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Jeremy B. White’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Juhi Doshi, Chris Ramirez and Graph Massara | THE BUZZ — EMPTY SEATS: It may be time for the California Legislature to invest in one of those flashing neon “VACANCY” signs. Five Assembly seats are currently sitting vacant for the first time in recent history, with Los Angeles Democrat Autumn Burke this week becoming the latest member to abdicate. Jim Frazier quit at the end of last year and has yet to announce a new gig; Lorena Gonzalez bowed out to become head of the California Labor Federation; David Chiu and Ed Chau left after winning appointments to be San Francisco city attorney and Los Angeles superior court judge, respectively. Rumors of a sixth departure abound. Even in a chamber where Democrats still wield a 15-vote advantage after Burke bowed out, those absences could make the difference on contentious legislation. For instance: Assemblymember Ash Kalra lamented this week that unfilled seats likely hurt his hunt for 41 votes to pass single-payer legislation. Although Kalra also said he faced a double-digit shortfall, getting a few votes closer can help to persuade vacillating members by giving them confidence they’re not going to cast a losing vote. The chamber’s 55 Democrats are now a mere single vote above the supermajority margin. | 
The state Assembly Chambers at the Capitol in Sacramento. | AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli |
The body won’t return to full strength for months, as we roll through a series of special elections. Primaries to fill the former Chiu and Chau seats arrive in a couple of weeks, with another round in April. Some of those contests to fill deeply Democratic seats will likely go to top-two runoffs, adding months to the process. That makes it easy to imagine the Assembly won’t be back to 80 members until after the crucial house of origin deadline, which is weeks before potential June elections.
Redistricting further complicates the situation . Voters will both be picking who fills out the remainder of former lawmakers’ terms under current lines and selecting representatives under new lines — potentially on the same day, with possible June runoffs scheduled to coincide with the regular primary election. (Elections also cost money, by the way — something we were all reminded of on Thursday, when Secretary of State Shirley Weber put a $200 million price tag on last year’s gubernatorial recall attempt.) Those Assembly districts will stay more or less the same, so it’s a decent bet that whoever prevails in the special elections will still be in those seats in 2023. But the same cannot be said of some congressional races; for example, the value of special-election incumbency has depreciated in the vacant House seat formerly represented by GOP Rep. Devin Nunes. Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig initially ran to fill out Nunes’ term in the solidly red district, but shifted to challenge GOP Rep. Tom McClintock, signaling a Democrat will likely take over Nunes’ now-purple seat after redistricting. It’s all part of the multivariate equation of California representation these days. BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. Do you know who’s next to resign or where departed lawmakers will be landing? We love insight and intelligence, and our ears are always open. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Don’t break my heart. He should’ve taken the sack.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi analyzes the 49ers’ playoff loss. TWEET OF THE DAY:Mountain Lion Foundation @MtnLionFdn on a wealthy Bay Area city citing mountain lion habitat as a reason to refuse housing density: “While Woodside abuts and contains mountain lion habitat, a blanket prohibition against adding an additional unit on an already developed parcel anywhere in the town is neither required by the California Endangered Species Act, nor contributing to the protection of mountain lions.” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | |  | Top Talkers | | — “ A disaster in plain sight, ” by the SF Chronicle’s Trisha Thadani: “Fentanyl’s effects, a comforting high followed by crippling cravings for more, extend to its users and far beyond, contributing to homelessness and crime, taxing city resources, and deepening political divisions over how to address the issue.” SWEPT UNDER THE RUG — “ Fresno State president mishandled sexual harassment complaints. Now he leads all 23 Cal State colleges,” by USA TODAY’s Kenny Jacobey: “The allegations were corroborated by a dozen people, many of whom shared their own accusations of wide-ranging misconduct by the administrator, Frank Lamas, according to copies of the investigation reports obtained by USA TODAY and revealed publicly here for the first time.” PARKING PAIN — “ Would you pay $4,850 for a Super Bowl parking spot? Resellers are pushing up prices,” by the LA Times’ Jack Flemming. | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | |
POSTPONED — “ CPUC indefinitely delays vote on rooftop solar reform, ” by POLITICO’s Colby Bermel: “The announcement is confirmation that the CPUC is responding to vocal criticism from solar advocates and contemplating a softer version of the draft rules.”
FAST TRACKING — “ Paid Covid sick leave to get full Senate vote next week,” by POLITICO’s Chris Ramirez: “The sick-leave bill is speeding through the Legislature after legislative leaders reached an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom last week to extend benefits past last year's CA SB95, which expired in September.” SECRET DEAL — “ California Inks Sweetheart Deal With Kaiser Permanente, Jeopardizing Medicaid Reforms,” by Kaiser Health News’ By Bernard J. Wolfson, Angela Hart and Samantha Young: “The deal, hammered out behind closed doors between Kaiser Permanente and senior officials in Newsom’s office, could complicate a long-planned and expensive transformation of Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, which covers roughly 14 million low-income Californians. “ PLOT TWIST — “ Demographic shift: White Californians accounted for more COVID deaths in 2021,” by the Sac Bee’s Cathie Anderson: “Middle-aged Latinos had borne the brunt of COVID-19 deaths until then — 66% of them in mid-March — although they represented 38.9% of the state’s population, she said.” BACK TO SCHOOL — “ After years of cuts, California could provide school buses for all kids,” by the LA Times’ Mackenzie Mays: “Some students with disabilities or those experiencing homelessness are guaranteed free transportation under federal law, but what a district provides is otherwise up to local school boards.” — “ Patients are barred from doctor disciplinary hearings in California. That could change,” by the LA Times’ Melody Gutierrez, Brittny Mejia and Jack Dolan: “Medical Board member Eserick ‘TJ’ Watkins said the current process allows the board to ignore the harm patients say they faced. That’s a criticism shared by patient advocacy groups who have for decades accused the board of being too lenient on the doctors it regulates.” NUMBER CRUNCHING — “ California crime story: The numbers, explained, ” by CalMatters’ Nigel Duara: “In all, the reporting of crime numbers is a snapshot of self-reported data, subject to human error and misinterpretation. It can also be deliberately manipulated, as claimed by whistleblowers at the New York and Los Angeles police departments.” WHAT DO CALIFORNIANS WANT? — “ Working Families Party tapping into a new generation of progressives,” by Jane Kim for CalMatters: “The people of California have moved to the left of our elected leadership. We support a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, tuition-free college and criminal justice reform. But this agenda is barely being heard in Sacramento today.” — “ Thousands of Stanford Health Care nurses launch campaign for new contracts,” by the Becker’s Hospital Review’s Kelly Gooch: “The union also cited a recent survey of thousands of nurses represented by CRONA at Stanford and Packard hospitals showing that 44 percent of respondents are considering leaving the hospitals in the near future.”
