Along with her considerable political talents, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has an unhelpful verbal mannerism in which she talks to people who try her patience with a faintly exasperated tone in her voice. She shares this trait with, among others, former Vice President Al Gore and Sheldon from “The Big...
Water Effort Unites Brown, McCarthy, and Feinstein
The Sacramento Bee reports that two leading Democrats, Gov. Jerry Brown and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, are joining forces with Kevin McCarthy, the most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives, to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for California water projects. Feinstein and McCarthy are aiming to...
A California User’s Guide to Political Polls: Six Easy Tips
Another day, another poll in California. This latest batch of numbers comes from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, which echoes other recent independent polls in showing Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom leading Republican businessman John Cox by a healthy margin in the governor’s race, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein fending...
First Public Poll Shows Tuck Well Ahead of Thurmond
We're in the final days before the election. And, one of the last polls shows separation among candidates for statewide offices and the U.S. Senate. The final Berkeley IGS poll indicates dominant leads in the gubernatorial, state superintendent of public instruction, and Senate races. Also, propositions to repeal the gas...
All Polls Point to Newsom as California's Next Governor
Barring a big rally by John Cox, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will become the next governor of California. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released Wednesday night shows Newsom holding an 11-point lead over Cox among likely voters in the race to succeed Jerry Brown. Newsom, a Democrat, leads...
Cox, De León Close the Gap on Their Bay Area Election Foes
In the race to determine California's next governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom leads Republican John Cox by 12 points in a Public Policy Institute of California poll released Wednesday. Interviews of 1,710 Californians conducted by the PPIC showed Lt. Gov. Newsom of San Francisco with 51 percent support and Cox, a San...
De León Is Progressive Alternative to Feinstein in Senate Race
State Sen. Kevin de León visited Fresno on Tuesday (Aug. 1) and talked about his bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat. In this edition of Take Five, de León answered questions on these topics: — How he would represent the Valley's interests in the Senate. — The Donald Trump...
Walters: Why de León's Endorsement Coup Doesn't Matter
Dianne Feinstein has been a stalwart of Democratic politics in California ever since her election to San Francisco city government in the 1970s. Her party credentials are without comparison. But, that apparently isn’t enough to satisfy the Democratic party of today. As Dan Walters noted in his July 18 CALmatters...
Newsom: I Will Appoint Valley Reps to UC, CSU Boards as Gov
Gavin Newsom found a receptive audience at the Teamsters 431 hall in Fresno on Friday (June 1) afternoon. Speaking to about 100 supporters, Newsom played the hits: gun control, immigrant rights and fighting Donald Trump. The lieutenant governor vowed to increase Valley representation on state boards, including those overseeing the...
Voters Are Starting To Pay Attention. Will Cox or Villaraigosa Face Newsom?
A day later: Different poll. Similar results. A Public Policy Institute of California statewide survey released at 9 p.m. today shows Democrat Gavin Newsom garnering 25% support among likely voters in the June 5 gubernatorial primary. Newsome, the two-term lieutenant governor, leads Republican businessman John Cox (19%), former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio...