can happen anywhere in this country, anywhere in the state of California,” she said, “and for [the candidates] to really not be involved in that was a little shattering.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have, however, been plenty of proposals about how to reform the state’s home insurance industry. As top insurance companies, including Allstate, State Farm and American International Group (AIG) have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985175/insurance-in-california-is-changing-heres-how-it-may-affect-you\">left the state\u003c/a> or pulled back from offering new policies, more Californians are seeking coverage through the state’s FAIR Plan, a self-proclaimed “insurer of last resort.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of March, more than 684,000 homes and businesses across the state have policies under the FAIR Plan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cfpnet.com/key-statistics-data/\">according to the insurer\u003c/a>. That’s a 152% increase in active policies compared to September 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But insurance experts say it’s a dangerous sign. Last year, private insurance companies gave the FAIR Plan\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026808/fair-plan-bailout-from-insurance-companies-policyholders-following-la-fires\"> $1 billion\u003c/a> to stay solvent and help pay customer claims from the Los Angeles fires. Industry observers told KQED that a large fire could wipe out the FAIR Plan’s reserves.[aside postID=news_12082915 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_039-KQED.jpg']“I’m on the un-FAIR plan,” former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a forum held by the California Association of Realtors in March. “If my house [burns] down, I won’t be able to get a fraction rebuilding that house.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If homeowners do need to rebuild — the need to do it faster and cheaper, as well as to create new housing — is one issue candidates across the aisle agree upon. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3743-1.html\">study published\u003c/a> last year by the research group RAND showed California is the most expensive state to construct apartments. Candidates repeatedly mentioned that finding as an argument to bring down the cost to build market-rate and subsidized homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also an issue that’s received interest from the California Legislature, as well as Congress. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076687/how-federal-housing-reform-could-impact-californians\">federal bill\u003c/a> with bipartisan support is slowly making its way to the White House, which would incentivize manufactured housing projects across the country. In California, lawmakers are working on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075043/its-expensive-to-build-housing-california-lawmakers-say-factory-built-is-the-future\">package of bills\u003c/a> that would support the industry locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland Assemblymember Buffy Wicks is spearheading California’s bill package, which focuses on making it easier to get factory-built housing off the ground. The Democrat said it’s an innovation that hasn’t been widely successful because there hasn’t been steady support from the building industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These fights are so hard politically,” she said. “I want someone, in terms of my next governor, who has the spine of steel to take those fights head on and to prioritize housing as where they are going to spend their political capital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wick hasn’t endorsed any candidate in the race so far. But Democratic candidates Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer and former state attorney general Xavier Becerra have all argued that modular and factory-built construction could hasten building timelines and streamline the process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081061\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081061\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tom Steyer, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, left, and Katie Porter, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco, California, on April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar via Bloomberg)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Other candidates are focusing on what the state can do now to incentivize and ease the path of traditional building methods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State Superintendent Tony Thurmond has campaigned on building 2 million affordable homes on school district-owned surplus property. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco wants to end the “over-regulation of our building industry.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>British American political commentator Steve Hilton and Mahan, mayor of San Jose, have both talked about capping fees that cities often impose on developers to offset the impact of new development. A recent \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/LIHTCImpactFees2026.pdf\">study from UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation\u003c/a> found that these “impact” fees contribute to less than 5% of total development costs, but can nonetheless deter it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In recent years, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070650/these-fees-make-affordable-housing-more-expensive-developers-want-to-slash-them\">state legislature\u003c/a> has passed modest reforms, but Hilton has argued for a more straightforward fix: capping fees at 3% of a project’s construction costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve had hundreds of bills on this in the past few years, and it’s barely moved the needle,” Hilton said at a March forum. “A secret exemption here and a little incentive there, and it just makes it more and more complicated, more and more bureaucratic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072284\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Hilton and Matt Mahan participate in the California gubernatorial candidate debate on Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Laure Andrillon/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Bringing down the cost of construction may be critical in a state where it is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/\">more expensive\u003c/a> to own than rent in many cities. Several of the gubernatorial candidates shared support for a $25 billion bond headed to the November ballot that would support more middle-class homeownership. Thurmond has supported existing state-sponsored down-payment assistance programs, including the California Dream For All program and CalHome, and talked about expanding funding for those programs — something \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12066291/this-program-helps-californians-buy-affordable-homes-advocates-want-more-funding\">advocates have been calling for\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when it comes to protecting the interests of renters, the candidates are divided on the best course. Steyer, Becerra, Villaraigosa and Thurmond have said they are in favor of some form of government-imposed rent caps, including extending and enforcing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069513/tenants-crushed-after-california-renter-protections-bill-stalls-in-the-legislature\">Tenant Protections Act\u003c/a>, a 2019 law that limits annual rent increases and restricts evictions. It’s set to expire in 2030, within the next governor’s term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Porter, a former state representative, has bucked that trend. In a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XO676pq-gg\">KQED Town Hall\u003c/a>, Porter said that she opposes rent control. And while she said she supports the Tenant Protection Act, she argued that it can slow down construction and force people to stay put, regardless of whether moving would benefit their family or lifestyle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have a rent-controlled unit, it works really, really well for you — now, you’re stuck there,” she said. “Decide to have a couple kids, better get bunk beds because you can’t leave it, right?”[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]Zach Murray, statewide campaign coordinator for the tenants rights group, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), said he was unsatisfied with the conversation around the expiring Tenant Protection Act and how renters could be affected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Democrats are not seriously addressing the concrete [affordability] needs, the needs for affordable housing, the needs for utilities, the needs for greater cost reductions across the board,” he said. “When we get legislators and a governor who takes those needs seriously, then I think we’ll begin to see change in our state.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tenant advocates have argued that measures that limit evictions can also help prevent homelessness — an area where the state has recently been making strides. Unsheltered homelessness \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/01/16/following-9-drop-in-unsheltered-homelessness-governor-newsom-announces-new-investments-to-create-more-shelter-and-services-with-stronger-accountability/\">fell 9% last year,\u003c/a> according to preliminary data from the governor’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 2024 audit from the \u003ca href=\"https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2023-102.1/index.html#section1\">Legislative Analyst’s Office\u003c/a> found that Gov. Gavin Newsom spent about $24 billion to address homelessness and housing during the previous five fiscal years. On \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KygOFVgDmPU&t=2s\">KQED’s Political Breakdown podcast\u003c/a>, Bianco said the current administration threw money at homelessness but didn’t show consistent results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Newsom thinks] he’s so great because he gave more money than any other person in history to the homeless,” the Republican candidate said. “The amount of money means absolutely nothing. I’m going to measure [solving homelessness] by fewer tents on our sidewalks. That’s how you judge whether or not you’re doing something right.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco, Steyer, Mahan and Villaraigosa have advocated for emergency interim shelters as a more cost-effective way to get people off the streets. During the Housing Action Coalition’s forum in May, Mahan spoke about his experience as mayor, creating 23 interim housing sites with “no-encampment zones” surrounding the sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not everybody loves the idea of a no-encampment zone, but that’s how we got community buy-in,” he said. “When we built interim housing and got people stabilized indoors and connected to case management, calls for service for crime — 911 — for blight — 311— plummeted.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073370\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Construction is underway on an affordable housing apartment building at 2550 Irving St. in San Francisco’s Sunset District on May 19, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To get more permanently affordable homes built, several candidates have proposed streamlining applications for state funding, so developers aren’t piecing together financing from various sources and can cut down construction costs by getting homes built faster.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That desire could come at an opportune time as the state prepares to consolidate its myriad agencies overseeing housing and homelessness programs into one department, called the California Housing and Homelessness Agency. It is set to open this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Housing Action Coalition’s May forum in Oakland, land use expert Alex Schafran said he was amazed to see a governor’s debate focused exclusively on housing. However, it also struck him that there was consensus onstage and among many attendees, “including people who used to not get along 10 years ago and are now starting to find ways to work together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That will be critical, Shafran said, because the eventual governor will likely still need to work alongside his or her former rivals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whoever wins still has a lot of work to do in a really difficult and expensive environment,” he said. “Now the hard part really begins.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Amid a crowded field, candidates for California’s next governor are trying to distinguish themselves on one of the biggest issues facing voters: the cost of housing.",
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"title": "How California’s Next Governor Would Tackle Rent, Insurance and Housing Costs | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When it comes to affording rent or a home mortgage in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>, every candidate in the race for governor seems to have a personal stake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Katie Porter wants her three teenage children to eventually move off her couch. Antonio Villaraigosa wants reliable home insurance. Matt Mahan doesn’t want to fight with his wife over their mortgage, as his parents did.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the affordability crisis literally drives \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078787/grass-is-really-greener-for-many-californians-leaving-the-state\">residents out\u003c/a> of the state, the candidates have made housing a central point of their campaigns. That’s a sea change from previous elections, said Laura Foote, executive director for YIMBY Action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everybody up there was expected to have a plan and demonstrate how they were going to execute on delivering more affordable housing in California,” she said. “That’s a crazily different place than we were eight years ago, 10 years ago.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each candidate is trying to stand out in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082125/inside-californias-billionaire-tax-fight-and-the-wide-open-governors-race\">most competitive primary\u003c/a> for California governor in two decades. But many are hitting the same broad talking points: lower the cost of construction, make homeownership more accessible and reduce homelessness. Where they differ is in the details of how they’ll get there. Meanwhile, some voters feel discouraged by key issues they say are missing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Katherine Peoples-McGill drove to Oakland from Altadena earlier this month to attend a debate sponsored by the Housing Action Coalition and other housing nonprofits. She runs the Rebuild Center for Altadenans, which assists survivors of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/la-fires\">2025 Los Angeles wildfires\u003c/a>. She was disappointed none of the candidates had visited her center, much less mentioned wildfires in their comments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12037128\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12037128 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/METTE.LAMPCOV.CHURCH.BELL-29-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The burnt remains of St. Mark’s Church in Altadena, California, on April 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Mette Lampcov for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Altadena can happen anywhere in this country, anywhere in the state of California,” she said, “and for [the candidates] to really not be involved in that was a little shattering.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have, however, been plenty of proposals about how to reform the state’s home insurance industry. As top insurance companies, including Allstate, State Farm and American International Group (AIG) have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985175/insurance-in-california-is-changing-heres-how-it-may-affect-you\">left the state\u003c/a> or pulled back from offering new policies, more Californians are seeking coverage through the state’s FAIR Plan, a self-proclaimed “insurer of last resort.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of March, more than 684,000 homes and businesses across the state have policies under the FAIR Plan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cfpnet.com/key-statistics-data/\">according to the insurer\u003c/a>. That’s a 152% increase in active policies compared to September 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But insurance experts say it’s a dangerous sign. Last year, private insurance companies gave the FAIR Plan\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026808/fair-plan-bailout-from-insurance-companies-policyholders-following-la-fires\"> $1 billion\u003c/a> to stay solvent and help pay customer claims from the Los Angeles fires. Industry observers told KQED that a large fire could wipe out the FAIR Plan’s reserves.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I’m on the un-FAIR plan,” former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a forum held by the California Association of Realtors in March. “If my house [burns] down, I won’t be able to get a fraction rebuilding that house.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If homeowners do need to rebuild — the need to do it faster and cheaper, as well as to create new housing — is one issue candidates across the aisle agree upon. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3743-1.html\">study published\u003c/a> last year by the research group RAND showed California is the most expensive state to construct apartments. Candidates repeatedly mentioned that finding as an argument to bring down the cost to build market-rate and subsidized homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also an issue that’s received interest from the California Legislature, as well as Congress. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076687/how-federal-housing-reform-could-impact-californians\">federal bill\u003c/a> with bipartisan support is slowly making its way to the White House, which would incentivize manufactured housing projects across the country. In California, lawmakers are working on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075043/its-expensive-to-build-housing-california-lawmakers-say-factory-built-is-the-future\">package of bills\u003c/a> that would support the industry locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland Assemblymember Buffy Wicks is spearheading California’s bill package, which focuses on making it easier to get factory-built housing off the ground. The Democrat said it’s an innovation that hasn’t been widely successful because there hasn’t been steady support from the building industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These fights are so hard politically,” she said. “I want someone, in terms of my next governor, who has the spine of steel to take those fights head on and to prioritize housing as where they are going to spend their political capital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wick hasn’t endorsed any candidate in the race so far. But Democratic candidates Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer and former state attorney general Xavier Becerra have all argued that modular and factory-built construction could hasten building timelines and streamline the process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081061\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081061\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3948_1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tom Steyer, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, left, and Katie Porter, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco, California, on April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar via Bloomberg)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Other candidates are focusing on what the state can do now to incentivize and ease the path of traditional building methods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State Superintendent Tony Thurmond has campaigned on building 2 million affordable homes on school district-owned surplus property. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco wants to end the “over-regulation of our building industry.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>British American political commentator Steve Hilton and Mahan, mayor of San Jose, have both talked about capping fees that cities often impose on developers to offset the impact of new development. A recent \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/LIHTCImpactFees2026.pdf\">study from UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation\u003c/a> found that these “impact” fees contribute to less than 5% of total development costs, but can nonetheless deter it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In recent years, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070650/these-fees-make-affordable-housing-more-expensive-developers-want-to-slash-them\">state legislature\u003c/a> has passed modest reforms, but Hilton has argued for a more straightforward fix: capping fees at 3% of a project’s construction costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve had hundreds of bills on this in the past few years, and it’s barely moved the needle,” Hilton said at a March forum. “A secret exemption here and a little incentive there, and it just makes it more and more complicated, more and more bureaucratic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072284\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CAGovDebateAP2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Hilton and Matt Mahan participate in the California gubernatorial candidate debate on Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Laure Andrillon/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Bringing down the cost of construction may be critical in a state where it is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/\">more expensive\u003c/a> to own than rent in many cities. Several of the gubernatorial candidates shared support for a $25 billion bond headed to the November ballot that would support more middle-class homeownership. Thurmond has supported existing state-sponsored down-payment assistance programs, including the California Dream For All program and CalHome, and talked about expanding funding for those programs — something \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12066291/this-program-helps-californians-buy-affordable-homes-advocates-want-more-funding\">advocates have been calling for\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when it comes to protecting the interests of renters, the candidates are divided on the best course. Steyer, Becerra, Villaraigosa and Thurmond have said they are in favor of some form of government-imposed rent caps, including extending and enforcing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069513/tenants-crushed-after-california-renter-protections-bill-stalls-in-the-legislature\">Tenant Protections Act\u003c/a>, a 2019 law that limits annual rent increases and restricts evictions. It’s set to expire in 2030, within the next governor’s term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Porter, a former state representative, has bucked that trend. In a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XO676pq-gg\">KQED Town Hall\u003c/a>, Porter said that she opposes rent control. And while she said she supports the Tenant Protection Act, she argued that it can slow down construction and force people to stay put, regardless of whether moving would benefit their family or lifestyle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have a rent-controlled unit, it works really, really well for you — now, you’re stuck there,” she said. “Decide to have a couple kids, better get bunk beds because you can’t leave it, right?”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Zach Murray, statewide campaign coordinator for the tenants rights group, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), said he was unsatisfied with the conversation around the expiring Tenant Protection Act and how renters could be affected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Democrats are not seriously addressing the concrete [affordability] needs, the needs for affordable housing, the needs for utilities, the needs for greater cost reductions across the board,” he said. “When we get legislators and a governor who takes those needs seriously, then I think we’ll begin to see change in our state.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tenant advocates have argued that measures that limit evictions can also help prevent homelessness — an area where the state has recently been making strides. Unsheltered homelessness \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/01/16/following-9-drop-in-unsheltered-homelessness-governor-newsom-announces-new-investments-to-create-more-shelter-and-services-with-stronger-accountability/\">fell 9% last year,\u003c/a> according to preliminary data from the governor’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 2024 audit from the \u003ca href=\"https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2023-102.1/index.html#section1\">Legislative Analyst’s Office\u003c/a> found that Gov. Gavin Newsom spent about $24 billion to address homelessness and housing during the previous five fiscal years. On \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KygOFVgDmPU&t=2s\">KQED’s Political Breakdown podcast\u003c/a>, Bianco said the current administration threw money at homelessness but didn’t show consistent results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Newsom thinks] he’s so great because he gave more money than any other person in history to the homeless,” the Republican candidate said. “The amount of money means absolutely nothing. I’m going to measure [solving homelessness] by fewer tents on our sidewalks. That’s how you judge whether or not you’re doing something right.