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Presented by CVS Health: 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 | Presented by CVS Health | THE BUZZ — TRICKLE-DOWN VOTES: All politics are said to be local, but national partisanship increasingly determines voters’ views. Those dynamics will intertwine in California’s marquee midterm races. A handful of frontline California Republicans occupy newly drawn House districts carried by President Joe Biden. Two of them won by former President Donald Trump had some of the narrowest 2020 presidential margins of any in the country. POLITICO’s Ally Mutnick has a handy national breakdown of presidential versus congressional results in our post-redistricting reality. California Reps. Mike Garcia and David Valadao face the steepest hikes up Mt. Biden, with the president notching double-digit margins in their battleground districts. Biden’s margins were narrower in the seats that Rep. Michelle Steel (six points) and Rep. Young Kim (two points) are vying for. Trump narrowly prevailed in Rep. Ken Calvert’s district and the newly drawn, open CA-03 sought by Republican Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, GOP Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones and Democratic Navy veteran Kermit Jones. CAVEATS AND CONSIDERATIONS: The absence of a presidential contest means this election cycle will lack the stakes for many voters of the 2020 race, which saw enormous turnout in California. And unlike in other states, frontline California Democrats don’t have to defend seats where Trump prevailed. But to the extent voters view politics through a national lens, Biden’s brand has lost some of its shine in California. A Public Policy Institute of California poll from last month registered an anemic 49-49 voter rating for the president; an Institute of Governmental Studies poll in the field a few weeks later found Biden floating slightly underwater at 48-49. His numbers were particularly weak in Orange County and the Central Valley, which will host some premier races. High-profile national issues like crime and rising inflation are reverberating audibly in California. There are limits to superimposing presidential numbers on House races. Republicans picked up four California seats last cycle despite an overwhelming Biden victory in Orange County. Valadao has repeatedly defied the electoral math by winning an old district dominated by Democrats. Many California campaign pros prefer using Gov. Gavin Newsom’s numbers as a predictive proxy, believing that to be a more reliable predictor than presidential results. Republicans are working to ensure Biden’s plunging poll numbers drag Democrats down with him. And Democrats are warning voters that the fate of democracy — not to mention Biden’s agenda — rests on retaining Congress. More local or member-specific considerations could drown out both. Welcome to another election year! BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. Los Angeles mayoral candidates will make their respective cases tonight at a USC debate — here’s how to watch . On the other coast, outgoing California Rep. Jackie Speier will be among the honorees as the ERA Coalition marks the 50th anniversary of Congress passing the Equal Rights Amendment. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This is actually the tenth set of confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court nominee that I’ve participated in during my time in the Senate. And looking at your record, it is clear you have the qualifications and the experience and the knowledge needed to serve on the Supreme Court. And as a woman, it makes me very proud of that.” Sen. Dianne Feinstein lends some historical context to Judiciary Committee hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. BONUS QOTD: “I represent a largely rural district. So on behalf of my constituents, I would like to support H.R. 95, and here’s their voice: MOOOOO. MOOOOOO. MOOO. Thank you.” Assemblymember Randy Voepel marks California Agriculture Day. (Exact animal noises unclear — give it a listen and judge for yourself). TWEET OF THE DAY: She the People founder @AimeeAllison on powerful Black women: “Feeling grateful that @vp is that 51st vote for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson #SCOTUS” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in California and communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We’ve opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 59 million vaccines. We’ve expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We’ve been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | |  | Top Talkers | | ‘PREDATOR’ INDEED — “Kremlin TV Just Declared War on… Arnold Schwarzenegger,” by the Daily Beast’s Julia Davis: “For days, Russian state media tried to ignore [Schwarzenegger’s video] altogether — but millions of views across multiple platforms forced them to address Schwarzenegger’s powerful message. SPARKING OUTRAGE — “A Chumash tribe and conservationists fight offshore wind turbines,” by the LA Times’ Louis Shagun : “But in recent months, this stretch of the Santa