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Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte and Sakura Cannestra | THE BUZZ: Another day, another California Democrat running on abortion. Rep. Mike Levin yesterday became the latest House candidate to elevate reproductive rights to the center of their pitch to voters. The San Diego Democrat’s second television advertisement of the general election touted his support for federal legislation codifying abortion rights and warned that his opponent, Republican Brian Maryott, would undermine access. (Maryott said in a statement that he opposes a national abortion ban, calling the issue a matter for states to decide, and supports exceptions for rape, incest, and saving the patient's life.) The spot fit with a theme: Democrats seeking to defend or flip contested California seats are linking control of the House to the fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. They are warning that a Republican majority would seek a national abortion prohibition that could supplant California law — a message that could resonate with a deeply Democratic electorate that overwhelmingly supports abortion rights and disapproves of Roe’s fall. Frontline incumbents like Levin have emphasized those points. Rep. Katie Porter released a spot last week warning of Republicans’ plans. While Rep. Josh Harder has put more of a premium on district issues like water, he has rallied donors by warning his race “could determine the fate of reproductive rights in America.” | 
In this image from video, Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington on April 23, 2020. | House Television/AP | Challengers, too: Democratic House hopefuls Christy Smith and Jay Chen are emphasizing their opponents, Rep. Mike Garcia and Rep. Michelle Steel , signing a court brief backing the end of federal abortion protections and co-sponsoring a bill to guarantee a right to life from the moment of fertilization. Democrat Asif Mahmood is reminding voters that Rep. Young Kim opposed Democrats’ bill. Prosecutor Will Rollins has run on the issue as he seeks to unseat Rep. Ken Calvert in a newly competitive desert district that now includes socially liberal Palm Springs, linking the cause to defending LGBTQ rights. The DCCC and liberal PAC’s have funded a stream of spots to keep the issue in voters’ consciousness. Democratic contenders will share the November ballot with a measure to enshrine abortion rights in California’s constitution. To the extent Proposition 1 drives more Democrats and blue-leaning voters to the polls — which will depend on how intensive and well-funded the campaign is — that could buoy Democrats in competitive races. Democratic voters are far more likely to tell pollsters that abortion is an important factor in their vote than Republicans. While Democratic Assemblymember Adam Gray has been less vocal about abortion than other Democrats as he seeks to win a contested, open Central Valley seat, Gray also channeled $50,000 to the Proposition One campaign. But Democrats will also be contending with pervasive voter doldrums and economic trepidation. Just as California-wide polls consistently reflect steadfast support for abortion rights, they have repeatedly shown Californians are anxious about their economic prospects and glum about the trajectory of the state and the country. Republicans have been more likely than Democrats to call this election more important than the last. The GOP is betting that basic economic issues like cost of living will eclipse abortion when voters start filling out those ballots. DEEPER DIVE — In case you missed it, here’s Jeremy’s breakdown of five California House races where abortion could make a critical difference. BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. If you’re raring for bill-signing news, you’ll have to try and contain your excitement. Gov. Gavin Newsom left behind his ability to enact or reject bills when he crossed California’s border yesterday. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up: jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We don't see illegal weed going away over that kind of horizon without radical change in public policy, partly because a big chunk of the legacy consumers are used to buying weed from somebody they know, or somebody who knows a guy who knows a guy, and they've been reasonably happy with that.” UC Davis economist Robin Goldstein on California’s legal cannabis market, via a Q&A with POLITICO. TWEET OF THE DAY
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Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter |
WHERE’S GAVIN? In New York City for Climate Week.
| | | | JOIN THURSDAY FOR A GLOBAL INSIDER INTERVIEW : From climate change to public health emergencies and a gloomy global economic outlook, the world continues to deal with overlapping crises. How do we best confront all of these issues? Join POLITICO Live on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. EDT for a virtual conversation with Global Insider author Ryan Heath, featuring World Bank President David Malpass, to explore what it will take to restore global stability and avoid a prolonged recession. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | HOLDING FIRE — “Inside the team pioneering California’s red flag law,” by CalMatters’ Alexei Koseff: “‘Red flag’ laws have been slow to take off in many places, but San Diego’s program shows how advocates hope gun violence restraining orders can be used to prevent tragedy.” TRUTHS IN TRAGEDY — “A successful nurse’s mental struggles remained hidden — until fiery L.A. crash left 5 dead ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Noah Goldberg: “The crash shocked Los Angeles and left many trying to understand how the woman they knew as a kindhearted nurse with a bubbly personality could be involved in such a horrific chain of events.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Digital ad digest: Battleground House Dem launches massive online campaign, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro: That six-figure total made [House candidate Jay] Chen the highest spending candidate in the country on the social media platform in that time period, outstripping even statewide candidates who generally have significantly larger fundraising budgets and more potential voters to reach. ‘SUB-ZERO’ — “Gavin Newsom Is ‘Unequivocally’ Running for President in 2024 if Biden Doesn’t (Exclusive) ,” by the Wrap’s Tina Daunt: “‘After this midterm election is over, he absolutely is going to announce that he is running for the presidency once Biden announces that he is not running,’ a leading California fundraiser with close ties to the Newsom family told TheWrap. ‘No ifs, ands or buts. He will run if Biden does not.’” VOTING ON VOTING — “ If you believe that more San Franciscans voting is good, it doesn’t matter who it helps,” by Mission Local’s Joe Eskenazi: “Any binary argument between retaining the status quo over shifting to even-year voting comes down to claiming it’s somehow better for fewer people to vote than more.”
| | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | WATER WORRIES — “Surfing in the California desert? Developer’s plan sparks outrage over water use, drought,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Ian James: “If La Quinta’s City Council endorses the proposal, the sandy ground at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains would become the site of a 12-acre pool where surfers could take off on sculpted lines of peeling waves.” — “Port Labor Talks Stall as Worker Disruptions Grow,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Paul Berger: “Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been working without a contract since the last agreement expired in July, leaving companies working without grievance machinery that allows for resolution of disputes between workers and their bosses.” JENKINS’ NEW PATHS — “Chesa Boudin charged a rookie cop with manslaughter. What will Brooke Jenkins do next? ” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Joshua Sharpe: “The hearing also could have served as a test for interim District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and her commitment to police accountability. But the District Attorney’s Office had the hearing postponed, saying a new prosecutor needed to familiarize herself with the evidence.” — “ Cal State says it can’t afford a staff wage hike even if Newsom OKs it,” by CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn: “A last-minute bill would force Cal State to give non-faculty staff raises, costing the system almost $900 million over ten years — money the system says it doesn’t have. Cal State may cut programs and raise tuition if it doesn’t get enough state money.” WHO, WHERE AND WHY? — “ These migrants were flown to California from Texas. They don’t know why or who paid for their flights,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Salvador Hernandez: “The men, who crossed the border in Laredo, Texas, had intentions to travel to New York, Florida or Utah and said they were confused as to why they were sent to California, where none of them had contacts or prospects.” — “Amazon Raises Prices Throughout Retail, California Alleges,” by the American Prospect’s David Dayen: “Another antitrust lawsuit tracks with an ingenious line of argument showing how the company famous for ensuring the lowest prices is actually increasing them elsewhere.” DRIVE SAFE, SAFETY DRIVING — “These 3 stretches of Bay Area highway are among California’s 10 deadliest roads,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Kellie Hwang: “Two sections of Interstate 80 in the East Bay and a portion of Interstate 280 in the South Bay have among the highest rates of fatalities per mile in the state, according to a report from personal finance website MoneyGeek.” — “In Oakland, closing schools opens questions about a city’s soul ,” by the Washington Post’s Scott Wilson: “There are few sights more poignant than empty classrooms that should be full, playground basketball courts with no games, a “School Crossing” sign where there is no longer a school. Just breeze-block walls and nearly 100 years of history.” — “ Making Paid Family Leave Work for Working Families,” by Capital and Main’s Mark Kreidler: “Though noble in concept, California’s paid leave system has fallen behind the curve of real world economics.”
| | | | DON’T MISS - MILKEN INSTITUTE ASIA SUMMIT : Go inside the 9th annual Milken Institute Asia Summit, taking place from September 28-30, with a special edition of POLITICO’s Global Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive coverage and insights from this important gathering. Stay up to speed with daily updates from the summit, which brings together more than 1,200 of the world’s most influential leaders from business, government, finance, technology, and academia. Don’t miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | — Pelosi’s visit fires debate in Armenia over alliance with Russia, by POLITICO’s Gabriel Gavin: “The thousands who took to the streets of Yerevan, close to where the U.S. delegation was holding meetings, demanded their country withdraw from that Russian-led military partnership. Billboards featuring Putin were torn down, crowds chanted Pelosi’s name, and demonstrators held up signs reading ‘CSTO go screw yourself.’”
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | PUTTING THE APP IN APPLE — “Apple Flexes Muscle as Quiet Power Behind App Group,” by Bloomberg’s Emily Birnbaum: “The tech giant isn’t a member of the association. But it plays a dominant behind-the-scenes role shaping the group’s policy positions, according to four former App Association employees who asked not to be named discussing internal matters.” — “U.S. states ask appeals court to reinstate Facebook lawsuit, ” by Reuters’ Diane Bartz: “The states are asking the three-judge panel on U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to reinstate a lawsuit filed in 2020, the same time that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued the company.”
| | MIXTAPE | | — “Your complete guide to the Queen's funeral,” by BBC’s Visual Journalism Team. — “California just legalized 'human composting.' Not everyone is happy.” by SFGate’s Andrew Chamings. — “ ‘Super mom’ Sherri Papini sentenced to 18 months in prison for California kidnapping hoax,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Sam Stanton and Ryan Sabalow. — “Across from a Sacramento school, bullets, sad parents and angry homeless people ,” opines the Sacramento Bee’s Melinda Henneberger. — “The mental health effects of living with long COVID,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Sandhya Kambhampati.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — “In memory of Henry Fuhrmann, who believed in us before we believed in ourselves,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Frank Shyong.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | TikTok’s Maureen Shanahan Atchison 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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