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco, Steyer, Mahan and Villaraigosa have advocated for emergency interim shelters as a more cost-effective way to get people off the streets. During the Housing Action Coalition’s forum in May, Mahan spoke about his experience as mayor, creating 23 interim housing sites with “no-encampment zones” surrounding the sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not everybody loves the idea of a no-encampment zone, but that’s how we got community buy-in,” he said. “When we built interim housing and got people stabilized indoors and connected to case management, calls for service for crime — 911 — for blight — 311— plummeted.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073370\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Construction is underway on an affordable housing apartment building at 2550 Irving St. in San Francisco’s Sunset District on May 19, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To get more permanently affordable homes built, several candidates have proposed streamlining applications for state funding, so developers aren’t piecing together financing from various sources and can cut down construction costs by getting homes built faster.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That desire could come at an opportune time as the state prepares to consolidate its myriad agencies overseeing housing and homelessness programs into one department, called the California Housing and Homelessness Agency. It is set to open this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Housing Action Coalition’s May forum in Oakland, land use expert Alex Schafran said he was amazed to see a governor’s debate focused exclusively on housing. However, it also struck him that there was consensus onstage and among many attendees, “including people who used to not get along 10 years ago and are now starting to find ways to work together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That will be critical, Shafran said, because the eventual governor will likely still need to work alongside his or her former rivals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whoever wins still has a lot of work to do in a really difficult and expensive environment,” he said. “Now the hard part really begins.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Democratic voters in the race for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">California governor\u003c/a> appear to be consolidating behind \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tom-steyer\">Tom Steyer\u003c/a>, as Becerra holds an advantage despite candidates’ mounting attacks against him and Steyer’s massive infusions of cash, according to a new survey released Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The poll, commissioned by the state Democratic Party and conducted by the firm Evitarus, found Republican \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/steve-hilton\">Steve Hilton\u003c/a>, a former Fox News commentator, leading the overall field with support from 22% of likely voters. He was followed by Becerra, a former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083992/xavier-becerra-says-he-will-fight-for-california-who-did-he-fight-for-as-ag\">California attorney general\u003c/a>, with 21%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer received 15%, while 10% of voters supported Republican \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chad-bianco\">Chad Bianco\u003c/a>, the sheriff of Riverside County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The chances of both Republicans advancing past the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">June 2 primary\u003c/a> to the general election appear increasingly slim as the gap between Hilton and Bianco has continued to grow following President Donald Trump’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">endorsement\u003c/a> of Hilton in April.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In recent months, I have stated that California Democrats would do whatever was required to ensure that we elect a Democrat as our next governor,” said Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party. “These results show we are moving closer to doing exactly that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082062\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082062\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, speaks during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Instead, the remaining drama over the final two weeks of the primary campaign could come down to whether Becerra, who has surged in the polls over the last month, can maintain his lead over Steyer, a billionaire who has donated a record $193 million to his own campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra has gained support in each of the biweekly Evitarus polls since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079800/eric-swalwell-allegations-resign-congress-california-governor-race-who-is-running-primary\">former Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign\u003c/a> in response to accusations of sexual assault. The latest survey, conducted May 14-16, suggests that Becerra has emerged largely unscathed after two weeks of attacks from fellow Democrats in debates and television advertisements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Steyer has remained within striking distance. Since May 2, Becerra has increased his support from 18% to 21%, while Steyer has grown his share from 12% to 15%.[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]The bump in support for the two frontrunners seems to have come at the expense of two other Democrats: former Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/katie-porter\">Katie Porter\u003c/a> and San José Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/matt-mahan\">Matt Mahan\u003c/a>, who both suffered a decline in support compared to the Evitarus poll in early May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There remains room for more movement, as the survey found 13% of likely voters — and 17% of Democrats — remain undecided.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With his near-unlimited war chest, Steyer is expected to continue to blanket the state with advertisements in the stretch run of the campaign. The former hedge fund manager has already smashed the state’s self-funding record, held by former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who spent $140 million on her own campaign for governor in 2010.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra has been aided by political groups operating independently of his campaign. An anti-Steyer super PAC \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083747/pge-spends-millions-against-tom-steyer-whats-behind-clash\">funded largely by PG&E\u003c/a> and the California Chamber of Commerce has begun including pro-Becerra messaging in its ads. And on Monday, Airbnb, the California Association of Realtors and a pair of Native American tribal governments poured over $3.4 million into a pro-Becerra committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The survey released Tuesday will be the final one commissioned by the state Democratic Party before Election Day. The polls began as an effort by Hicks to pressure lower-polling candidates to drop out of the race, in order to consolidate the Democratic vote and prevent the party from being locked out of the general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite his efforts, two Democrats polling at 1%, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, remain in the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Certainly if they honestly assess the viability of their campaign, my guess is that they would call a press conference, suspend their campaign and endorse another candidate,” Hicks said. “Do I expect that to happen? No, I don’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Democratic voters in the race for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">California governor\u003c/a> appear to be consolidating behind \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tom-steyer\">Tom Steyer\u003c/a>, as Becerra holds an advantage despite candidates’ mounting attacks against him and Steyer’s massive infusions of cash, according to a new survey released Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The poll, commissioned by the state Democratic Party and conducted by the firm Evitarus, found Republican \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/steve-hilton\">Steve Hilton\u003c/a>, a former Fox News commentator, leading the overall field with support from 22% of likely voters. He was followed by Becerra, a former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083992/xavier-becerra-says-he-will-fight-for-california-who-did-he-fight-for-as-ag\">California attorney general\u003c/a>, with 21%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer received 15%, while 10% of voters supported Republican \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chad-bianco\">Chad Bianco\u003c/a>, the sheriff of Riverside County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The chances of both Republicans advancing past the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">June 2 primary\u003c/a> to the general election appear increasingly slim as the gap between Hilton and Bianco has continued to grow following President Donald Trump’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">endorsement\u003c/a> of Hilton in April.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In recent months, I have stated that California Democrats would do whatever was required to ensure that we elect a Democrat as our next governor,” said Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party. “These results show we are moving closer to doing exactly that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082062\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082062\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, speaks during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Instead, the remaining drama over the final two weeks of the primary campaign could come down to whether Becerra, who has surged in the polls over the last month, can maintain his lead over Steyer, a billionaire who has donated a record $193 million to his own campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra has gained support in each of the biweekly Evitarus polls since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079800/eric-swalwell-allegations-resign-congress-california-governor-race-who-is-running-primary\">former Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign\u003c/a> in response to accusations of sexual assault. The latest survey, conducted May 14-16, suggests that Becerra has emerged largely unscathed after two weeks of attacks from fellow Democrats in debates and television advertisements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Steyer has remained within striking distance. Since May 2, Becerra has increased his support from 18% to 21%, while Steyer has grown his share from 12% to 15%.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The bump in support for the two frontrunners seems to have come at the expense of two other Democrats: former Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/katie-porter\">Katie Porter\u003c/a> and San José Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/matt-mahan\">Matt Mahan\u003c/a>, who both suffered a decline in support compared to the Evitarus poll in early May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There remains room for more movement, as the survey found 13% of likely voters — and 17% of Democrats — remain undecided.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With his near-unlimited war chest, Steyer is expected to continue to blanket the state with advertisements in the stretch run of the campaign. The former hedge fund manager has already smashed the state’s self-funding record, held by former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who spent $140 million on her own campaign for governor in 2010.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra has been aided by political groups operating independently of his campaign. An anti-Steyer super PAC \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083747/pge-spends-millions-against-tom-steyer-whats-behind-clash\">funded largely by PG&E\u003c/a> and the California Chamber of Commerce has begun including pro-Becerra messaging in its ads. And on Monday, Airbnb, the California Association of Realtors and a pair of Native American tribal governments poured over $3.4 million into a pro-Becerra committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The survey released Tuesday will be the final one commissioned by the state Democratic Party before Election Day. The polls began as an effort by Hicks to pressure lower-polling candidates to drop out of the race, in order to consolidate the Democratic vote and prevent the party from being locked out of the general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite his efforts, two Democrats polling at 1%, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, remain in the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Certainly if they honestly assess the viability of their campaign, my guess is that they would call a press conference, suspend their campaign and endorse another candidate,” Hicks said. “Do I expect that to happen? No, I don’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "PG&E Spends Millions Against Tom Steyer. What’s Behind the Clash?",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075769/tom-steyer-lays-out-vision-for-a-more-affordable-california-in-run-for-governor\">Tom Steyer\u003c/a> is smashing self-funding records with an unprecedented $193 million poured into his own campaign as he tries to advance past California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">wide-open primary\u003c/a> for governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The race’s second-largest donor is trying to prevent that from happening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E, the Oakland-based utility giant, has shelled out more than $12 million to oppose the Democratic investor, a historic level of spending for the utility in a governor’s race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The campaign to sink Steyer’s chances (and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2055295439365103930?s=20\">recently\u003c/a>, boost former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra), whose ads target Steyer’s career as a hedge-fund manager, reasons that an investor with no government experience is ill-suited to manage the difficult tradeoffs that come with the state’s top job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But central to the conflict between the progressive billionaire and the power behemoth, experts say, is Steyer’s ambitious plan to cut electricity bills. That platform is built on a pledge to wield the governor’s power over appointments to install regulators who will reduce the utilities’ guaranteed profits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That is a material threat to utility investors,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Few areas offer as vexing a challenge for the governor as the oversight of investor-owned utilities in the midst of California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1998536/newsom-signs-climate-energy-bills-charting-state-course-through-perilous-mid-transition\">energy transition\u003c/a> away from fossil fuels. Outside observers are divided over the impact that Steyer could have in a policy area that has thwarted the ambitions (and even \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-31-mn-6834-story.html\">careers\u003c/a>) of previous governors.[aside label=\"From the 2026 Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/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]But Steyer is relishing the clash, arguing that the utility’s big-dollar effort to stop him is proof of the power it holds — and the change he vows to bring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He has cast the state’s three investor-owned utilities — PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — as bogeymen standing in the way of a more affordable life in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve said that we are going to regulate them differently and introduce local competition,” Steyer told KQED. “And they clearly think it’s worth $10 million as a bet to try and defeat me because they want to preserve their monopoly. I think that’s corrupt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians pay the \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a\">second-highest\u003c/a> electricity rates in the country after Hawaii, and those rates have grown much faster than the national average this decade. At the heart of the price spike are wildfire-related costs that the utilities have passed along in part to customers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In response, Steyer is proposing to appoint reform-minded regulators to oversee the utilities. He promises that those appointees will cut utility profits, more closely examine the cost-effectiveness of wildfire spending and promote small-scale power generation, such as rooftop solar and microgrids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To Steyer’s supporters, the politics of a utility crusade are undeniably positive. Voter antipathy toward the state’s large power providers cuts across urban progressives wary of monopoly power, rural residents anxious about utility-sparked fires and suburban solar customers furious about utility efforts to claw back rooftop benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is an issue that is felt by not just the progressives but the moderates who also try to fight utility costs,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee, a progressive Democrat from San José who has endorsed Steyer. “We are all lamenting together that utilities have way too much power.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>PG&E spends big\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Steyer is leading with a bold promise: a 25% drop in electricity rates. He has paraded that vow in town halls, candidate debates and unceasing television advertisements. On Valentine’s Day, Steyer \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGv3mhkKRPQ\">released\u003c/a> a “break-up message” video outside a PG&E substation in San Francisco in which he called out the company’s CEO, Patti Poppe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer’s broadsides against the electric giants caught the eye of utility leadership — particularly after former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign imploded \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">amid sexual assault allegations\u003c/a>, making the possibility of a Steyer victory more realistic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pedro Pizarro, the CEO of SoCal Edison’s parent company, said on an April earnings call that he did not see any “fact basis” to Steyer’s promise of a 25% rate cut.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11943199\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11943199\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Blue trucks with 'pg and e' logo on them sit parked in a lot with the white and black blurry pattern of a fence in the foreground\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E trucks sit inside a Mission District facility owned by the utility. \u003ccite>(Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We have been very pointed about taking on things that are not connected to fact like those, and being outspoken about them,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E has gone further — emerging as the top anti-Steyer spender in the closing weeks ahead of the June 2 primary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The utility has contributed $12.6 million to a committee named Californians for Resilient and Affordable Energy, No on Steyer for Governor 2026. That committee has sent $12.5 million to an anti-Steyer independent expenditure committee, called California is Not for Sale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Chamber of Commerce’s political arm, JOBSPAC, sent over $7.7 million to California is Not for Sale — after receiving roughly $2 million from each of the state’s investor-owned utilities in April. A spokesperson for the Chamber said decisions on campaign spending are made by JOBSPAC leadership, not individual donors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11725572\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11725572 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/02/ap_19032839240667-c3ea9c8607ab8c46c7dcbc486a7c0f917e3d5a08-e1549984154270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1438\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man walks past a PG&E sign. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The anti-Steyer super PAC has also drawn contributions from groups representing realtors, homebuilders and correctional officers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The television ads funded by California is Not for Sale make no mention of Steyer’s electricity plan. Instead, they take aim at investments made by Steyer’s former hedge fund in private prison companies and fossil fuel projects. Steyer left the firm, Farallon Capital Management, in 2012.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer’s campaign filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission earlier this month, arguing that PG&E is deliberately obscuring its role as the top funder of the ads by donating to the Resilient and Affordable Energy group instead of directly to California is Not for Sale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E referred a request for an interview for this story to a spokesperson for the super PAC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Super PAC: Opposition ‘bigger than any one policy’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California is Not for Sale spokesperson Amelia Matier said the group’s spending is not being driven by PG&E — or by opposition to any specific proposal from Steyer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is bigger than any one policy,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Matier argued the connective thread between the businesses spending against Steyer is a shared lack of faith that someone without any government experience could govern the world’s fourth-largest economy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075623\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12075623 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tom Steyer speaks with Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos on Political Breakdown at KQED in San Francisco on March 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The group of people behind the IE just don’t think he’d be a good governor,” she said. “He doesn’t have the experience and know-how, and he wants to make everybody else the big corporate bogeyman — but the reality is that’s him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The $12.6 million PG&E has spent against Steyer is hardly a financial avalanche in the context of costly California campaigns. The utility spent over $46 million to support a single initiative, Proposition 16, a failed 2010 measure that would have made it harder for cities and counties to create local power providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the anti-Steyer spending marks PG&E’s largest such outlay in a governor’s race, according to \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1007836&view=contributions&session=1999\">online filings\u003c/a> with the California secretary of state’s office, which date back to 1999.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In splashy television ads, Steyer has declared that he will “bust” the utilities and “break up” their power. But he is not proposing to end California’s current structure of electricity regulation, in which power companies are traded on Wall Street and entitled to a guaranteed rate of return on capital investments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m happy to have investor-owned,” Steyer said during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075769/tom-steyer-lays-out-vision-for-a-more-affordable-california-in-run-for-governor\">an interview\u003c/a> on KQED’s Political Breakdown. “My issue is we are not regulating them right.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A plan to ‘stop their gravy trains’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Much of Steyer’s electricity agenda is built on appointments he is eyeing for the five-member California Public Utilities Commission. The next governor will appoint two commissioners in January and replace three others over the course of their first term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CPUC has been at the center of bitter fights between utilities and ratepayer advocates over \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910175/california-rooftop-solar-is-at-a-crossroads\">rooftop solar\u003c/a> benefits, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1992639/california-regulators-approve-adding-24-fixed-fee-to-utility-bills\">structure of electricity bills\u003c/a> and wildfire-related spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Former CPUC President Loretta Lynch, a frequent agency critic, said regulators have not properly scrutinized utility spending, which has resulted in higher bills for customers. Steyer could bring the first change to that dynamic in decades, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033400\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12033400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E utility poles in the Mission District on Jan. 27, 2019. \u003ccite>(Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s not surprising if you look at it that way that the utilities are going all out to fight the candidates who are going to stop their gravy trains,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer said he will appoint commissioners who push the utilities to more quickly connect new customers to the grid (spreading the system’s fixed costs more broadly) and incentivize the power providers to spend on solar and battery storage, instead of building expensive new transmission lines and substations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most threatening proposal for California power companies is Steyer’s call for a cut in utility profits, said Wara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The return on equity, set by the CPUC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/electric-costs/cost-of-capital\">currently sits\u003c/a> at roughly 10% for PG&E, SoCal Edison and SDG&E. The rate represents the profit that utilities are authorized to earn — and collect from ratepayers — on shareholder-funded infrastructure investments.