Republican advances in California primary with Trump’s help

John Cox, a Republican business owner who has tried and failed for nearly two decades to win elected office, snagged a spot in the November runoff for California governor with the help of President Donald Trump, but that support could hurt him in the winner-take-all race with Democrat Gavin Newsom. Cox got about a quarter of the votes counted so far in Tuesday's election to easily outdistance former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for second to Newsom, who won by a comfortable margin.

California Democrats appear poised to avoid getting locked out of key House races

Nikko Johnson reviews the California primary election guide at San Francisco City Hall Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The 40-year-old nurse was waiting for her mother to arrive at the polling station so they could vote together.

Ricardo Lara Could Be California’s First Out Statewide Official

California could elect its first openly gay statewide official this fall in Ricardo Lara, who was one of the top two finishers for insurance commissioner in the state's primary Tuesday. Under California's "top two" system, the two leading vote recipients in the primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

California in spotlight as voters cast ballots in primaries

Democrats in the country's most populous state are battling to ensure they come out on top in several congressional districts that voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. LOS ANGELES: Voters cast ballots in eight US states for key primary elections on Tuesday, with all eyes on California, where the outcome could swing the balance of power in Congress.

GOP avoids shutout in race for California governor

FILE - In this May 23, 2018, file photo, Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox address supporters at the Sacramento County Republican Party headquarters in Sacramento, Calif. Tuesday's primary election will set ... LOS ANGELES - Democrat Gavin Newsom won Tuesday's primary in the race for California governor and Republican John Cox finished in a strong second place, ensuring Republicans won't be shut out of the race to replace retiring Gov. Jerry Brown.

Primaries in 8 States on Tuesday: 6 Things to Keep in Mind

Eight states are casting midterm primary ballots on Tuesday, with outcomes that could help determine control of the U.S. House and Senate and decide several governor's races. Here are six things to keep in mind as primaries are being held in Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota: 1. California is a jungle: There are no party primaries in California, with voters instead choosing among all candidates on one ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to November regardless of party.

Democrat Feinstein wins California U.S. Senate primary

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein cruised to first place in California's primary on Tuesday in her bid for a fifth full term in Washington.In a video statement delivered from Washington, Feinstein pledged to "protect California" in "difficult and contentious times." Feinstein's opponent hasn't yet been determined, but fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon, a state senator, is hoping to secure the second spot.

Blue wave? California tops list as midterm matchups form Source: AP

For years sidelined on the national political fringe, California has lurched to the center of the fight for control of Congress. No state will be more consequential in the success or failure of a prospective blue wave this fall.

The Times’ recommendations for Tuesday’s California primary

Voters who pass up the June 5 election will find in November that others have made many of their decisions for them. For example, the state's top-two primary system dictates that in five months, there will be two finalists to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown, and polling suggests that one of them will be Lt.

Californiaa s a jungle primarya sets off party scrambling

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif asks questions during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. In the U.S. Senate, contest the 26-year incumbent Feinstein is shifting to the left in the face of a challenge from state Sen. Kevin de Leon, who argues she's not done enough to stand up to Trump.

Environmentalistsa lawsuit to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir heads back to court

The Wapama Falls trail next to Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Reservoir takes wilderness lovers on a 2 1/2-mile trek to the waterfall, which is still flowing this fall, thanks to abundant winter rains. Two years after losing in court and six years after being rejected by voters, a Berkeley environmental group is continuing its long-running battle to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a linchpin of the water supply for 2.6 million Bay Area residents from San Francisco to San Jose to southern Alameda County.

Assemblyman Jim Frazier urges Sens. Diane Feinstein, Kamala Harris to oppose tunnels

Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Solano, co-chair of the California Delta Legislative Caucus, has asked California's two U.S. senators to oppose a rider inserted into a congressional bill that would exempt the proposed twin tunnels project for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta – dubbed WaterFix – from legal challenges under state or federal law. Sixteen additional lawmakers in the State Legislature also signed the letter, which was released Friday.

We’ve studied the WaterFix protect for years. It’s time to build it, not sue over it

The confluence of the American River, left, and the Sacramento River, northeast of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. To the editor: I agree with Jacques Leslie - the language in my bill is indeed intended to blow up the roadblocks built by radical environmentalists who desperately want to kill a project that will provide a clean, reliable water supply for 25 million Californians.

Follow the Money: Parsons Corporation promotes Delta Tunnels behind the scenes

A review of federal election campaign contributions by Restore the Delta reveals that the Parsons Corporation, an international infrastructure contractor, has contributed to campaign coffers of Riverside Republican House member Ken Calvert and House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican from Bakersfield. "Follow the money," a catchphrase popularized by the 1976 drama-documentary motion picture All The President's Men that suggests a money trail or corruption scheme within high office, definitely applies to the current rush by the state and federal governments to construct Governor Jerry Brown's environmentally destructive Delta Tunnels even though the project makes no scientific, economic or financial sense.