California governor race heats up in days before primary

Its crunch time in the primary for California governor, with candidates exploring creative strategies and benefiting from massive spending as they try to tear down - or lift up - their rivals in the race's final days. Six major candidates are vying to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown as leader of the nation's most populous state, a liberal stronghold that has taken an outsized role in combating President Donald Trump and his policies on immigration, climate change and more.

Socialists eye California primaries, with eight running on the ‘Peace and Freedom Party’ slate

The Party for Socialism & Liberation has a keen interest in California as primaries loom on June 5. Eight candidates have filed to run for statewide office in the Golden State, running on the "Peace and Freedom Party slate," the organization advises , describing this designation as "California's feminist socialist political party." The eight include Gloria La Riva for governor, Nathalie Hrizi for insurance commissioner, Jordan P. Mills for the 49th Congressional District, Gayle McLaughlin for lieutenant governor, John T. Parker for U.S. senator, C.T. Weber for secretary of state, Kevin Akin for state treasurer and Mary Lou Finley for state controller.

Governor candidates promise more spending on higher education

All of the top Democrats running for California governor are calling for major new investments to make the state's public universities more affordable and relieve crushing student debt, suggesting they'd be more willing than Gov. Jerry Brown to open state purse strings and give students a hand up. The proposals focus on helping Californians afford college as the Golden State struggles to preserve a public higher education system that was once the envy of the world.

San Diego Union-Tribune Story on How California’s Two Leading…

San Diego Union-Tribune Story on How California's Two Leading Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates are Each Trying to Manipulate Republicans This San Diego Union-Tribune story explains how backers of each of the two leading Democratic candidates for California Governor are propagating insincere messages aimed at Republican voters. Backers of Democrat Gavin Newsom are portraying Republican candidate John Cox as a true conservative in order to help Cox receive more Republican votes.

Tom Ammiano, Harry Britt endorse Delaine Eastin for governor

Democrat Delaine Eastin, whose longshot run for governor has failed to catch fire, got a boost Tuesday from an unexpected location: San Francisco, political home of Gavin Newsom, the favorite to win the June 5 primary. Former San Francisco supervisors Tom Ammiano and Harry Britt both announced their backing for Eastin, praising her support for the gay community and for education.

Final sprint to June primary election begins as mail-in ballots go out to California voters

Candidates for California governor, from top left: Republican Travis Allen, Democrat John Chiang, Republican John Cox, Democrats Delaine Eastin, Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa. Californians who've been trying their best to avoid thinking about politics over the last year and a half might wake up to a rude surprise in their mailbox this week.

California Republican activists favor John Cox for governor but remain divided

Fighting to put a candidate before voters in November, California Republicans strongly preferred businessman John Cox for governor at the party's convention in San Diego this weekend. During an endorsement vote Sunday morning, delegates favored Cox, 55 to 41 percent, over Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach.

Newsom leads fundraising in governor’s race, but Villaraigosa gets boost from allies

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to rule fundraising in the California governor's race, with more than $17.6 million in the bank, according to fundraising documents filed with the state. But wealthy allies of fellow Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa dumped more than $12.5 million into an independent effort to boost his candidacy - just before mail ballots are sent to voters.

Gavin Newsom leads fundraising in the California governor’s race, but …

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to rule fundraising in the California governor's race, with more than $17.6 million in the bank, according to fundraising documents filed with the state. But wealthy allies of fellow Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa dumped more than $12.5 million into an independent effort to boost his candidacy - just before mail ballots are sent to voters.

Newsom leads and Cox in second in new poll of California governor’s race

With 75 days to go before the June 5 primary election, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to lead the field for governor, while former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has fallen into third place, overtaken by a Southern California Republican, according to a new poll.

Anti-wall crowd shouts at border crossing before Trump visit

Lauren Rees holds up a sign during a rally against a upcoming scheduled visit by President Donald Trump Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in San Diego. Protesters chanted, "No ban! No wall!" near the San Ysidro border crossing, where tens of thousands of people enter the U.S. daily from Tijuana, Mexico, many on their way to work or school in San Diego.

California Focus: Gender gap is key to Dems’ aims in House

The most dramatic news in the year's first big round of political polling, out a few days ago, was that Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, once the presumptive frontrunner in the run for governor, has fallen into a virtual tie for first place with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the seven-candidate field of significant candidates.