[aside postID=news_12082915 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_039-KQED.jpg']Utilities argue that a healthy return on equity is necessary to attract capital and fairly compensate shareholders for the risk of owning power companies that could face massive liability and even bankruptcy if their equipment sparks a wildfire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those guaranteed profit rates have remained steady even at times when borrowing costs across the economy have declined. Utility critics point to research showing that elevated rates \u003ca href=\"https://haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/WP329.pdf\">create a perverse incentive\u003c/a> for electric companies to pursue costly investments in order to recoup the highest return — all at inflated cost to the customer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A former economist for the parent company of SDG&E \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-12-18/state-regulators-vote-to-keep-utility-profits-high-angering-customers\">estimated\u003c/a> that reducing the return on equity to 6% would save customers $6.1 billion annually.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer has floated the idea of reducing the rate of return by 2 percentage points.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If that could be accomplished, there is a significant potential savings for California electricity customers,” Wara said. “Of course [utilities] object to that — it would be crazy if they didn’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Wara cautioned that a cut to utility profits is not without risk. If California lowers its rate of return and other states do not, shareholders could decide to invest in utilities in parts of the country offering higher profits without wildfire risk. With less cash on hand, California utilities could face higher borrowing costs that, in turn, would raise bills for ratepayers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is how investors in that market respond,” Wara said. “Do they take their money elsewhere? Or do they think these three [California utility] stocks are too big not to have in their utility portfolio?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Difficult tradeoffs\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Others see an imperiousness in Steyer’s broadsides against the utilities — a belief that complex reforms can be pushed through without compromise or tradeoffs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bill Dodd, a former state senator who worked extensively on utility legislation, has had a recurring question as he’s watched Steyer’s ads promising lower electricity rates: “How the hell is he going to do that?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dodd argued that many of the cost pressures facing utilities and their ratepayers are a result of climate change, as hotter temperatures and shorter windows of precipitation have lengthened California’s fire season. No matter who is governor, power companies will need to spend money to trim trees and bury power lines, while setting aside billions of dollars to pay claims arising from future wildfires caused by their equipment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during a town hall event on April 30, 2026, in San José. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And while governors typically enjoy great sway over state agencies, the commissioners Steyer appoints to the CPUC will still be bound by state law requiring utility rates to be “just and reasonable” — balancing affordability with the need to attract shareholder investment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The bottom line is even when you appoint members of the CPUC, they are still taking an oath to the state of California,” Dodd said. “So I don’t think it’s as easy to get done as just [saying] ‘I’m going to replace everybody.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer’s campaign said he will look for commissioners with a shared vision for regulating the state’s investor-owned utilities.[aside label=\"2026 Bay Area Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/bayarea,Learn about every single race and measure 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]Complicating matters, Californians’ desire for rate relief exists alongside their expectations of reliable service and wildfire safety. Steyer’s electricity plan promises to “strengthen safety, bolster reliability, and lower prices.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard for me to imagine that we can achieve all of those three things at once,” said Meredith Fowlie, faculty director at UC Berkeley’s Energy Institute at Haas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ongoing utility investments to prevent wildfires are likely to keep electricity prices elevated: The CPUC is \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/office-of-governmental-affairs-division/reports/2025/2025-sb-695-report_093025.pdf\">projecting\u003c/a> rate increases through 2028 of roughly 6% for PG&E and SDG&E and around 7% for SoCal Edison, compared with an assumed inflation rate of 2.6%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But lowering bills by reducing spending on wildfire mitigation could require the state to accept a higher tolerance for catastrophic blazes. And while strategies such as planned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11891810/pge-power-shutoffs-are-affecting-thousands-again-heres-when-they-can-expect-to-get-it-back\">power outages\u003c/a> could help avoid those fires at a relatively low cost, they bring disruption to the daily lives of Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we decide to focus on reducing rates, I think we’re going to have to trade off reliability and tolerate more wildfire risk,” Fowlie said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and members of the Legislature have spent much of the last year weighing those tradeoffs. In some ways, Steyer would be showing up in the second act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Legislation moving through the Senate this year would \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB905\">reduce\u003c/a> utility profits and tap the state budget to pay for certain investments currently funded by ratepayers. And a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cawildfirefund.com/sb-254-natural-catastrophe-resilience-study\">state report\u003c/a> on resilience to natural catastrophes released last month could serve as the starting point for negotiations this summer around reforms to wildfire liability and California’s home insurance market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So I think if I was a utility, I would see [Steyer] as signaling that he will continue along this path,” Fowlie said. “And continuing along that path could have implications for how they’re able to conduct their business.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075769/tom-steyer-lays-out-vision-for-a-more-affordable-california-in-run-for-governor\">Tom Steyer\u003c/a> is smashing self-funding records with an unprecedented $193 million poured into his own campaign as he tries to advance past California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">wide-open primary\u003c/a> for governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The race’s second-largest donor is trying to prevent that from happening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E, the Oakland-based utility giant, has shelled out more than $12 million to oppose the Democratic investor, a historic level of spending for the utility in a governor’s race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The campaign to sink Steyer’s chances (and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2055295439365103930?s=20\">recently\u003c/a>, boost former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra), whose ads target Steyer’s career as a hedge-fund manager, reasons that an investor with no government experience is ill-suited to manage the difficult tradeoffs that come with the state’s top job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But central to the conflict between the progressive billionaire and the power behemoth, experts say, is Steyer’s ambitious plan to cut electricity bills. That platform is built on a pledge to wield the governor’s power over appointments to install regulators who will reduce the utilities’ guaranteed profits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That is a material threat to utility investors,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Few areas offer as vexing a challenge for the governor as the oversight of investor-owned utilities in the midst of California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1998536/newsom-signs-climate-energy-bills-charting-state-course-through-perilous-mid-transition\">energy transition\u003c/a> away from fossil fuels. Outside observers are divided over the impact that Steyer could have in a policy area that has thwarted the ambitions (and even \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-31-mn-6834-story.html\">careers\u003c/a>) of previous governors.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But Steyer is relishing the clash, arguing that the utility’s big-dollar effort to stop him is proof of the power it holds — and the change he vows to bring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He has cast the state’s three investor-owned utilities — PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — as bogeymen standing in the way of a more affordable life in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve said that we are going to regulate them differently and introduce local competition,” Steyer told KQED. “And they clearly think it’s worth $10 million as a bet to try and defeat me because they want to preserve their monopoly. I think that’s corrupt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians pay the \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a\">second-highest\u003c/a> electricity rates in the country after Hawaii, and those rates have grown much faster than the national average this decade. At the heart of the price spike are wildfire-related costs that the utilities have passed along in part to customers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In response, Steyer is proposing to appoint reform-minded regulators to oversee the utilities. He promises that those appointees will cut utility profits, more closely examine the cost-effectiveness of wildfire spending and promote small-scale power generation, such as rooftop solar and microgrids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To Steyer’s supporters, the politics of a utility crusade are undeniably positive. Voter antipathy toward the state’s large power providers cuts across urban progressives wary of monopoly power, rural residents anxious about utility-sparked fires and suburban solar customers furious about utility efforts to claw back rooftop benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is an issue that is felt by not just the progressives but the moderates who also try to fight utility costs,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee, a progressive Democrat from San José who has endorsed Steyer. “We are all lamenting together that utilities have way too much power.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>PG&E spends big\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Steyer is leading with a bold promise: a 25% drop in electricity rates. He has paraded that vow in town halls, candidate debates and unceasing television advertisements. On Valentine’s Day, Steyer \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGv3mhkKRPQ\">released\u003c/a> a “break-up message” video outside a PG&E substation in San Francisco in which he called out the company’s CEO, Patti Poppe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer’s broadsides against the electric giants caught the eye of utility leadership — particularly after former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign imploded \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">amid sexual assault allegations\u003c/a>, making the possibility of a Steyer victory more realistic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pedro Pizarro, the CEO of SoCal Edison’s parent company, said on an April earnings call that he did not see any “fact basis” to Steyer’s promise of a 25% rate cut.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11943199\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11943199\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Blue trucks with 'pg and e' logo on them sit parked in a lot with the white and black blurry pattern of a fence in the foreground\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/RS34908_P1100952-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E trucks sit inside a Mission District facility owned by the utility. \u003ccite>(Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We have been very pointed about taking on things that are not connected to fact like those, and being outspoken about them,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E has gone further — emerging as the top anti-Steyer spender in the closing weeks ahead of the June 2 primary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The utility has contributed $12.6 million to a committee named Californians for Resilient and Affordable Energy, No on Steyer for Governor 2026. That committee has sent $12.5 million to an anti-Steyer independent expenditure committee, called California is Not for Sale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Chamber of Commerce’s political arm, JOBSPAC, sent over $7.7 million to California is Not for Sale — after receiving roughly $2 million from each of the state’s investor-owned utilities in April. A spokesperson for the Chamber said decisions on campaign spending are made by JOBSPAC leadership, not individual donors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11725572\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11725572 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/02/ap_19032839240667-c3ea9c8607ab8c46c7dcbc486a7c0f917e3d5a08-e1549984154270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1438\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man walks past a PG&E sign. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The anti-Steyer super PAC has also drawn contributions from groups representing realtors, homebuilders and correctional officers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The television ads funded by California is Not for Sale make no mention of Steyer’s electricity plan. Instead, they take aim at investments made by Steyer’s former hedge fund in private prison companies and fossil fuel projects. Steyer left the firm, Farallon Capital Management, in 2012.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer’s campaign filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission earlier this month, arguing that PG&E is deliberately obscuring its role as the top funder of the ads by donating to the Resilient and Affordable Energy group instead of directly to California is Not for Sale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E referred a request for an interview for this story to a spokesperson for the super PAC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Super PAC: Opposition ‘bigger than any one policy’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California is Not for Sale spokesperson Amelia Matier said the group’s spending is not being driven by PG&E — or by opposition to any specific proposal from Steyer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is bigger than any one policy,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Matier argued the connective thread between the businesses spending against Steyer is a shared lack of faith that someone without any government experience could govern the world’s fourth-largest economy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075623\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12075623 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260306-TOM-STEYER-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tom Steyer speaks with Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos on Political Breakdown at KQED in San Francisco on March 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The group of people behind the IE just don’t think he’d be a good governor,” she said. “He doesn’t have the experience and know-how, and he wants to make everybody else the big corporate bogeyman — but the reality is that’s him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The $12.6 million PG&E has spent against Steyer is hardly a financial avalanche in the context of costly California campaigns. The utility spent over $46 million to support a single initiative, Proposition 16, a failed 2010 measure that would have made it harder for cities and counties to create local power providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the anti-Steyer spending marks PG&E’s largest such outlay in a governor’s race, according to \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1007836&view=contributions&session=1999\">online filings\u003c/a> with the California secretary of state’s office, which date back to 1999.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In splashy television ads, Steyer has declared that he will “bust” the utilities and “break up” their power. But he is not proposing to end California’s current structure of electricity regulation, in which power companies are traded on Wall Street and entitled to a guaranteed rate of return on capital investments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m happy to have investor-owned,” Steyer said during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075769/tom-steyer-lays-out-vision-for-a-more-affordable-california-in-run-for-governor\">an interview\u003c/a> on KQED’s Political Breakdown. “My issue is we are not regulating them right.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A plan to ‘stop their gravy trains’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Much of Steyer’s electricity agenda is built on appointments he is eyeing for the five-member California Public Utilities Commission. The next governor will appoint two commissioners in January and replace three others over the course of their first term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CPUC has been at the center of bitter fights between utilities and ratepayer advocates over \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910175/california-rooftop-solar-is-at-a-crossroads\">rooftop solar\u003c/a> benefits, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1992639/california-regulators-approve-adding-24-fixed-fee-to-utility-bills\">structure of electricity bills\u003c/a> and wildfire-related spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Former CPUC President Loretta Lynch, a frequent agency critic, said regulators have not properly scrutinized utility spending, which has resulted in higher bills for customers. Steyer could bring the first change to that dynamic in decades, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033400\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12033400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/P1100970_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E utility poles in the Mission District on Jan. 27, 2019. \u003ccite>(Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s not surprising if you look at it that way that the utilities are going all out to fight the candidates who are going to stop their gravy trains,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer said he will appoint commissioners who push the utilities to more quickly connect new customers to the grid (spreading the system’s fixed costs more broadly) and incentivize the power providers to spend on solar and battery storage, instead of building expensive new transmission lines and substations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most threatening proposal for California power companies is Steyer’s call for a cut in utility profits, said Wara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The return on equity, set by the CPUC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/electric-costs/cost-of-capital\">currently sits\u003c/a> at roughly 10% for PG&E, SoCal Edison and SDG&E. The rate represents the profit that utilities are authorized to earn — and collect from ratepayers — on shareholder-funded infrastructure investments.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Utilities argue that a healthy return on equity is necessary to attract capital and fairly compensate shareholders for the risk of owning power companies that could face massive liability and even bankruptcy if their equipment sparks a wildfire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those guaranteed profit rates have remained steady even at times when borrowing costs across the economy have declined. Utility critics point to research showing that elevated rates \u003ca href=\"https://haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/WP329.pdf\">create a perverse incentive\u003c/a> for electric companies to pursue costly investments in order to recoup the highest return — all at inflated cost to the customer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A former economist for the parent company of SDG&E \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-12-18/state-regulators-vote-to-keep-utility-profits-high-angering-customers\">estimated\u003c/a> that reducing the return on equity to 6% would save customers $6.1 billion annually.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer has floated the idea of reducing the rate of return by 2 percentage points.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If that could be accomplished, there is a significant potential savings for California electricity customers,” Wara said. “Of course [utilities] object to that — it would be crazy if they didn’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Wara cautioned that a cut to utility profits is not without risk. If California lowers its rate of return and other states do not, shareholders could decide to invest in utilities in parts of the country offering higher profits without wildfire risk. With less cash on hand, California utilities could face higher borrowing costs that, in turn, would raise bills for ratepayers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is how investors in that market respond,” Wara said. “Do they take their money elsewhere? Or do they think these three [California utility] stocks are too big not to have in their utility portfolio?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Difficult tradeoffs\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Others see an imperiousness in Steyer’s broadsides against the utilities — a belief that complex reforms can be pushed through without compromise or tradeoffs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bill Dodd, a former state senator who worked extensively on utility legislation, has had a recurring question as he’s watched Steyer’s ads promising lower electricity rates: “How the hell is he going to do that?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dodd argued that many of the cost pressures facing utilities and their ratepayers are a result of climate change, as hotter temperatures and shorter windows of precipitation have lengthened California’s fire season. No matter who is governor, power companies will need to spend money to trim trees and bury power lines, while setting aside billions of dollars to pay claims arising from future wildfires caused by their equipment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/043006TOMSTEYER_GH_009-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during a town hall event on April 30, 2026, in San José. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And while governors typically enjoy great sway over state agencies, the commissioners Steyer appoints to the CPUC will still be bound by state law requiring utility rates to be “just and reasonable” — balancing affordability with the need to attract shareholder investment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The bottom line is even when you appoint members of the CPUC, they are still taking an oath to the state of California,” Dodd said. “So I don’t think it’s as easy to get done as just [saying] ‘I’m going to replace everybody.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steyer’s campaign said he will look for commissioners with a shared vision for regulating the state’s investor-owned utilities.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Complicating matters, Californians’ desire for rate relief exists alongside their expectations of reliable service and wildfire safety. Steyer’s electricity plan promises to “strengthen safety, bolster reliability, and lower prices.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard for me to imagine that we can achieve all of those three things at once,” said Meredith Fowlie, faculty director at UC Berkeley’s Energy Institute at Haas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ongoing utility investments to prevent wildfires are likely to keep electricity prices elevated: The CPUC is \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/office-of-governmental-affairs-division/reports/2025/2025-sb-695-report_093025.pdf\">projecting\u003c/a> rate increases through 2028 of roughly 6% for PG&E and SDG&E and around 7% for SoCal Edison, compared with an assumed inflation rate of 2.6%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But lowering bills by reducing spending on wildfire mitigation could require the state to accept a higher tolerance for catastrophic blazes. And while strategies such as planned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11891810/pge-power-shutoffs-are-affecting-thousands-again-heres-when-they-can-expect-to-get-it-back\">power outages\u003c/a> could help avoid those fires at a relatively low cost, they bring disruption to the daily lives of Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we decide to focus on reducing rates, I think we’re going to have to trade off reliability and tolerate more wildfire risk,” Fowlie said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and members of the Legislature have spent much of the last year weighing those tradeoffs. In some ways, Steyer would be showing up in the second act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Legislation moving through the Senate this year would \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB905\">reduce\u003c/a> utility profits and tap the state budget to pay for certain investments currently funded by ratepayers. And a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cawildfirefund.com/sb-254-natural-catastrophe-resilience-study\">state report\u003c/a> on resilience to natural catastrophes released last month could serve as the starting point for negotiations this summer around reforms to wildfire liability and California’s home insurance market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So I think if I was a utility, I would see [Steyer] as signaling that he will continue along this path,” Fowlie said. “And continuing along that path could have implications for how they’re able to conduct their business.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Chad Bianco Pitches Deregulation and a Focus on Fraud at KQED Governor Town Hall",