Barbara County coastline has become a bitter collision point for several national and global imperatives — the reduction of planet-warming greenhouse gasses, the conservation of natural habitats and the atonement for injustices committed against Indigenous populations.” FRIENDLY REMINDER — “ As it enters a third year, California’s drought is strangling the farming industry,” by WaPo’s Scott Wilson: “California’s drought is intensifying as it enters a third year, and along with much else here in the San Joaquin, the hope that a wet end to 2021 would bring more water has disappeared, too. The same sentiment holds across much of the parched American west.” ICYMI — “ Riverside County parent furious after teacher leads political chant involving preschool students,” by ABC7’s Rob McMillan. POLICING — “ Despite reform efforts, S.F. police stop and search Black people far more than any other race,” by SF Chronicle’s Megan Cassidy: “San Francisco police continued to stop, search and use force on Black people far more often than any other race in 2021, disparities that remain striking even as the total number of these instances fell — sometimes dramatically — over the past few years.” TITLE 42 — “ Asylum seekers in Tijuana protest disparities in treatment at U.S. border,” by San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kate Morrissey: “They also criticized the disparities that the policy, known as Title 42 has caused, as Ukrainians are now being allowed to cross and request protection while asylum seekers from elsewhere in the world are turned away.” NEW EXPECTATIONS — “‘Bullied with middle finger tweets’: New S.F. school board eyes civility code after contentious era,” by SF Chronicle’s Jill Tucker: “In her first regular meeting as president, Jenny Lam is asking the board — including the three new mayoral appointees — to codify “civil behavior” across the district.”
| | | | JOIN THURSDAY FOR A CONVERSATION ON CRYPTOCURRENCY AND REGULATION: Cryptocurrency has gone mainstream. With the market now valued at $1.8 trillion, Washington’s oversight of the fast-growing industry remains in its infancy. How should Congress and federal agencies shape future regulation of digital asset markets? Join POLITICO in person or virtually for a deep-dive discussion on what’s next for crypto, regulation and the future of finance. Programming will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT with a reception from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — “Alvarez Work for SDG&E Could Have Violated City Ethics Law,” by the Voice of San Diego’s Andrew Keats: “When former Councilman David Alvarez helped San Diego Gas & Electric push an energy infrastructure project in the city, he may have violated San Diego’s prohibition on elected officials influencing city decisions after leaving office.” CRIME DEBATE — “Attorney General Rob Bonta’s opponents want to talk about crime. He wants to talk about the guns driving it ,” by the SF Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli: “Because Bonta doesn’t have a lengthy record as California's top cop in the year since Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him to replace Xavier Becerra, his opponents are trying to tie him to two controversial, high-profile, progressive district attorneys whom Bonta has supported — San Francisco’s Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles’ George Gascón” UNFAMILIAR CHANGES — “ California Legislature upended by new political maps,” by the AP’s Don Thompson: “New political maps have upended the California Legislature this year by prodding more than two-dozen state lawmakers into early retirement or career changes, while others are forced into unfamiliar new districts ahead of the November election.”
| | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | FIGHT OVER FERAL PIGS — “Why California hunters are fighting a bill that would make it easier to kill wild hogs,” by Sac Bee’s Ryan Sabalow: “A bill making its way through the California Legislature would make it easier for landowners and hunters to kill wild pigs doing damage to agricultural lands.” A NEW SUBVARIANT— “California could see coronavirus increase this spring because of Omicron subvariant BA.2 ,” by the LA Times’ Rong-Gong Lin II and Luke Money: “Coronavirus cases are on the upswing worldwide, prompting some officials to warn that California could see increases this spring because of the Omicron subvariant BA.2, even though cases of the strain so far have been modest in the state.” — “ Teacher pay debacle isn’t over — and it’s worse than you think,” by Mission Local’s Joe Eskenazi: “Last week, the San Francisco Unified School District’s main office was besieged: Bleary-eyed teachers, equipped with bedrolls and sleeping bags, hunkered down at 555 Franklin St. For three days, they camped out, protesting the botched rollout of a costly payroll processing system that has induced chaos by underpaying or mispaying hundreds, if not thousands, of teachers.” DRINK UP — “State unveils long-awaited standard for drinking water contaminant,” by CalMatters’ Rachel Becker: “Traces of hexavalent chromium are