WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi was nominated by fellow House Democrats to be speaker on Wednesday, but she still faces a showdown vote when the full House convenes in January. Pelosi entered the closed-door caucus election in an unusual position -- running unopposed despite the clamor by some Democrats for new...
Kounalakis and Becerra Prevail in Downballot State Races
SACRAMENTO — Eleni Kounalakis will be the first female lieutenant governor of California while Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Controller Betty Yee will all return to office. The four are among several statewide offices voters cast ballots for Tuesday. In the contest for insurance commissioner,...
SF Allows Noncitizens to Vote in School Board Election
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco has become the largest U.S. city to give people in the country illegally and other noncitizens the right to vote in a local election, but the possibility of the Trump administration learning their identities appears to have kept people away: only 35 noncitizens have registered....
Enthusiasm Bump Not Reflected in Early California Voting
SACRAMENTO — The enthusiasm both parties say exists in the electorate hasn't yet translated into early voting in California, where the percentage of people who have voted so far is similar to this time four years ago. Voters who are Republican, white and older are sending in their ballots early at...
Taylor Swift Wins Big at AMAs and Encourages Fans to Vote
Taylor Swift kicked off her week with a rare political post on social media, and at the American Music Awards she continued the conversation by encouraging fans to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. Swift won four honors including artist of the year at the fan-voted show on Tuesday in...
Kavanaugh Denies Allegation of Sexual Misconduct in School
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Friday denied an allegation of sexual misconduct from when he was in high school, seeking to defuse a potential threat to his confirmation as a handful of key senators remained silent on whether they would vote for him. In a statement released...
Trump Stands by Warning of 'Violence' if Dems Win Midterms
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump urged evangelical leaders this week to get out the vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and warned of "violence" by opponents if they fail. Trump made the dire warning at a White House dinner Monday evening attended by dozens of conservative Christian pastors, ministers...
Defiant Pelosi Says She’s Staying: ‘I Can Take the Heat’
WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi is the chief villain of Republican campaign ads. The leader some Democrats promise to vote against. The subject of much speculation that her grip on power is coming to an end. Nevertheless, she says she's not going anywhere — and certainly not while President Donald Trump...
Is a Simple Majority Vote Enough to Pass Parks Tax?
(Update, 8/08/18: an interpretation from City Attorney Douglas Sloan is now included) After months of signature gathering and deadline hustling, the final decision on whether Fresno voters will decide on a parks tax takes place Thursday (Aug. 9). But questions have emerged on just how many votes are needed in...
GOP Leaders Postpone 'Compromise' Immigration Vote
WASHINGTON — The Latest on the immigration controversy (all times EDT): 2:15 p.m. — Battle Between Conservatives and Moderate Republicans House Republican leaders abruptly postponed voting on a compromise immigration measure amid ongoing infighting between conservative and moderates. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's office confirmed the decision. Voting that had been...