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"content": "\u003cp>Riverside County Sheriff \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081096/riverside-county-sheriff-chad-bianco-on-his-faith-cutting-taxes-and-ballot-seizure\">Chad Bianco\u003c/a>, who has held on as a contender in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/2026-governors-race\">race for California governor\u003c/a>, laid out a deregulatory agenda at a KQED town hall on Monday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Day one priority is immediately making our lives better,” the Republican sheriff said. “There are so many things that are hampering that, that are making our lives difficult, and the majority of them are regulatory.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When pressed for specifics, Bianco said he would aim to lower gasoline prices by eliminating the state gas tax and regulatory fees at the pump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco has consistently polled in the double digits, even as his numbers dip approaching the wide-open June 2 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083839/what-is-californias-jungle-primary-and-why-does-it-matter-so-much-for-the-governors-race\">primary election\u003c/a>. Despite being a longtime Donald Trump supporter, Bianco lost the president’s endorsement \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">to Steve Hilton\u003c/a> last month — and on Monday, he warned that the former Fox News host’s lack of elected experience should concern voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To be very frank, he’s for me more dangerous than the other Democrats that are running because we have an example of what they’ll do,” Bianco said. “But with him, he’s always behind the scenes. So he’s never run for elected office, he’s never had an elected office that there’s proof of concept with. And that really is what separates me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco also took questions from Bay Area residents on public schools, housing shortages, road conditions, government fraud, the homeowner insurance crisis and immigration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are three highlights from the town hall, moderated by KQED’s Marisa Lagos:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A vow to end sanctuary policy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bianco was raised in a military family in Utah and moved in 1989 to California, where he’s spent more than three decades in law enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said public safety should be the number one priority for the governor and took aim at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016037/california-is-a-sanctuary-state-how-much-protection-will-that-give-immigrants-from-trumps-deportation-plans\">the state’s sanctuary policies\u003c/a>, which he said have made California less safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Vus2mYPQ4\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco argued that if local law enforcement is barred from coordinating with U.S. immigration enforcement about people in their custody, federal agents are forced to take their enforcement operations into communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since Trump took office, he said, immigrants’ trust in law enforcement has waned, leading to a “drastic decrease in calls for service” from them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re not reporting crime anymore because the media, the politicians and everything else have now convinced them that deputies and police officers are the enemy and you have to avoid us,” he said. “And now we know they are being victimized, and they’re afraid to report it to us. That is a failure of politicians.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If elected governor, Bianco said he would eliminate sanctuary policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It absolutely must be taken away because it makes us less safe,” he said. “It doesn’t make me safer. It doesn’t make you safer. And it does nothing to prevent or keep safe people who are in this country illegally.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Less regulation, more homes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bianco kept returning to his promise to reduce government regulation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Breanna Shaw, a student at San Francisco State University, said she’s been unhoused or housing-insecure her whole life. She asked Bianco how he would “address the growing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/64314/unhoused-students-face-unique-challenges-how-can-schools-help\">student housing insecurity\u003c/a> and its effect on our educated workforce.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBSOWwP4rFg\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco blamed California’s regulatory environment, saying it takes three to five years to build a home in the state, compared with 90 days elsewhere. Much of the price of a home, he said, goes toward recovering fees and permits, driving builders away from affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are no homes, affordable homes, for kids or first-time buyers,” he said. “That’s not like that in any other state. It’s only California because of the regulatory environment. And as the governor, I can remove that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Allegations of waste, fraud and abuse\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bianco said California has “never had a money problem,” but instead has a “horrific spending problem and a lack-of-accountability problem.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rose Usher, a disabled senior who could not make it to the event, submitted a question in advance about government fraud, saying it concerns her because it reduces the funding and availability of services she relies on. She asked what Bianco would do about issues like senior housing fraud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1K0MSe6EmA\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In response, Bianco said he would audit “every single dollar” that flows from the governor’s budget for fraud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our own state Finance [Department] has said that we are the most corrupt government in the country as far as fraud, waste and abuse is concerned because we do nothing to track fraud, find fraud, stop fraud, and we just keep letting it happen,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He went after the state Department of Justice for failing in its responsibility to root out fraud, accusing the department of spending too much of its budget on attorneys instead of investigators.[aside postID=news_12083839 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3319_1_qed.jpg']“Life should not be about suing people, it should be about going and finding the fraud,” Bianco said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco’s focus on fraud has extended beyond state spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In March, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080702/internal-emails-show-how-fringe-groups-fueled-sheriff-chad-biancos-ballot-seizure\">seized hundreds of thousands of ballots\u003c/a> from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, launching an investigation into allegations of election fraud in the November special election on Proposition 50.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Bianco ignored objections to the investigation from state Attorney General Rob Bonta, the California Supreme Court in April ordered him to halt the investigation and took up Bonta’s case, questioning whether the seizure and investigation were lawful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Here’s the dishonesty from the attorney general: They want you to believe I did something wrong,” Bianco said. “There is absolutely nothing wrong of what I did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco told \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/07/chad-bianco-riverside-ballot-seizure/\">the \u003cem>Washington Post\u003c/em>\u003c/a> he would also consider seizing ballots in the primary election if there are allegations of misconduct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "Chad Bianco Pitches Deregulation and a Focus on Fraud at KQED Governor Town Hall | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Riverside County Sheriff \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081096/riverside-county-sheriff-chad-bianco-on-his-faith-cutting-taxes-and-ballot-seizure\">Chad Bianco\u003c/a>, who has held on as a contender in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/2026-governors-race\">race for California governor\u003c/a>, laid out a deregulatory agenda at a KQED town hall on Monday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Day one priority is immediately making our lives better,” the Republican sheriff said. “There are so many things that are hampering that, that are making our lives difficult, and the majority of them are regulatory.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When pressed for specifics, Bianco said he would aim to lower gasoline prices by eliminating the state gas tax and regulatory fees at the pump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco has consistently polled in the double digits, even as his numbers dip approaching the wide-open June 2 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083839/what-is-californias-jungle-primary-and-why-does-it-matter-so-much-for-the-governors-race\">primary election\u003c/a>. Despite being a longtime Donald Trump supporter, Bianco lost the president’s endorsement \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">to Steve Hilton\u003c/a> last month — and on Monday, he warned that the former Fox News host’s lack of elected experience should concern voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To be very frank, he’s for me more dangerous than the other Democrats that are running because we have an example of what they’ll do,” Bianco said. “But with him, he’s always behind the scenes. So he’s never run for elected office, he’s never had an elected office that there’s proof of concept with. And that really is what separates me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco also took questions from Bay Area residents on public schools, housing shortages, road conditions, government fraud, the homeowner insurance crisis and immigration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are three highlights from the town hall, moderated by KQED’s Marisa Lagos:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A vow to end sanctuary policy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bianco was raised in a military family in Utah and moved in 1989 to California, where he’s spent more than three decades in law enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said public safety should be the number one priority for the governor and took aim at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016037/california-is-a-sanctuary-state-how-much-protection-will-that-give-immigrants-from-trumps-deportation-plans\">the state’s sanctuary policies\u003c/a>, which he said have made California less safe.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/1-Vus2mYPQ4'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/1-Vus2mYPQ4'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Bianco argued that if local law enforcement is barred from coordinating with U.S. immigration enforcement about people in their custody, federal agents are forced to take their enforcement operations into communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since Trump took office, he said, immigrants’ trust in law enforcement has waned, leading to a “drastic decrease in calls for service” from them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re not reporting crime anymore because the media, the politicians and everything else have now convinced them that deputies and police officers are the enemy and you have to avoid us,” he said. “And now we know they are being victimized, and they’re afraid to report it to us. That is a failure of politicians.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If elected governor, Bianco said he would eliminate sanctuary policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It absolutely must be taken away because it makes us less safe,” he said. “It doesn’t make me safer. It doesn’t make you safer. And it does nothing to prevent or keep safe people who are in this country illegally.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Less regulation, more homes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bianco kept returning to his promise to reduce government regulation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Breanna Shaw, a student at San Francisco State University, said she’s been unhoused or housing-insecure her whole life. She asked Bianco how he would “address the growing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/64314/unhoused-students-face-unique-challenges-how-can-schools-help\">student housing insecurity\u003c/a> and its effect on our educated workforce.”\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/GBSOWwP4rFg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/GBSOWwP4rFg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Bianco blamed California’s regulatory environment, saying it takes three to five years to build a home in the state, compared with 90 days elsewhere. Much of the price of a home, he said, goes toward recovering fees and permits, driving builders away from affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are no homes, affordable homes, for kids or first-time buyers,” he said. “That’s not like that in any other state. It’s only California because of the regulatory environment. And as the governor, I can remove that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Allegations of waste, fraud and abuse\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bianco said California has “never had a money problem,” but instead has a “horrific spending problem and a lack-of-accountability problem.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rose Usher, a disabled senior who could not make it to the event, submitted a question in advance about government fraud, saying it concerns her because it reduces the funding and availability of services she relies on. She asked what Bianco would do about issues like senior housing fraud.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/t1K0MSe6EmA'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/t1K0MSe6EmA'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>In response, Bianco said he would audit “every single dollar” that flows from the governor’s budget for fraud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our own state Finance [Department] has said that we are the most corrupt government in the country as far as fraud, waste and abuse is concerned because we do nothing to track fraud, find fraud, stop fraud, and we just keep letting it happen,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He went after the state Department of Justice for failing in its responsibility to root out fraud, accusing the department of spending too much of its budget on attorneys instead of investigators.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Life should not be about suing people, it should be about going and finding the fraud,” Bianco said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco’s focus on fraud has extended beyond state spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In March, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080702/internal-emails-show-how-fringe-groups-fueled-sheriff-chad-biancos-ballot-seizure\">seized hundreds of thousands of ballots\u003c/a> from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, launching an investigation into allegations of election fraud in the November special election on Proposition 50.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Bianco ignored objections to the investigation from state Attorney General Rob Bonta, the California Supreme Court in April ordered him to halt the investigation and took up Bonta’s case, questioning whether the seizure and investigation were lawful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Here’s the dishonesty from the attorney general: They want you to believe I did something wrong,” Bianco said. “There is absolutely nothing wrong of what I did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bianco told \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/07/chad-bianco-riverside-ballot-seizure/\">the \u003cem>Washington Post\u003c/em>\u003c/a> he would also consider seizing ballots in the primary election if there are allegations of misconduct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Nancy Pelosi Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress",
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"headTitle": "Nancy Pelosi Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/nancy-pelosi\">Nancy Pelosi \u003c/a>announced Monday that she is endorsing San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to be her replacement in Congress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know I love this district. I know the Congress and I know Connie. I’m proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan, and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress,” Pelosi said in her much-anticipated endorsement statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Washington, D.C., for nearly 40 years and became one of the nation’s most powerful politicians, will retire in less than a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan immigrated to San Francisco’s Chinatown from Hong Kong as a child and has represented the Richmond District on the Board of Supervisors since 2021.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I remember seeing San Francisco for the first time when I was 13 years old. I did not speak a word of English but I had heard this was a sanctuary city where anything was possible,” Chan said following the announcement. “Today, to be endorsed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to follow her in Congress — I know that is true. That’s San Francisco and that is the city we are fighting for.”[aside postID=news_12083100 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/017_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg']\u003c/span>So far, Chan has secured support from labor groups and other politicians, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she has trailed two of her competitors, also Democrats, in the polls and has raised only a fraction of the war chests they wield. The latest endorsement marks a significant win for Chan and could give her campaign a boost just weeks ahead of the primary, where the top two vote getters will proceed to the general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The other candidates include Sen. Scott Wiener, a state lawmaker and former San Francisco supervisor, as well as Saikat Chakrabarti, a former software engineer who previously worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and as chief of staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener,\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> a moderate Democrat by San Francisco standards, \u003c/span>has nabbed endorsements from the California Democratic Party and politicians, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, South Bay Rep. Sam Liccardo, as well as groups like the San Francisco arm of Yes In My Backyard, a pro-housing development group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chakrabarti, a more progressive candidate, has positioned himself as an outsider in the race, looking to change the political establishment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I decided to run for Congress last year against Nancy Pelosi because I know that we need a new generation of leadership to do more than just stop Trump,” Chakrabarti said in a statement about Pelosi’s endorsement. “Our strategy has never been to win the endorsements of the establishment I’m running against — it’s been to win the votes of people directly.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069070\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069070\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, a candidate for California’s 11th Congressional District, participates in a forum with other candidates at UC Law San Francisco on Jan. 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Neither Sanders nor Ocasio-Cortez, two prominent political figures he often cites his work with, has shown public support for his largely self-funded campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I am grateful and humbled by the support I’ve received from thousands of San Franciscans who have joined this campaign,” Chan said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> “Speaker Emerita Pelosi has shown by example what we can do when we stand together and we will now fight to make sure our beloved city remains a place of opportunity for all San Franciscans, and the conscience of our nation.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The former Speaker of the House is endorsing Chan, a San Francisco supervisor who has amassed labor support, to replace her in Congress when she retires.",
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"title": "Nancy Pelosi Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress | KQED",
"description": "The former Speaker of the House is endorsing Chan, a San Francisco supervisor who has amassed labor support, to replace her in Congress when she retires.",
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"headline": "Nancy Pelosi Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/nancy-pelosi\">Nancy Pelosi \u003c/a>announced Monday that she is endorsing San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to be her replacement in Congress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know I love this district. I know the Congress and I know Connie. I’m proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan, and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress,” Pelosi said in her much-anticipated endorsement statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Washington, D.C., for nearly 40 years and became one of the nation’s most powerful politicians, will retire in less than a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan immigrated to San Francisco’s Chinatown from Hong Kong as a child and has represented the Richmond District on the Board of Supervisors since 2021.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I remember seeing San Francisco for the first time when I was 13 years old. I did not speak a word of English but I had heard this was a sanctuary city where anything was possible,” Chan said following the announcement. “Today, to be endorsed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to follow her in Congress — I know that is true. That’s San Francisco and that is the city we are fighting for.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>So far, Chan has secured support from labor groups and other politicians, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she has trailed two of her competitors, also Democrats, in the polls and has raised only a fraction of the war chests they wield. The latest endorsement marks a significant win for Chan and could give her campaign a boost just weeks ahead of the primary, where the top two vote getters will proceed to the general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The other candidates include Sen. Scott Wiener, a state lawmaker and former San Francisco supervisor, as well as Saikat Chakrabarti, a former software engineer who previously worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and as chief of staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener,\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> a moderate Democrat by San Francisco standards, \u003c/span>has nabbed endorsements from the California Democratic Party and politicians, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, South Bay Rep. Sam Liccardo, as well as groups like the San Francisco arm of Yes In My Backyard, a pro-housing development group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chakrabarti, a more progressive candidate, has positioned himself as an outsider in the race, looking to change the political establishment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I decided to run for Congress last year against Nancy Pelosi because I know that we need a new generation of leadership to do more than just stop Trump,” Chakrabarti said in a statement about Pelosi’s endorsement. “Our strategy has never been to win the endorsements of the establishment I’m running against — it’s been to win the votes of people directly.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069070\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069070\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260107-SFCongressionalCandidateForum-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, a candidate for California’s 11th Congressional District, participates in a forum with other candidates at UC Law San Francisco on Jan. 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Neither Sanders nor Ocasio-Cortez, two prominent political figures he often cites his work with, has shown public support for his largely self-funded campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I am grateful and humbled by the support I’ve received from thousands of San Franciscans who have joined this campaign,” Chan said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> “Speaker Emerita Pelosi has shown by example what we can do when we stand together and we will now fight to make sure our beloved city remains a place of opportunity for all San Franciscans, and the conscience of our nation.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "xavier-becerra-says-he-will-fight-for-california-who-did-he-fight-for-as-ag",
"title": "Xavier Becerra Says He Will Fight for California. Who Did He Fight for as AG?",
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"headTitle": "Xavier Becerra Says He Will Fight for California. Who Did He Fight for as AG? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>As California’s attorney general during the first Trump presidency, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a> made headlines as a hero of the Democratic resistance, suing the Trump administration more than 120 times to defend key progressive policies, including the Affordable Care Act, the environment and immigrant and workers rights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But as Becerra rises to the top of the Democratic field for governor, critics say that on some issues closer to home, he sided with powerful interest groups, including law enforcement and fossil fuel companies — and that on housing, he was as likely to use his power as attorney general to block development as to push for more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As attorney general, Becerra declined to investigate oil companies accused of misleading investors and the public on climate change. And perhaps most notably, Becerra’s office went to court to fight against the release of police misconduct records following California’s passage of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11695714/new-state-laws-reduce-secrecy-around-police-misconduct-shootings\">a landmark transparency law\u003c/a> — and once threatened journalists with criminal charges for possessing records his office had sent them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Xavier Becerra just seems to reflexively have been against any of these measures to improve transparency into police records,” said Jason Paladino, one of the reporters threatened by Becerra’s office. “When you look at the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2019/02/xavier-becerra-police-accountability-progressives/\">one of his major backers throughout his campaigns has been the police unions\u003c/a>, it’s hard to not make that connection that he’s got this powerful constituency in the state, which he feels somewhat beholden to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a characterization that Becerra and his supporters reject. Jonathan Underland, a spokesperson for his campaign, said Becerra has “always made decisions based on protecting Californians and defending the law, not on politics or who supported his campaigns.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082334\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082334 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mark Murphy, center left, and friend Kimberley J. Rodler, hold handmade signs in support of Xavier Becerra’s gubernatorial bid during a campaign event at Mount Diablo High School in Concord on April 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Those close to Becerra when he was attorney general paint a picture of a hardworking, principled leader who came into office prepared to push back on President Donald Trump and protect Californians — and whose views on issues including the environment and housing were shaped by his upbringing as the son of working-class immigrants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not everyone was aggressive in those early days [of Trump],” said Amanda Renteria, who served as Becerra’s chief operating officer for his first year as attorney general. “He really was like, nope, we know what’s coming at us and we’re gonna be ready … from the first conversation I had, he had a real insight about what it meant to have a Trump administration and be in the state of California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra surged in the polls after the exit of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who suspended his campaign in April \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">amid sexual assault allegations\u003c/a> he has denied.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A complicated record in California\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The attorney general’s office has launched three California governors and is perhaps the position in state government most analogous to the top job: attorneys general confront many of the same policy challenges a governor faces, from housing and homelessness to public safety and the environment, and they oversee a staff of more than 5,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The record Becerra built in Sacramento, particularly on three issues where California’s next governor will face immediate tests — police accountability; climate and the oil industry; and housing — offers the clearest window into how he might actually govern, and whose interests he would protect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet much of \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/us/politics/xavier-becerra-migrant-children.html\">the scrutiny of Becerra’s record\u003c/a> since he surged in the crowded field has centered on his time leading the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11779670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11779670 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in August announcing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s so-called “public charge” rule. A federal judge in California sided with them on Friday.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in August 2019 announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s so-called “public charge” rule. A federal judge in California sided with them. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As California continues to face hostility from a second Trump administration, those federal fights he took on as attorney general are newly relevant — and Becerra has framed himself as the best person to wage them. But on other issues, critics say Becerra struck a cautious tone and was unwilling to buck the status quo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes environmentalists’ critiques of how he handled the fossil fuel industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His time as attorney general was a story of what he didn’t do,” said Kassie Siegel, climate political director at the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “He did sue the Trump administration 120 times, but he didn’t do the things his successor did that were needed and that he was called on to do.”[aside label=\"From the 2026 Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/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]Melanie Fontes Rainer spent nine years working for Becerra, first in the attorney general’s office and then when he was the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Fontes Rainer, who led a healthcare unit as an assistant attorney general, said Becerra had the foresight when he was appointed attorney general to create that new unit, which focused exclusively on healthcare policy and was able to lead California’s fight against Trump’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At that point, nobody had sued the president in this manner and had necessarily taken on this national role in protecting, whether it was national civil rights or national healthcare,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The expertise in that healthcare unit allowed California to be a leader in other areas, Fontes Rainer said, such as successful actions \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-announces-573-million-nationwide-settlement-mckinsey\">against companies involved in the opioid crisis\u003c/a>. She said Becerra was eager to take on important, progressive issues: \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-applauds-landmark-supreme-court-decision-daca\">winning on behalf of DACA recipients\u003c/a> at the U.S. Supreme Court; \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-state-unions-employers-and-workers-reach-settlement\">suing Sutter Health\u003c/a> on behalf of patients and workers; \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-takes-action-defend-women%E2%80%99s-constitutional-reproductive\">protecting abortion\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-joins-multistate-coalition-defending-civil-rights-lgbt\"> LGBTQ rights.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He expects you to work your ass off, because he works his ass off,” she said, adding that Becerra is willing to take on powerful interests if the moment calls for it. “He is never gonna be the leader who is all about himself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics, though, say there were clearly some groups that Becerra didn’t want to challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A fight over transparency\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Becerra received heat for several incidents involving law enforcement, including his \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/ag-xavier-becerra-vallejo-shooting-investigation/\">refusal\u003c/a> to investigate a police shooting in Vallejo — a case his successor \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/us/california-attorney-general-sean-monterrosa-shooting\">later pursued\u003c/a> — and his failure to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-jail-snitch-becerra-20190427-story.html\">probe\u003c/a> a jailhouse informant scandal in Orange County that led to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-civil-rights-violations-orange-county-california-district-attorney-s\">federal investigation\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1384331/dl\">settlement\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it was his legal battle against \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB1421\">Senate Bill 1421\u003c/a> that drew the sharpest criticism from within his own party. The state law, passed in 2018 after years of advocacy by civil liberties groups and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/calif-ag-wont-release-police-records-despite-court-ruling-gets-into-testy-exchange-with-senator\">Democratic lawmakers\u003c/a>, made public for the first time the disciplinary records of police officers accused of sexual assault, use of force and other serious misconduct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the law took effect, the attorney general’s office didn’t just \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11723281/california-attorney-general-refuses-to-release-police-misconduct-files-despite-new-law\">refuse to release its own records \u003c/a>— questioning whether the law applied to records created before the law’s passage — it also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11724499/cities-use-state-attorney-general-letter-to-fight-release-of-police-misconduct-files\">sent guidance to law enforcement agencies that critics say gave police departments across California cover to refuse compliance, too.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082916 size-full\" 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 and 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>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/video/article/california-governor-election-xavier-becerra-22240445.php\">recent interviews,\u003c/a> Becerra has continued to defend how he handled the case, saying he didn’t fight for secrecy but rather clarity to ensure his office was following the law. But even after an appeals court ruled against him, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/calif-ag-wont-release-police-records-despite-court-ruling-gets-into-testy-exchange-with-senator\">his office continued to resist\u003c/a>, and the lawsuits dragged on for six years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was just an extreme position to take,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, which successfully sued Becerra and other police agencies, along with media organizations including KQED. “That office really fought tooth and nail to keep many of the records under lock and key.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra’s office shocked legal experts again when it \u003ca href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-attorney-general-threatens-reporters-legal-action-over-public-record/\">sent a letter to two journalists\u003c/a> at UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program ordering them to destroy a list of 12,000 current and former police officers and applicants who had been convicted of crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The list was provided to the reporters by Becerra’s own office and another state agency in response to a public records request. In the letter, the attorney general argued that even possessing the records was a criminal act.[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]“It’s either clear ignorance of a core First Amendment principle, or it’s willful disregard of it. Neither of those, I think reflect very well,” Snyder said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The attorney general never made good on his threats, even after the reporters \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11728957/california-keeps-a-secret-list-of-criminal-cops-but-says-you-cant-have-it\">published their story\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Paladino, one of those reporters, said the letter was concerning for numerous reasons: He argued it showed a hostility toward a free press, a misunderstanding of basic First Amendment law, and a willingness to kowtow to law enforcement groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The legal letter was just completely wrong in its interpretation of the law. And it had real implications for press freedom,” he said. “He was given a bunch of chances to sort of be like, oh, in hindsight, we shouldn’t have sent that letter. And at every turn, he has doubled down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article315566424.html\">a recent interview with the \u003cem>Sacramento Bee\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, Becerra again insisted that he was following the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I simply repeated what the law says. If you are in possession of information that is confidential and you disclose and you make that information public, or you disclose it, you are subject to action for violation of privacy laws,” Becerra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brian Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), one of the state’s top law enforcement lobbying groups, rejected the notion that Becerra took positions in order to score political points with police groups. On the records fight, Marvel said, Becerra simply wanted to make sure the law was on his side before releasing information that could harm an officer’s career.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once the cat’s out of the bag, whether the information is accurate or not, it’s out of the bag,” said Marvel, whose group represents more than 85,000 rank-and-file police officers in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PORAC endorsed two of Becerra’s opponents in the governor’s race, Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Democratic former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. But Marvel said he believes law enforcement would have a positive relationship with a Becerra as governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I wouldn’t say he’s pro-cop, I’d say he’s pro-public safety,” Marvel said. “If ultimately Xavier Becerra becomes governor, I think I absolutely would have an open door.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Friend or foe of Big Oil?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Becerra touts his environmental work as attorney general, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/01/19/california-attorney-general-files-nine-lawsuits-in-one-day-as-trump-leaves-office/\">lawsuits\u003c/a> targeting Trump’s moves to neuter greenhouse gas emission regulations, to undermine the Endangered Species Act, to roll back vehicle emission standards and expand offshore oil drilling. He also \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-establishes-bureau-environmental-justice\">created an office of environmental justice\u003c/a> to protect vulnerable communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the governor’s race, though, he’s been hit by opponents over his ties to oil companies, with billionaire Tom Steyer in particular \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/TomSteyer/status/2048909407577407797\">attacking\u003c/a> Becerra for accepting donations from the industry, including Chevron’s $39,200 donation to his gubernatorial campaign, the maximum allowed by law. In response, Underland pushed back on Steyer, who \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/us/tom-steyer-california-governor-coal.html\">invested in fossil fuel companies\u003c/a> decades ago as a hedge fund manager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Xavier Becerra spent his time as attorney general actually fighting the fossil fuel companies in court — and winning. Unlike Tom Steyer, Becerra didn’t write them checks. He took them to court and won,” Underland said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069982\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12069982 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An oil pumpjack stands idle near homes as people walk with dogs on Feb. 9, 2023, in Signal Hill, California. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But the questions about Becerra’s relationship with oil companies are unlikely to wane. Last week, the oil drilling company California Resources Corporation \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1490885&view=late1\">contributed $500,000 to an independent expenditure committee \u003c/a>that is supporting Becerra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier, as attorney general, Becerra angered environmental activists when he \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-becerra-exxonmobil-climate-change-schneiderman-20170530-story.html\">stayed mum\u003c/a> on an investigation into ExxonMobil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra’s predecessor, Kamala Harris, reportedly \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11304131/bay-area-reps-call-on-state-ag-to-investigate-exxonmobil-oil-industry-over-climate-change\">launched\u003c/a> the \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-exxon-global-warming-20160120-story.html\">investigation\u003c/a> into whether the company lied to investors about the links between fossil fuels and global warming. Becerra never addressed the investigation when he was attorney general, and did not file suit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Becerra’s successor, Attorney General Rob Bonta, did \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-lawsuit-against-oil-and-gas-companies\">sue ExxonMobil and four other oil companies\u003c/a> on similar grounds. That \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/FINAL%209-15%20COMPLAINT.pdf\">suit\u003c/a> alleges that the oil companies have known for decades about the risks of fossil fuels but denied or downplayed those issues, and seeks to make them pay into a fund to help mitigate the effects of climate change in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s one of three dozen lawsuits like it filed by cities, counties and states in recent years, said Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076853\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12076853 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265237194-scaled-e1778026995886.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1211\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">High gas prices are listed at a Chevron gas station in Los Angeles on March 9, 2026, as gasoline prices surge amid the ongoing war with Iran. \u003ccite>(Frederic J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When he was attorney general, Becerra’s office did \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-files-brief-support-lawsuit-oakland-and-san-francisco\">support\u003c/a> some of those local lawsuits, but Siegel said he should have gone further.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Center for Biological Diversity gave Becerra a C+ on its environmental scorecard, noting campaign contributions from oil companies and his opposition to a proposed state law that would make fossil fuel companies pay for the effects of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Siegel also pointed to Becerra’s answer in a recent debate, where he said he \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/california/2026/05/07/becerra-villaraigosa-spar-in-debate-on-migrants/89972962007/\">would support opening up oil drilling again in Kern County \u003c/a>— something he had \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-slams-trump-administration-plan-sell-seven-oil-and-gas\">opposed as attorney general\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to put all the pieces together,” she said. “The environmental consequences of more oil drilling in California would be massive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra didn’t shy away from the issue when \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/live/6doKjDbdjQk?t=3688s\">asked by KQED’s Scott Shafer\u003c/a> why he accepted donations from Chevron and whether he would hold big companies like them accountable as governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082062\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082062\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, speaks during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Becerra noted that there were several lawsuits he \u003cspan style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">\u003ca href=\"https://stateimpactcenter.org/ag-work/ag-actions/four-ags-filed-lawsuit-challenging-restart-federal-coal-leasing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">filed\u003c/a>\u003c/span> or \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-joins-lawsuit-block-blm-offering-fossil-fuel-industries\">joined\u003c/a> as attorney general against fossil fuel companies. He also talked about how many people companies like Chevron employ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Chevron — that’s the problem with politics — they’re not the bad guy,” Becerra said. “Does everybody here drive an electric vehicle? You need Chevron, I need Chevron, my people of the state of California need Chevron.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Renteria said voters shouldn’t assume that just because her former boss isn’t writing off big corporations that he won’t fight for the little guy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By nature, he’s like this protector,” she said, adding that he has a natural aversion to anyone “bullying or taking advantage” of people, and will do everything he can to fight on their behalf.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Building less, blocking more\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>But on one of the biggest issues facing the state — the need for more housing — critics say Becerra didn’t show that type of aggression as attorney general, instead seeming more interested in blocking housing developments than helping push market-rate development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2021, for example, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-18/ag-becerra-challenges-housing-projects-in-wildfire-areas\">joined two lawsuits\u003c/a> to halt developments in San Diego County, saying they were in wildfire zones and didn’t include enough affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier, in 2019, Becerra \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2019/01/25/california-sues-huntington-beach-using-new-housing-law/\">sued Huntington Beach\u003c/a> for refusing to add state-mandated low-income housing to its local housing plan, and in 2020, he \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-files-intervene-lawsuit-protect-california%E2%80%99s-affordable\">joined a lawsuit\u003c/a> to ensure that cities comply with state affordable housing laws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073370\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Construction is underway on an affordable housing apartment building at 2550 Irving St. in San Francisco’s Sunset District on May 19, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Becerra points to those lawsuits as evidence of his commitment to ensuring local governments both built more housing in general and affordable housing in particular — and that they complied with state laws mandating more construction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the campaign trail this year, Becerra has stressed the state’s housing shortage as a key driver of affordability and promised to use the governor’s office to eliminate hurdles — including aggressively going after cities and counties that aren’t building enough. He has also pledged to declare a state of emergency around housing and embed his own housing experts in agencies across the state government to help remove obstacles to building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Laura Foote, executive director of the pro-housing group YIMBY Action, said she gives Becerra credit for appearing more interested in the issue as a candidate than he did as attorney general, a shift that matches the state’s overall political evolution on the issue.[aside postID=news_12083839 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3319_1_qed.jpg']“I think that now there’s sort of a greater recognition that the overall housing shortage is damaging everyone, not just low-income people. He has made that pivot,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But her group, YIMBY Action, which endorsed Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer in the governor’s race, gave Becerra a “C” grade on housing. It noted that when asked about holding cities accountable as attorney general, “he took the opportunity to brag about using CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act), one of the most potent and abused tools of the anti-housing movement, to block a housing development in San Diego.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those lawsuits were successful: After Becerra left the attorney general’s office, Bonta negotiated settlements that led one of the projects to be scrapped entirely; the site, now owned by the state, will be \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-permanent-conservation-san-diego-wildlands\">permanently conserved as open space\u003c/a>. The other proposed project will move forward \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-otay-ranch-village-13-project-settlement-will-reduce\">under a separate settlement\u003c/a>, with thousands of housing units slated for a smaller area than the initial proposal, which will reduce wildfire risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In general, Foote said, Becerra seemed to focus almost exclusively on affordable housing as attorney general, like in the Huntington Beach case, which Huntington Beach settled in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was a good case for them to weigh in, but I think it did reveal in that administration a preference to be really focused on subsidized affordable housing and pushing back on explicit discriminatory things as opposed to getting involved in the larger housing supply issue overall,” Foote said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044985\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044985\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mockup sits near the stage during a groundbreaking ceremony at 750 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco on June 18, 2025, to mark the start of two affordable housing projects. One will deliver 75 units prioritized for SFUSD and City College educators, and the other at 850 Turk will add 92 family apartments. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But she added that Becerra didn’t have as many tools at his disposal as the current attorney general does, and that he’s promised to focus on accountability if he’s elected governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He has already committed to doing a greater degree of enforcement than we have had under the Gavin Newsom administration. … Is it as much improvement as some of the other candidates have committed to? No, but I think he is already promising to do better than we have done over the last eight years,” Foote said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Becerra leans into his resume on the campaign trail, his opponents are trying to frame that experience as a liability. His campaign is pushing back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The record speaks for itself,” Underland said. “Xavier Becerra took on oil companies, fought cities blocking affordable housing, challenged the Trump administration over environmental rollbacks, and held powerful interests accountable in court.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Xavier Becerra built his national reputation by suing the Trump administration. But as he runs for governor, critics say his record as California’s attorney general is less progressive on policing, Big Oil and housing.",