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| | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
MONEY MOVES — “ 2022 Election: Donations pour in to Orange County Congressional races,” by the OC Register’s Brooke Staggs: “This week’s fundraising reports are the first since new political district boundaries were finalized in late December. And they offer an early clue at how competitive some Orange County House races might be in 2022, with at least three of six local seats likely to be in play this year.”
A NEW FOE HAS APPEARED — “ Kevin McCarty may face longtime lobbyist in newly-drawn California Assembly district,” by the Sac Bee’s Lara Korte: “McCarty faced few challengers — none of them Democrats — in the 2016, 2018 and 2020 primaries. He won reelection by more than 40 points in each of those cycle.” — “ Democrat Esther Portillo launches Inland Assembly bid, ” by The Press Enterprise’s Jeff Horseman. EMPTY POCKETS — “ Here’s how much California’s recall candidates spent per vote, ” by the SF Chronicle’s Dustin Gardiner: “David McCuan, a political scientist at Sonoma State University, said the lopsided results for some well-known GOP candidates who campaigned hard suggests the party will struggle to find a viable candidate to challenge Newsom in this year’s regular election.” — “ Solano Chief Deputy DA Sharon Henry announces run for top prosecutor, ” by the Vallejo Sun’s Scott Morris. — “ Machine politics on display in race for state Senate seat, ” by Kate Karpilow for CalMatters: “Of note: Mia Bonta and Akilah Weber served as local elected officials – and their campaigns showcased multi-page resumes, reflecting their initiative and abilities. That’s not the case with Young Hertzberg.” | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | |
TO BE, OR NOT TO BE — “ Pelosi’s reelection bid keeps Democrats in suspense on leadership,” by the LA Times’ Nolan McCaskil: “Many House Democrats expect Pelosi to honor her commitment, meaning the caucus could elect a new speaker or minority leader for the first time in 20 years not named Pelosi."
I-N-D-E …“Immigration Court Bill Would Give Judges Independence, Tackle 1.6M Case Backlog,” by KQED’s Tyche Hendricks: “There's a lot at stake in immigration court, yet the current system is not structured to deliver justice fairly, said [San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren], a former immigration lawyer and chair of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.” | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
ON THE BIGGER PICTURE — “Zuckerberg Tells Staff to Focus on Video Products as Meta’s Stock Plunges,” by Bloomberg’s Naomi Nix and Kurt Wagner: “Meta’s Instagram app has a copycat of TikTok called Reels, which the company is now prioritizing.”
— “From Credit Scores to Job Applications: California's Reparations Task Force Looks to Algorithms,” by KQED’s Lakshmi Sarah: “As part of their scope of work, the task force is examining discriminatory practices in the public and private sectors, such as redlining and predatory lending, from 1868 to the present.” | | MIXTAPE | |
GRAPES OF WRATH — “ Sonoma vineyard workers fight for safety ahead of fire season. It’s an uphill battle,” by the SF Chronicle’s Jess Lander.
— “ Southern California Gas Co. settles lawsuit alleging Prop. 65 violations in 2015 gas leak,” by the LA Times’ Christian Martinez. — “ Court upholds density bonus law that exempts certain housing projects from local restrictions,” by the SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko. — “ The 110 Greatest L.A. Albums,” via The LAnd. — “ Naked man arrested after allegedly opening fire on bus, ” via the AP. — “ San Diego facing new police officer vacancy crisis blamed partly on vaccine mandate,” by The San Diego Union-Tribune’s David Garrick. — “ Federal authorities charge former UCLA lecturer with making violent threats,” by the LA Times’ Richard Winton. | | Transitions | |
— Government Operations Agency Secretary Yolanda Richardson is leaving the Newsom administration at the start of March to become CEO of the San Francisco Health Plan.
— Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu will be the provost at Westmont College, a private Christian liberal arts college in Santa Barbara, Calif., beginning Aug. 1. — Art Motta is now national director of policy and legislation at the League of United Latin American Citizens. He most recently was policy adviser for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). — Kathy Bañuelos will join the Motion Picture Association as senior vice president, State Government Affairs. Vans Stevenson, who has led the State Government Affairs Department for 26 of his 32 years at the association, will become senior adviser. | | BIRTHDAYS | | Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti … Hunter Biden … Patrick Whitesell … Gabrielle Bluestone … David Edelman of MIT’s Project on Technology, Economy & National Security … Blair Bender ... David Saleh Rauf CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this -only service offers,click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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