widely found in the drinking water of millions of Californians, with some of the contamination naturally occurring and some from industries that work with the heavy metal. “ — “Homeless more likely to be crime victims and perpetrators in San Diego County according to DA,” via City News Service: “The San Diego County District Attorney's Office announced a strategy Monday to prevent the homeless from being involved with crime, following the release of data showing homeless people in the county were more likely to be both crime victims and perpetrators.” — “California Assembly advances involuntary servitude amendment ,” by the AP’s Adam Beam: “California is the latest state trying to remove “involuntary servitude” as a constitutionally protected form of punishment, a move aimed at formally severing the remnants of slavery from the law.” — “State and local governments can ban flavored tobacco products, court rules ,” by SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “State and local governments can ban the sales of flavored tobacco products to protect young people from becoming addicted, a federal appeals court has ruled, rejecting tobacco companies’ arguments in a case from Los Angeles County.” ENROLLMENT TROUBLES — “ The collapse of community college enrollment: Can California turn it around?” by CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn: “Through last fall, just 17 of California’s 116 community colleges have seen the number of students they enroll grow since fall of 2020. At 42 colleges, more students left in the fall of 2021 than in fall of 2020, according to a CalMatters analysis of system enrollment data.” STRIKE 1 — “ Sacramento teachers, school staff are about to strike. What’s behind their labor dispute?” by Sac Bee’s Sawsan Morrar. STRIKE 2 — “ More than 500 Bay Area Chevron workers go on strike, saying they need raises due to extremely high cost of living,” by SF Chronicle’s Jessica Flores and Michael Cabanatuan. STRIKE 3 — “ Southern California grocery workers prepare for a strike: ‘We’ve walked through hell’,” by the LA Times’ Margot Roosevelt.
| | | |   | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | A DESIRE TO STAY — Pete Aguilar bets on the House, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu: While many of his colleagues are losing interest in a House that looks increasingly likely to flip them into the minority, the 42-year-old Aguilar wants to stick around. That’s not to say he wants to talk about his own ambitions — he tends to shun national attention and stays surprisingly low-key for a Democratic leadership member who also holds a highly visible perch on the Jan. 6 select committee. | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
CASE FOR CONCERN — “Elon Musk’s Business Ties to China Create Unease in Washington,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Brody Mullins and Susan Pulliam: “Elon Musk’s ties to China are causing unease in Washington, including among some Republican lawmakers who have been among the billionaire entrepreneur’s ardent supporters.”
— “SpaceX’s Starlink sees the in-flight internet market as ripe for an overhaul, executive says,” by CNBC’s Michael Sheetz: “Elon Musk’s SpaceX believes an aviation-specific antenna may be revolutionary for connecting Starlink, its global high-speed internet service, with airplanes.” | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | MEDIA MATTERS | | — Evan Halper is leaving the LA Times, where he has covered D.C. through a California lens, to cover energy for the Washington Post’s business desk. | | MIXTAPE | |
— “Ukraine’s War Feels Close At A Whittier Bike Shop With Deep Ties To Kyiv,” by LAist’s Leslie Berestein Rojas.
BID FOR MEGA-MANSION — “Will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine block the sale of L.A.'s most over-the-top mansion?” by LA Times’ Laurence Darmiento. A POTENTIAL SOLUTION? — “ L.A. needs clean energy. Hydrogen could be the answer — or gas industry greenwashing,” by the LA Times’ Sammy Roth. — “ 3 of California's 5 biggest water users are in the Coachella Valley. Who's consuming the most?” by the Palm Springs Desert Sun’s Janet Wilson. — “Murder, hate crime charges filed in killing of Black Navy veteran ,” by NBC’s Tim Stelloh.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) … Nick Bailey ... Republican ad man Bob Gardner
| | A message from CVS Health: At CVS Health, we’re more than 300,000 caring employees ensuring Californians and millions of Americans can access health care services.
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Nothing should stand in the way of mental health and well-being, so we have been increasing remote access to mental health services.
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Recognizing the strong connection between housing and health, we have been investing in affordable housing to support underserved populations and build healthier communities.
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Healthier Happens Together. Learn more. | | | 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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