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"title": "Xavier Becerra Says He Will Fight for California. Who Did He Fight for as AG? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As California’s attorney general during the first Trump presidency, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a> made headlines as a hero of the Democratic resistance, suing the Trump administration more than 120 times to defend key progressive policies, including the Affordable Care Act, the environment and immigrant and workers rights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But as Becerra rises to the top of the Democratic field for governor, critics say that on some issues closer to home, he sided with powerful interest groups, including law enforcement and fossil fuel companies — and that on housing, he was as likely to use his power as attorney general to block development as to push for more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As attorney general, Becerra declined to investigate oil companies accused of misleading investors and the public on climate change. And perhaps most notably, Becerra’s office went to court to fight against the release of police misconduct records following California’s passage of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11695714/new-state-laws-reduce-secrecy-around-police-misconduct-shootings\">a landmark transparency law\u003c/a> — and once threatened journalists with criminal charges for possessing records his office had sent them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Xavier Becerra just seems to reflexively have been against any of these measures to improve transparency into police records,” said Jason Paladino, one of the reporters threatened by Becerra’s office. “When you look at the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2019/02/xavier-becerra-police-accountability-progressives/\">one of his major backers throughout his campaigns has been the police unions\u003c/a>, it’s hard to not make that connection that he’s got this powerful constituency in the state, which he feels somewhat beholden to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a characterization that Becerra and his supporters reject. Jonathan Underland, a spokesperson for his campaign, said Becerra has “always made decisions based on protecting Californians and defending the law, not on politics or who supported his campaigns.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082334\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082334 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260423_-XAVIERBECERRA_EG_004-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mark Murphy, center left, and friend Kimberley J. Rodler, hold handmade signs in support of Xavier Becerra’s gubernatorial bid during a campaign event at Mount Diablo High School in Concord on April 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Those close to Becerra when he was attorney general paint a picture of a hardworking, principled leader who came into office prepared to push back on President Donald Trump and protect Californians — and whose views on issues including the environment and housing were shaped by his upbringing as the son of working-class immigrants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not everyone was aggressive in those early days [of Trump],” said Amanda Renteria, who served as Becerra’s chief operating officer for his first year as attorney general. “He really was like, nope, we know what’s coming at us and we’re gonna be ready … from the first conversation I had, he had a real insight about what it meant to have a Trump administration and be in the state of California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra surged in the polls after the exit of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who suspended his campaign in April \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">amid sexual assault allegations\u003c/a> he has denied.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A complicated record in California\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The attorney general’s office has launched three California governors and is perhaps the position in state government most analogous to the top job: attorneys general confront many of the same policy challenges a governor faces, from housing and homelessness to public safety and the environment, and they oversee a staff of more than 5,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The record Becerra built in Sacramento, particularly on three issues where California’s next governor will face immediate tests — police accountability; climate and the oil industry; and housing — offers the clearest window into how he might actually govern, and whose interests he would protect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet much of \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/us/politics/xavier-becerra-migrant-children.html\">the scrutiny of Becerra’s record\u003c/a> since he surged in the crowded field has centered on his time leading the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11779670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11779670 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in August announcing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s so-called “public charge” rule. A federal judge in California sided with them on Friday.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS38601_GettyImages-1168450763-qut-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in August 2019 announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s so-called “public charge” rule. A federal judge in California sided with them. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As California continues to face hostility from a second Trump administration, those federal fights he took on as attorney general are newly relevant — and Becerra has framed himself as the best person to wage them. But on other issues, critics say Becerra struck a cautious tone and was unwilling to buck the status quo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes environmentalists’ critiques of how he handled the fossil fuel industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His time as attorney general was a story of what he didn’t do,” said Kassie Siegel, climate political director at the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “He did sue the Trump administration 120 times, but he didn’t do the things his successor did that were needed and that he was called on to do.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Melanie Fontes Rainer spent nine years working for Becerra, first in the attorney general’s office and then when he was the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Fontes Rainer, who led a healthcare unit as an assistant attorney general, said Becerra had the foresight when he was appointed attorney general to create that new unit, which focused exclusively on healthcare policy and was able to lead California’s fight against Trump’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At that point, nobody had sued the president in this manner and had necessarily taken on this national role in protecting, whether it was national civil rights or national healthcare,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The expertise in that healthcare unit allowed California to be a leader in other areas, Fontes Rainer said, such as successful actions \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-announces-573-million-nationwide-settlement-mckinsey\">against companies involved in the opioid crisis\u003c/a>. She said Becerra was eager to take on important, progressive issues: \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-applauds-landmark-supreme-court-decision-daca\">winning on behalf of DACA recipients\u003c/a> at the U.S. Supreme Court; \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-state-unions-employers-and-workers-reach-settlement\">suing Sutter Health\u003c/a> on behalf of patients and workers; \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-takes-action-defend-women%E2%80%99s-constitutional-reproductive\">protecting abortion\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-joins-multistate-coalition-defending-civil-rights-lgbt\"> LGBTQ rights.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He expects you to work your ass off, because he works his ass off,” she said, adding that Becerra is willing to take on powerful interests if the moment calls for it. “He is never gonna be the leader who is all about himself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics, though, say there were clearly some groups that Becerra didn’t want to challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A fight over transparency\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Becerra received heat for several incidents involving law enforcement, including his \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/ag-xavier-becerra-vallejo-shooting-investigation/\">refusal\u003c/a> to investigate a police shooting in Vallejo — a case his successor \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/us/california-attorney-general-sean-monterrosa-shooting\">later pursued\u003c/a> — and his failure to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-jail-snitch-becerra-20190427-story.html\">probe\u003c/a> a jailhouse informant scandal in Orange County that led to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-civil-rights-violations-orange-county-california-district-attorney-s\">federal investigation\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1384331/dl\">settlement\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it was his legal battle against \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB1421\">Senate Bill 1421\u003c/a> that drew the sharpest criticism from within his own party. The state law, passed in 2018 after years of advocacy by civil liberties groups and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/calif-ag-wont-release-police-records-despite-court-ruling-gets-into-testy-exchange-with-senator\">Democratic lawmakers\u003c/a>, made public for the first time the disciplinary records of police officers accused of sexual assault, use of force and other serious misconduct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the law took effect, the attorney general’s office didn’t just \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11723281/california-attorney-general-refuses-to-release-police-misconduct-files-despite-new-law\">refuse to release its own records \u003c/a>— questioning whether the law applied to records created before the law’s passage — it also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11724499/cities-use-state-attorney-general-letter-to-fight-release-of-police-misconduct-files\">sent guidance to law enforcement agencies that critics say gave police departments across California cover to refuse compliance, too.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082916 size-full\" 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 and 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>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/video/article/california-governor-election-xavier-becerra-22240445.php\">recent interviews,\u003c/a> Becerra has continued to defend how he handled the case, saying he didn’t fight for secrecy but rather clarity to ensure his office was following the law. But even after an appeals court ruled against him, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/calif-ag-wont-release-police-records-despite-court-ruling-gets-into-testy-exchange-with-senator\">his office continued to resist\u003c/a>, and the lawsuits dragged on for six years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was just an extreme position to take,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, which successfully sued Becerra and other police agencies, along with media organizations including KQED. “That office really fought tooth and nail to keep many of the records under lock and key.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra’s office shocked legal experts again when it \u003ca href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-attorney-general-threatens-reporters-legal-action-over-public-record/\">sent a letter to two journalists\u003c/a> at UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program ordering them to destroy a list of 12,000 current and former police officers and applicants who had been convicted of crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The list was provided to the reporters by Becerra’s own office and another state agency in response to a public records request. In the letter, the attorney general argued that even possessing the records was a criminal act.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“It’s either clear ignorance of a core First Amendment principle, or it’s willful disregard of it. Neither of those, I think reflect very well,” Snyder said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The attorney general never made good on his threats, even after the reporters \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11728957/california-keeps-a-secret-list-of-criminal-cops-but-says-you-cant-have-it\">published their story\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Paladino, one of those reporters, said the letter was concerning for numerous reasons: He argued it showed a hostility toward a free press, a misunderstanding of basic First Amendment law, and a willingness to kowtow to law enforcement groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The legal letter was just completely wrong in its interpretation of the law. And it had real implications for press freedom,” he said. “He was given a bunch of chances to sort of be like, oh, in hindsight, we shouldn’t have sent that letter. And at every turn, he has doubled down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article315566424.html\">a recent interview with the \u003cem>Sacramento Bee\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, Becerra again insisted that he was following the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I simply repeated what the law says. If you are in possession of information that is confidential and you disclose and you make that information public, or you disclose it, you are subject to action for violation of privacy laws,” Becerra said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brian Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), one of the state’s top law enforcement lobbying groups, rejected the notion that Becerra took positions in order to score political points with police groups. On the records fight, Marvel said, Becerra simply wanted to make sure the law was on his side before releasing information that could harm an officer’s career.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once the cat’s out of the bag, whether the information is accurate or not, it’s out of the bag,” said Marvel, whose group represents more than 85,000 rank-and-file police officers in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PORAC endorsed two of Becerra’s opponents in the governor’s race, Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Democratic former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. But Marvel said he believes law enforcement would have a positive relationship with a Becerra as governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I wouldn’t say he’s pro-cop, I’d say he’s pro-public safety,” Marvel said. “If ultimately Xavier Becerra becomes governor, I think I absolutely would have an open door.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Friend or foe of Big Oil?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Becerra touts his environmental work as attorney general, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/01/19/california-attorney-general-files-nine-lawsuits-in-one-day-as-trump-leaves-office/\">lawsuits\u003c/a> targeting Trump’s moves to neuter greenhouse gas emission regulations, to undermine the Endangered Species Act, to roll back vehicle emission standards and expand offshore oil drilling. He also \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-establishes-bureau-environmental-justice\">created an office of environmental justice\u003c/a> to protect vulnerable communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the governor’s race, though, he’s been hit by opponents over his ties to oil companies, with billionaire Tom Steyer in particular \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/TomSteyer/status/2048909407577407797\">attacking\u003c/a> Becerra for accepting donations from the industry, including Chevron’s $39,200 donation to his gubernatorial campaign, the maximum allowed by law. In response, Underland pushed back on Steyer, who \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/us/tom-steyer-california-governor-coal.html\">invested in fossil fuel companies\u003c/a> decades ago as a hedge fund manager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Xavier Becerra spent his time as attorney general actually fighting the fossil fuel companies in court — and winning. Unlike Tom Steyer, Becerra didn’t write them checks. He took them to court and won,” Underland said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069982\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12069982 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/OilDrillingGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An oil pumpjack stands idle near homes as people walk with dogs on Feb. 9, 2023, in Signal Hill, California. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But the questions about Becerra’s relationship with oil companies are unlikely to wane. Last week, the oil drilling company California Resources Corporation \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1490885&view=late1\">contributed $500,000 to an independent expenditure committee \u003c/a>that is supporting Becerra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier, as attorney general, Becerra angered environmental activists when he \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-becerra-exxonmobil-climate-change-schneiderman-20170530-story.html\">stayed mum\u003c/a> on an investigation into ExxonMobil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra’s predecessor, Kamala Harris, reportedly \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11304131/bay-area-reps-call-on-state-ag-to-investigate-exxonmobil-oil-industry-over-climate-change\">launched\u003c/a> the \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-exxon-global-warming-20160120-story.html\">investigation\u003c/a> into whether the company lied to investors about the links between fossil fuels and global warming. Becerra never addressed the investigation when he was attorney general, and did not file suit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Becerra’s successor, Attorney General Rob Bonta, did \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-lawsuit-against-oil-and-gas-companies\">sue ExxonMobil and four other oil companies\u003c/a> on similar grounds. That \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/FINAL%209-15%20COMPLAINT.pdf\">suit\u003c/a> alleges that the oil companies have known for decades about the risks of fossil fuels but denied or downplayed those issues, and seeks to make them pay into a fund to help mitigate the effects of climate change in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s one of three dozen lawsuits like it filed by cities, counties and states in recent years, said Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076853\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12076853 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2265237194-scaled-e1778026995886.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1211\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">High gas prices are listed at a Chevron gas station in Los Angeles on March 9, 2026, as gasoline prices surge amid the ongoing war with Iran. \u003ccite>(Frederic J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When he was attorney general, Becerra’s office did \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-files-brief-support-lawsuit-oakland-and-san-francisco\">support\u003c/a> some of those local lawsuits, but Siegel said he should have gone further.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Center for Biological Diversity gave Becerra a C+ on its environmental scorecard, noting campaign contributions from oil companies and his opposition to a proposed state law that would make fossil fuel companies pay for the effects of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Siegel also pointed to Becerra’s answer in a recent debate, where he said he \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/california/2026/05/07/becerra-villaraigosa-spar-in-debate-on-migrants/89972962007/\">would support opening up oil drilling again in Kern County \u003c/a>— something he had \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-slams-trump-administration-plan-sell-seven-oil-and-gas\">opposed as attorney general\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to put all the pieces together,” she said. “The environmental consequences of more oil drilling in California would be massive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becerra didn’t shy away from the issue when \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/live/6doKjDbdjQk?t=3688s\">asked by KQED’s Scott Shafer\u003c/a> why he accepted donations from Chevron and whether he would hold big companies like them accountable as governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082062\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082062\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/XavierBecerra-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, speaks during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Becerra noted that there were several lawsuits he \u003cspan style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">\u003ca href=\"https://stateimpactcenter.org/ag-work/ag-actions/four-ags-filed-lawsuit-challenging-restart-federal-coal-leasing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">filed\u003c/a>\u003c/span> or \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-joins-lawsuit-block-blm-offering-fossil-fuel-industries\">joined\u003c/a> as attorney general against fossil fuel companies. He also talked about how many people companies like Chevron employ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Chevron — that’s the problem with politics — they’re not the bad guy,” Becerra said. “Does everybody here drive an electric vehicle? You need Chevron, I need Chevron, my people of the state of California need Chevron.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Renteria said voters shouldn’t assume that just because her former boss isn’t writing off big corporations that he won’t fight for the little guy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By nature, he’s like this protector,” she said, adding that he has a natural aversion to anyone “bullying or taking advantage” of people, and will do everything he can to fight on their behalf.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Building less, blocking more\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>But on one of the biggest issues facing the state — the need for more housing — critics say Becerra didn’t show that type of aggression as attorney general, instead seeming more interested in blocking housing developments than helping push market-rate development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2021, for example, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-18/ag-becerra-challenges-housing-projects-in-wildfire-areas\">joined two lawsuits\u003c/a> to halt developments in San Diego County, saying they were in wildfire zones and didn’t include enough affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier, in 2019, Becerra \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2019/01/25/california-sues-huntington-beach-using-new-housing-law/\">sued Huntington Beach\u003c/a> for refusing to add state-mandated low-income housing to its local housing plan, and in 2020, he \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-files-intervene-lawsuit-protect-california%E2%80%99s-affordable\">joined a lawsuit\u003c/a> to ensure that cities comply with state affordable housing laws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073370\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/250519-AffordableHousingFile-04-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Construction is underway on an affordable housing apartment building at 2550 Irving St. in San Francisco’s Sunset District on May 19, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Becerra points to those lawsuits as evidence of his commitment to ensuring local governments both built more housing in general and affordable housing in particular — and that they complied with state laws mandating more construction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the campaign trail this year, Becerra has stressed the state’s housing shortage as a key driver of affordability and promised to use the governor’s office to eliminate hurdles — including aggressively going after cities and counties that aren’t building enough. He has also pledged to declare a state of emergency around housing and embed his own housing experts in agencies across the state government to help remove obstacles to building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Laura Foote, executive director of the pro-housing group YIMBY Action, said she gives Becerra credit for appearing more interested in the issue as a candidate than he did as attorney general, a shift that matches the state’s overall political evolution on the issue.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I think that now there’s sort of a greater recognition that the overall housing shortage is damaging everyone, not just low-income people. He has made that pivot,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But her group, YIMBY Action, which endorsed Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer in the governor’s race, gave Becerra a “C” grade on housing. It noted that when asked about holding cities accountable as attorney general, “he took the opportunity to brag about using CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act), one of the most potent and abused tools of the anti-housing movement, to block a housing development in San Diego.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those lawsuits were successful: After Becerra left the attorney general’s office, Bonta negotiated settlements that led one of the projects to be scrapped entirely; the site, now owned by the state, will be \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-permanent-conservation-san-diego-wildlands\">permanently conserved as open space\u003c/a>. The other proposed project will move forward \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-otay-ranch-village-13-project-settlement-will-reduce\">under a separate settlement\u003c/a>, with thousands of housing units slated for a smaller area than the initial proposal, which will reduce wildfire risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In general, Foote said, Becerra seemed to focus almost exclusively on affordable housing as attorney general, like in the Huntington Beach case, which Huntington Beach settled in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was a good case for them to weigh in, but I think it did reveal in that administration a preference to be really focused on subsidized affordable housing and pushing back on explicit discriminatory things as opposed to getting involved in the larger housing supply issue overall,” Foote said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044985\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044985\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250618-NEWTEACHERHOUSING-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mockup sits near the stage during a groundbreaking ceremony at 750 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco on June 18, 2025, to mark the start of two affordable housing projects. One will deliver 75 units prioritized for SFUSD and City College educators, and the other at 850 Turk will add 92 family apartments. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But she added that Becerra didn’t have as many tools at his disposal as the current attorney general does, and that he’s promised to focus on accountability if he’s elected governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He has already committed to doing a greater degree of enforcement than we have had under the Gavin Newsom administration. … Is it as much improvement as some of the other candidates have committed to? No, but I think he is already promising to do better than we have done over the last eight years,” Foote said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Becerra leans into his resume on the campaign trail, his opponents are trying to frame that experience as a liability. His campaign is pushing back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The record speaks for itself,” Underland said. “Xavier Becerra took on oil companies, fought cities blocking affordable housing, challenged the Trump administration over environmental rollbacks, and held powerful interests accountable in court.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Every registered voter in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> should by now have received their ballot for the state’s June 2 primary election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But why are voters in the East Bay cities of Fremont, Hayward, Livermore and Pleasanton about to receive \u003cem>another \u003c/em>ballot in their mailbox?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s because the sudden resignation of former Rep. Eric Swalwell \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079746/rep-eric-swalwell-says-he-is-resigning-from-congress-amid-sexual-assault-allegations\">following sexual assault allegations\u003c/a> created a vacancy in California’s 14th Congressional District, where these voters live. A special primary election to fill that seat will be held on June 16, just two weeks after California’s regularly scheduled primary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But as a result of California’s monthlong window of early voting, there will be two weeks of overlap between voting in the primary election and special election — meaning thousands of voters in this district might be juggling two different ballots during that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a guide to help East Bay voters sort through the unexpected election wrinkle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhoisrunninginthespecialelectiontoreplaceSwalwell\">Who is running in the special election to replace Swalwell? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IfSwalwellwasmyrepresentativehowcanIcastmyballot\">If Swalwell was my representative, how can I cast my ballot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why is there a special election for Congress in the 14th District?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell decided last year to run for governor instead of seeking another term in Congress. A crowded field of candidates jumped into the primary to succeed him in representing the 14th District — with the top two finishers in the June 2 primary, regardless of party, advancing to the November general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But on April 10, Swalwell was accused of sexual assault by a former staff member in reports published by the\u003cem> San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> and CNN. Since then, more women have come forward with sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which Swalwell has denied.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078891\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078891\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eric Swalwell is interviewed on Political Breakdown by Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer at KQED in San Francisco on April 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On April 12, Swalwell \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079583\">suspended\u003c/a> his campaign for governor. A day later, he announced he was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079746/rep-eric-swalwell-says-he-is-resigning-from-congress-amid-sexual-assault-allegations\">resigning\u003c/a> from Congress — a position he’d have otherwise continued to serve in for the rest of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s departure leaves a vacancy in a district that includes Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton and Union City, and parts of Dublin, Fremont, and San Leandro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On April 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026.04-Special-Election-Proclamation-CA-District-14-SIGNED-1.pdf\">called\u003c/a> a special election to fill the seat as soon as possible during the few months between Swalwell’s resignation and when his East Bay seat would change hands.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why isn’t this special election being held \u003cem>with \u003c/em>the June primary?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First off, combining the special election vote with the June 2 primary would not have been legal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But with an election already underway to succeed Swalwell, Newsom could have chosen to leave the seat open until January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075788\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12075788 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former Rep. Eric Swalwell addresses the press in Hayward on March 9, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Instead, he called the special election within hours of Swalwell’s resignation and scheduled it for Aug. 18, the earliest date allowed under state law, which requires at least 126 days between the governor’s proclamation and an election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this vote to replace Swalwell in the 14th District first needed a \u003cem>primary \u003c/em>election. And since California election rules require a primary to be held nine Tuesdays before the special election, this has resulted in the June 16 primary special election date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With control of the House of Representatives separated by just a handful of votes, Newsom moved quickly to get a representative in the safely Democratic 14th District. For comparison, when Republican Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068742/northern-california-republican-congressman-doug-lamalfa-dies-at-65\">Doug LaMalfa died in January\u003c/a>, Newsom waited 10 days before calling a special election.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhoisrunninginthespecialelectiontoreplaceSwalwell\">\u003c/a>Who is running in the special election to replace Swalwell in his East Bay congressional district?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Eleven candidates are on the special election ballot. State Sen. Aisha Wahab, former BART Director Melissa Hernandez and educator Rakhi Israni are the most notable Democrats in the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also on the ballot: Democrats Alisha Cordes, a business administrator, administrative law judge Sheriene Ridenour and businessman Jot Thiara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Republicans running are real estate investor Wendy Huang, florist Dena Maldonado, businessman Tom Wong and educator Jack Wu. Victor Zevallos, a financial business strategist, is running as an independent.[aside label=\"From the 2026 Voter Guide\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/alameda,Alameda County: Your Voter Guide to Navigate the Candidates and Issues on Your Ballot' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-Voter-Guide-2026-Local-Elections-Alameda-County-1200x1200@2x.png]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What about the ‘regular’ June 2 primary election that was already planned to fill Swalwell’s seat as of January?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hernandez, Huang, Israni, Maldonado and Wahab are also running in a field of nine candidates seeking a full term on the June 2 state primary ballot. Essentially, they want to not only fill Swalwell’s seat in January, but also to start earlier, thanks to the special election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other candidates are only running in the regularly scheduled June 2 primary. You can learn more about the field, their supporters and where they stand on key issues in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/alameda/congress-14th-district\">KQED Primary Voter Guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The June 2 primary will take place under \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064834/how-prop-50-just-rewrote-californias-2026-congressional-map\">new congressional district lines approved by California voters last year through Proposition 50\u003c/a>, while the special election will take place under the current district lines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The differences are subtle: the current district includes all of Castro Valley, while the new district splits the city and takes in a greater number of voters from Dublin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So not all East Bay voters who receive a special election ballot — to decide who’ll fill Swalwell’s seat for several months in 2026 — will get to vote on his long-term replacement.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IfSwalwellwasmyrepresentativehowcanIcastmyballot\">\u003c/a>Swalwell was my representative. How can I cast my ballot in the special election?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>All voters in the 14th District under the current lines will receive a special election ballot in the mail beginning on May 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Voters can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">return or cast their ballots at the same drop boxes and voting locations\u003c/a> already open for the June 2 primary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On June 3, the day after the primary, 28 drop boxes will remain open around the 14th Congressional District for the area’s voters to use, according to Cynthia Cornejo, Alameda County’s interim registrar of voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional vote centers for the special election will open their doors on June 6.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Read more about tips for filling out your vote-by-mail ballot, including how to correct a mistake. \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When does the winner of the special election take office?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If one candidate receives a majority of the votes in the June 16 election, they win the election outright and head to Washington to be sworn into Congress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062766\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12062766 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/GettyImages-2244994619-scaled-e1778879389849.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A voter drops his ballot in a drop box inside of San Francisco City Hall on Nov. 4, 2025 in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But if no candidate receives a majority, the top two finishers advance to a runoff on Aug. 18. Ballots for that runoff would be mailed out to voters in mid-July. The winner of that race will be sworn in with just a couple of months to serve until the term ends in January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The June 16 special election will cost Alameda County approximately $6 million, Cornejo said. If the race heads to a runoff in August, the county would be on the hook for another $6 million in election costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is Swalwell still running for governor?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s name is still on the June 2 primary ballot for governor, even though he has suspended his campaign and disappeared from public view.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s exit from the governor’s race came after the deadline for candidates to remove their names from the ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, the disgraced former Congress member remains one of the 61 names on the ballot for California’s top job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Every registered voter in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> should by now have received their ballot for the state’s June 2 primary election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But why are voters in the East Bay cities of Fremont, Hayward, Livermore and Pleasanton about to receive \u003cem>another \u003c/em>ballot in their mailbox?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s because the sudden resignation of former Rep. Eric Swalwell \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079746/rep-eric-swalwell-says-he-is-resigning-from-congress-amid-sexual-assault-allegations\">following sexual assault allegations\u003c/a> created a vacancy in California’s 14th Congressional District, where these voters live. A special primary election to fill that seat will be held on June 16, just two weeks after California’s regularly scheduled primary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But as a result of California’s monthlong window of early voting, there will be two weeks of overlap between voting in the primary election and special election — meaning thousands of voters in this district might be juggling two different ballots during that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a guide to help East Bay voters sort through the unexpected election wrinkle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhoisrunninginthespecialelectiontoreplaceSwalwell\">Who is running in the special election to replace Swalwell? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IfSwalwellwasmyrepresentativehowcanIcastmyballot\">If Swalwell was my representative, how can I cast my ballot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why is there a special election for Congress in the 14th District?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell decided last year to run for governor instead of seeking another term in Congress. A crowded field of candidates jumped into the primary to succeed him in representing the 14th District — with the top two finishers in the June 2 primary, regardless of party, advancing to the November general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But on April 10, Swalwell was accused of sexual assault by a former staff member in reports published by the\u003cem> San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> and CNN. Since then, more women have come forward with sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which Swalwell has denied.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078891\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078891\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260406-ERIC-SWALWELL-ON-PB-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eric Swalwell is interviewed on Political Breakdown by Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer at KQED in San Francisco on April 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On April 12, Swalwell \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079583\">suspended\u003c/a> his campaign for governor. A day later, he announced he was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079746/rep-eric-swalwell-says-he-is-resigning-from-congress-amid-sexual-assault-allegations\">resigning\u003c/a> from Congress — a position he’d have otherwise continued to serve in for the rest of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s departure leaves a vacancy in a district that includes Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton and Union City, and parts of Dublin, Fremont, and San Leandro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On April 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026.04-Special-Election-Proclamation-CA-District-14-SIGNED-1.pdf\">called\u003c/a> a special election to fill the seat as soon as possible during the few months between Swalwell’s resignation and when his East Bay seat would change hands.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why isn’t this special election being held \u003cem>with \u003c/em>the June primary?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First off, combining the special election vote with the June 2 primary would not have been legal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But with an election already underway to succeed Swalwell, Newsom could have chosen to leave the seat open until January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075788\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12075788 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-04-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former Rep. Eric Swalwell addresses the press in Hayward on March 9, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Instead, he called the special election within hours of Swalwell’s resignation and scheduled it for Aug. 18, the earliest date allowed under state law, which requires at least 126 days between the governor’s proclamation and an election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this vote to replace Swalwell in the 14th District first needed a \u003cem>primary \u003c/em>election. And since California election rules require a primary to be held nine Tuesdays before the special election, this has resulted in the June 16 primary special election date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With control of the House of Representatives separated by just a handful of votes, Newsom moved quickly to get a representative in the safely Democratic 14th District. For comparison, when Republican Rep. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068742/northern-california-republican-congressman-doug-lamalfa-dies-at-65\">Doug LaMalfa died in January\u003c/a>, Newsom waited 10 days before calling a special election.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhoisrunninginthespecialelectiontoreplaceSwalwell\">\u003c/a>Who is running in the special election to replace Swalwell in his East Bay congressional district?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Eleven candidates are on the special election ballot. State Sen. Aisha Wahab, former BART Director Melissa Hernandez and educator Rakhi Israni are the most notable Democrats in the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also on the ballot: Democrats Alisha Cordes, a business administrator, administrative law judge Sheriene Ridenour and businessman Jot Thiara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Republicans running are real estate investor Wendy Huang, florist Dena Maldonado, businessman Tom Wong and educator Jack Wu. Victor Zevallos, a financial business strategist, is running as an independent.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What about the ‘regular’ June 2 primary election that was already planned to fill Swalwell’s seat as of January?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hernandez, Huang, Israni, Maldonado and Wahab are also running in a field of nine candidates seeking a full term on the June 2 state primary ballot. Essentially, they want to not only fill Swalwell’s seat in January, but also to start earlier, thanks to the special election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other candidates are only running in the regularly scheduled June 2 primary. You can learn more about the field, their supporters and where they stand on key issues in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/alameda/congress-14th-district\">KQED Primary Voter Guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The June 2 primary will take place under \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064834/how-prop-50-just-rewrote-californias-2026-congressional-map\">new congressional district lines approved by California voters last year through Proposition 50\u003c/a>, while the special election will take place under the current district lines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The differences are subtle: the current district includes all of Castro Valley, while the new district splits the city and takes in a greater number of voters from Dublin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So not all East Bay voters who receive a special election ballot — to decide who’ll fill Swalwell’s seat for several months in 2026 — will get to vote on his long-term replacement.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IfSwalwellwasmyrepresentativehowcanIcastmyballot\">\u003c/a>Swalwell was my representative. How can I cast my ballot in the special election?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>All voters in the 14th District under the current lines will receive a special election ballot in the mail beginning on May 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Voters can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">return or cast their ballots at the same drop boxes and voting locations\u003c/a> already open for the June 2 primary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On June 3, the day after the primary, 28 drop boxes will remain open around the 14th Congressional District for the area’s voters to use, according to Cynthia Cornejo, Alameda County’s interim registrar of voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional vote centers for the special election will open their doors on June 6.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Read more about tips for filling out your vote-by-mail ballot, including how to correct a mistake. \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When does the winner of the special election take office?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If one candidate receives a majority of the votes in the June 16 election, they win the election outright and head to Washington to be sworn into Congress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062766\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12062766 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/GettyImages-2244994619-scaled-e1778879389849.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A voter drops his ballot in a drop box inside of San Francisco City Hall on Nov. 4, 2025 in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But if no candidate receives a majority, the top two finishers advance to a runoff on Aug. 18. Ballots for that runoff would be mailed out to voters in mid-July. The winner of that race will be sworn in with just a couple of months to serve until the term ends in January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The June 16 special election will cost Alameda County approximately $6 million, Cornejo said. If the race heads to a runoff in August, the county would be on the hook for another $6 million in election costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Is Swalwell still running for governor?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s name is still on the June 2 primary ballot for governor, even though he has suspended his campaign and disappeared from public view.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s exit from the governor’s race came after the deadline for candidates to remove their names from the ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, the disgraced former Congress member remains one of the 61 names on the ballot for California’s top job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "am-i-registered-to-vote-california-primary-2026-voting-for-governor-check-voter-registration",
"title": "Primary 2026: Monday Is Your Last Day to Register Online to Vote. What if You Miss It?",
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"headTitle": "Primary 2026: Monday Is Your Last Day to Register Online to Vote. What if You Miss It? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Monday — May 18 — is the last day to register online to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\"> vote in the June 2 state primary election\u003c/a>. It’s also your last chance to \u003cem>re\u003c/em>-register online if you need to update your voter registration details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you miss this deadline, don’t worry. You have several options for registering or re-registering in person all the way through June 2, your last day to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what to know about checking your voter registration, from the May 18 deadline to how to make sure election officials have your correct mailing address. You can also jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Iwanttoregistertovoteforthefirsttime\">I want to register to vote for the first time\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatshouldIdoifIvemovedtoanewaddressorchangedmyname\">What should I do if I’ve moved to a new address or changed my name?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatifIhaventreceivedmyballotyet\">What if I haven’t received my ballot yet?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>I’m almost certain I’m registered to vote … but how can I check?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can check your voter registration status at\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> voterstatus.sos.ca.gov\u003c/a>, which will show whether you’re registered to vote and the address associated with your registration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your voter registration is active and your address and name are up to date, your ballot should have arrived by now. You can use\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> voterstatus.sos.ca.gov\u003c/a> to check when your ballot was mailed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> the Where’s My Ballot?\u003c/a> tool to check whether your ballot was sent out, and read\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060171/ballot-missing-election-2025-hasnt-arrived-yet-replacement\"> our guide on what to do if your ballot never showed up.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What are some reasons I might need to update my voter registration?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Updating your voter registration is also known as “re-registering” to vote — because to update elements of your voter record at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a>, you’ll need to register to vote \u003cem>again\u003c/em> as if you were making a new application.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a general rule, you’ll definitely need to re-register if your name or address has changed. But if registering to vote when you know you’re already registered feels weird, don’t worry: this won’t be seen as you trying to fraudulently register to vote twice or anything like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082778\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082778 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2274165052-scaled-e1778866234143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The June 2 state primary election is approaching quickly. Stay informed with KQED’s voter guide. \u003ccite>(Jay L Clendenin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Because your voter registration is tied to your social security number and your driver’s license/state ID card number, your new voter registration will be matched with your \u003cem>existing\u003c/em> voter registration and your details will be updated. There will also be a section on the form where you can provide any previous addresses and names you’ve been registered to vote under.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to change your party preference, you’ll also need to re-register to do that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For smaller changes, your county may allow you to submit a Voter Action Form by mail or online. For example, if San Francisco residents want to make minor changes to their voter registration, they can use\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfelections.org/tools/regupdate/regupd.php\"> a form from the San Francisco Department of Elections\u003c/a> to determine whether they can do so online. \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#FindyourBayAreacountyelectionsofficeswebsiteandcontactdetails\">Find your Bay Area county elections office’s website and contact details.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You should update your voter registration if:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"WhatshouldIdoifIvemovedtoanewaddressorchangedmyname\">\u003c/a>If you have moved to a new address within California\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your old address is on your voter registration, then your mail-in ballot will automatically be sent to that address — not your new one. Your voter registration will only reflect your new address if you’ve manually updated it or\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions\"> if you’ve updated your address with the DMV.\u003c/a>[aside postID=news_12082074 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/007_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg']Register to vote with your new address at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state says that you can also send a signed letter to your current county elections official to let them know you’ve moved, along with your date of birth and current address. Find your Bay Area county elections office’s website and contact details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you have legally changed your name\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll need to re-register to vote with your new name. One important thing: Before you do that, the Secretary of State recommends that you\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions\"> update your California driver’s license or identification card with the DMV \u003cem>first.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV currently has for you. And if you haven’t updated your signature with the DMV, the signature the agency sends to your county elections office will be the signature for your previous name, not your new one, and your registration will be rejected.\u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/updating-information-on-your-driver-license-or-identification-dl-id-card/\"> Read how to update your signature with the DMV.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you aren’t able to update your details with the DMV first? The state recommends you select “decline” on the application when asked to use your DMV signature to register to vote — but you’ll have to hit “print” and sign the paper application, which you’ll mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Register to vote with your new name at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you haven’t voted in a while\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In general,” the Secretary of State’s office says, you’ll stay registered to vote for as long as you remain at the same address you’re registered with — but “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions\">there are cases in which voter registration can be canceled\u003c/a> if a voter has not voted in several consecutive general elections.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if your ballot hasn’t arrived in May, and you suspect it might be because you haven’t voted in many years, contact your county’s elections office ASAP. Jump straight to our list of Bay Area county elections offices.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When is my last chance to update my voter registration?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you forget to re-register with your new address or name, and your ballot is sent out in May to the wrong address or without your current name, don’t worry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As long as you update your voter registration online at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a> before the May 18 deadline, your county will just cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062372\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A voter drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if things get hectic this month and you miss the May 18 deadline, you can still update your voter registration — you’ll just have to do it in person at that stage. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">Vote centers will open in most Bay Area counties on May 23. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Go to your county elections office or an open voting location and ask to register in person via Same Day Registration (also called conditional registration). You can do this up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Iwanttoregistertovoteforthefirsttime\">\u003c/a>How can I register to vote for the \u003cem>first\u003c/em> time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can register to vote if you’re:[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\u003cul>\n\u003cli>A United States citizen and a resident of California,\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>18 years old or older on Election Day\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>People who are currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction cannot vote or register to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can register to vote online at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a> before the May 18 deadline. After that, you can register to vote in person at your county elections office or an open voting location, where you can register through Same Day Registration (also called conditional registration). You can do this up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re unhoused or have no fixed address, you can still register to vote by describing the place where you spend most of your time, if you don’t have a street address, including cross streets. You can \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">register to vote this way via online application\u003c/a> before May 18, or on the paper voter registration application you can pick up at any Department of Motor Vehicles field office, or many post offices, public libraries, government offices or\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> your county elections office\u003c/a> by request (where you can also use Same Day Registration in person).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatifIhaventreceivedmyballotyet\">\u003c/a>When will my ballot arrive?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Every registered voter in California will automatically receive a ballot in the mail, and by this point, you should have received yours if you were correctly registered to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>May 4 was the deadline for Bay Area counties to \u003cem>start\u003c/em> mailing ballots, though many started several days earlier. This means your ballot will most likely have arrived in early to mid-May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082112\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082112\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can use both\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> voterstatus.sos.ca.gov\u003c/a> and the state’s\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> Where’s My Ballot?\u003c/a> A tool to check whether your ballot has been sent out. And if your ballot is still missing, don’t worry: You have options.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060171/ballot-missing-election-2025-hasnt-arrived-yet-replacement\"> Read our 2025 guide for what to do if your ballot doesn’t show up.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use the ballot to cast your vote, or you can forget it and request a fresh one at a voting location. The one that arrived in the mail will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"FindyourBayAreacountyelectionsofficeswebsiteandcontactdetails\">\u003c/a>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Monday — May 18 — is the last day to register online to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\"> vote in the June 2 state primary election\u003c/a>. It’s also your last chance to \u003cem>re\u003c/em>-register online if you need to update your voter registration details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you miss this deadline, don’t worry. You have several options for registering or re-registering in person all the way through June 2, your last day to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what to know about checking your voter registration, from the May 18 deadline to how to make sure election officials have your correct mailing address. You can also jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Iwanttoregistertovoteforthefirsttime\">I want to register to vote for the first time\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatshouldIdoifIvemovedtoanewaddressorchangedmyname\">What should I do if I’ve moved to a new address or changed my name?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatifIhaventreceivedmyballotyet\">What if I haven’t received my ballot yet?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>I’m almost certain I’m registered to vote … but how can I check?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can check your voter registration status at\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> voterstatus.sos.ca.gov\u003c/a>, which will show whether you’re registered to vote and the address associated with your registration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your voter registration is active and your address and name are up to date, your ballot should have arrived by now. You can use\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> voterstatus.sos.ca.gov\u003c/a> to check when your ballot was mailed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> the Where’s My Ballot?\u003c/a> tool to check whether your ballot was sent out, and read\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060171/ballot-missing-election-2025-hasnt-arrived-yet-replacement\"> our guide on what to do if your ballot never showed up.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What are some reasons I might need to update my voter registration?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Updating your voter registration is also known as “re-registering” to vote — because to update elements of your voter record at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a>, you’ll need to register to vote \u003cem>again\u003c/em> as if you were making a new application.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a general rule, you’ll definitely need to re-register if your name or address has changed. But if registering to vote when you know you’re already registered feels weird, don’t worry: this won’t be seen as you trying to fraudulently register to vote twice or anything like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082778\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082778 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2274165052-scaled-e1778866234143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The June 2 state primary election is approaching quickly. Stay informed with KQED’s voter guide. \u003ccite>(Jay L Clendenin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Because your voter registration is tied to your social security number and your driver’s license/state ID card number, your new voter registration will be matched with your \u003cem>existing\u003c/em> voter registration and your details will be updated. There will also be a section on the form where you can provide any previous addresses and names you’ve been registered to vote under.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to change your party preference, you’ll also need to re-register to do that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For smaller changes, your county may allow you to submit a Voter Action Form by mail or online. For example, if San Francisco residents want to make minor changes to their voter registration, they can use\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfelections.org/tools/regupdate/regupd.php\"> a form from the San Francisco Department of Elections\u003c/a> to determine whether they can do so online. \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#FindyourBayAreacountyelectionsofficeswebsiteandcontactdetails\">Find your Bay Area county elections office’s website and contact details.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You should update your voter registration if:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"WhatshouldIdoifIvemovedtoanewaddressorchangedmyname\">\u003c/a>If you have moved to a new address within California\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your old address is on your voter registration, then your mail-in ballot will automatically be sent to that address — not your new one. Your voter registration will only reflect your new address if you’ve manually updated it or\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions\"> if you’ve updated your address with the DMV.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Register to vote with your new address at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state says that you can also send a signed letter to your current county elections official to let them know you’ve moved, along with your date of birth and current address. Find your Bay Area county elections office’s website and contact details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you have legally changed your name\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll need to re-register to vote with your new name. One important thing: Before you do that, the Secretary of State recommends that you\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions\"> update your California driver’s license or identification card with the DMV \u003cem>first.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV currently has for you. And if you haven’t updated your signature with the DMV, the signature the agency sends to your county elections office will be the signature for your previous name, not your new one, and your registration will be rejected.\u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/updating-information-on-your-driver-license-or-identification-dl-id-card/\"> Read how to update your signature with the DMV.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you aren’t able to update your details with the DMV first? The state recommends you select “decline” on the application when asked to use your DMV signature to register to vote — but you’ll have to hit “print” and sign the paper application, which you’ll mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Register to vote with your new name at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you haven’t voted in a while\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In general,” the Secretary of State’s office says, you’ll stay registered to vote for as long as you remain at the same address you’re registered with — but “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/frequently-asked-questions\">there are cases in which voter registration can be canceled\u003c/a> if a voter has not voted in several consecutive general elections.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if your ballot hasn’t arrived in May, and you suspect it might be because you haven’t voted in many years, contact your county’s elections office ASAP. Jump straight to our list of Bay Area county elections offices.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When is my last chance to update my voter registration?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you forget to re-register with your new address or name, and your ballot is sent out in May to the wrong address or without your current name, don’t worry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As long as you update your voter registration online at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a> before the May 18 deadline, your county will just cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062372\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-33-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A voter drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if things get hectic this month and you miss the May 18 deadline, you can still update your voter registration — you’ll just have to do it in person at that stage. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082074/california-primary-2026-dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide\">Vote centers will open in most Bay Area counties on May 23. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Go to your county elections office or an open voting location and ask to register in person via Same Day Registration (also called conditional registration). You can do this up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Iwanttoregistertovoteforthefirsttime\">\u003c/a>How can I register to vote for the \u003cem>first\u003c/em> time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can register to vote if you’re:\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>A United States citizen and a resident of California,\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>18 years old or older on Election Day\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>People who are currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction cannot vote or register to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can register to vote online at\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> registertovote.ca.gov\u003c/a> before the May 18 deadline. After that, you can register to vote in person at your county elections office or an open voting location, where you can register through Same Day Registration (also called conditional registration). You can do this up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re unhoused or have no fixed address, you can still register to vote by describing the place where you spend most of your time, if you don’t have a street address, including cross streets. You can \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">register to vote this way via online application\u003c/a> before May 18, or on the paper voter registration application you can pick up at any Department of Motor Vehicles field office, or many post offices, public libraries, government offices or\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> your county elections office\u003c/a> by request (where you can also use Same Day Registration in person).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatifIhaventreceivedmyballotyet\">\u003c/a>When will my ballot arrive?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Every registered voter in California will automatically receive a ballot in the mail, and by this point, you should have received yours if you were correctly registered to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>May 4 was the deadline for Bay Area counties to \u003cem>start\u003c/em> mailing ballots, though many started several days earlier. This means your ballot will most likely have arrived in early to mid-May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082112\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082112\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can use both\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> voterstatus.sos.ca.gov\u003c/a> and the state’s\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> Where’s My Ballot?\u003c/a> A tool to check whether your ballot has been sent out. And if your ballot is still missing, don’t worry: You have options.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060171/ballot-missing-election-2025-hasnt-arrived-yet-replacement\"> Read our 2025 guide for what to do if your ballot doesn’t show up.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use the ballot to cast your vote, or you can forget it and request a fresh one at a voting location. The one that arrived in the mail will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"FindyourBayAreacountyelectionsofficeswebsiteandcontactdetails\">\u003c/a>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\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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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"radiolab": {
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},
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"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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