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Presented by UPS: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White, Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith | Presented by UPS | THE BUZZ — LA SHERIFF’S RACE: With only a few weeks until election day, the fence-sitters are holding all the power. The latest polling shows former Long Beach police chief Robert Luna 10 points ahead of Sheriff Alex Villanueva among likely voters — 36 percent to 26 percent, according to the survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. While Luna still holds a comfortable lead , both his and Villanueva’s numbers are slightly down from a similar poll of likely voters conducted in August (then, it was 40 percent Luna to 29 percent Villanueva). The biggest area of growth? Undecided voters. The number of likely voters who can’t seem to pick a side is now at 36 percent, compared to 28 percent in August. That effectively ties the number of Luna supporters with the number of not-sures. It’s a critical bloc for both candidates to court as they enter crunch time. Another hard hit for Villanueva — his favorability ratings. The sheriff’s penchant for conservative rhetoric and attacking political rivals has soured the Democratic establishment that once helped him win office. He’s so alienated the party that they’re now coalescing around his competition, a former Republican. Villanueva has also been criticized this year for suggesting he’d investigate a local journalist for reporting on a coverup in the department and, most recently, launching a probe into another county official he’s clashed with in the past. | 
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva listening to a question at a news conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. | AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes | Those headlines seem to be earning Villanueva the wrong kind of attention. Among likely voters, 44 percent had an unfavorable view of the sheriff, with 32 percent saying they have a strongly unfavorable view. Luna, meanwhile, faces a different kind of problem — a majority of voters (54 percent) said they have no opinion of him. Another factor to consider: Despite keeping a steady lead in the polls, Luna has been considerably out-raised and out-spent by Villanueva. Per campaign filings, the sheriff has received a total of $1.37 million in contributions, and spent $2.3 million. Luna, on the other hand, has raised less than half that — $609,000 — and spent $566,000. BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. Speaking of the sheriff’s race — tonight, Luna and Villanueva will both speak at a community forum on policing and safety issues important to the Asian Pacific Islander community. 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: “...the idea that Democrats can hold the House is not as ridiculous, implausible or far-fetched as it seemed before the Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade. It is a real possibility — not some abstraction in the sense that anything can happen.” Chief NYT political analyst Nate Cohn on how abortion changed the game for Democrats this year. ICYMI: Jeremy last month broke down five California Congressional races that could hinge on abortion. TWEET OF THE DAY:
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Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | | | A message from UPS: The best drivers in the delivery industry get the best compensation. Learn more | | | |  | Top Talkers | | ENERGY AT THE POLLS — “On the Orange County coast, voters fume about gas prices but fear for climate’s future,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Seema Mehta: “Though the district’s affluence cushioned some residents from high prices, the issue is part of a broader debate about the nation’s energy policy — the response to climate change, the stability of the power grid, imported energy, the role of renewables, nuclear, fracking and drilling.” — “Hope and prayer: California churches battle abortion ballot measure ,” by CalMatters’ Alexei Koseff: “Bishops and other clergy from California’s dozen Catholic dioceses and archdioceses…have released videos to speak directly to the faithful, sometimes in multiple languages, about their concerns that the initiative would remove all existing restrictions on abortion in the state.” — “ Behind Newsom’s move on California’s chronic problem with the mentally ill,” Opines Dan Morain for the Washington Post: “Like virtually every California governor before him, Newsom has ambitions that go beyond Sacramento. Unlike his predecessors, he is confronting the daunting issue of untreated mental illness. His success or failure could determine his future.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | NEWSOM PITCHES IN: The campaign to enshrine the right to an abortion in California’s constitution got a massive boost from Gov. Gavin Newsom , who channeled some $876,000 from his re-election account to the Proposition One campaign — the second-largest donation to date and Newsom’s first financial contribution. The governor has bolstered California’s abortion offerings with budget outlays and bill signings this year, and he has emphasized California’s strong support for abortion rights as the campaign season escalates to its final phase. TOUGH ODDS — “ Dueling sports betting measures appear headed to defeat despite record spending, poll finds,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Taryn Luna and Phil Willon: “Online sports gambling companies, California tribes and card rooms have spent more than $410 million on a pair of dueling ballot measures to legalize sports betting in person and online. If either side thought Proposition 26 or 27 could win, they placed a bad bet.” — “Bay Area mayor gets accused of using Martha’s Vineyard-like tactics in fight over homelessness,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sarah Ravani and Kellie Hwang: “The mayor of Richmond was sharply criticized for writing an email last month that shared the addresses of his opponents on the City Council and encouraged homeless RV dwellers to park their vehicles outside those council members’ homes.” IT’S OFFICIAL — “Gubernatorial Candidates Newsom and Dahle Agree to Debate at KQED ,” by KQED’s Guy Marzorati: “Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senator Brian Dahle, R-Bieber, will face off at KQED on October 23, after Dahle on Monday accepted an invitation to debate the incumbent Democrat.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — “Police: 5 California killings may be work of serial killer,” by the Associated Press: “A serial killer may have ambushed five men in central California separately in recent months, shooting them to death alone in the dark, and police are baffled as to why the victims were targeted.” HERE WE GO AGAIN — “Gas keeps costing more. Would an emergency oil supply help cut prices? ” by the Sacramento Bee’s David Lightman: “California gasoline prices are soaring again — up more than a dollar over the last month — and the latest big congressional idea for relief involves creating an emergency oil supply that Washington would tap when prices soar.” — “ Mock ‘slave auction’ prompts high school to forfeit football season,” by the Washington Post’s Marisa Iati: “A California high school will forfeit the rest of its varsity football season after some players were captured on video appearing to act out a ‘slave auction’ of their Black teammates.” — “ LAUSD parents can call a hotline with questions about data hackers released in cyberattack,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Melissa Hernandez: “The Los Angeles Unified School District has set up a hotline for concerned parents and students, following the digital heist of confidential records and files from the district’s computer systems earlier this month.” WHERE’S THE WATER? — “ California drought pits farmers vs. cities. But neither is the biggest water victim,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Hayley Smith: “As California fast approaches what is likely to be a fourth year of punishing drought, residents are being asked to cut their water use to historic lows. But while city dwellers are rising to the occasion — including record reductions in Los Angeles in August — urban consumption still represents only a small fraction of total water use in the state.” — “Amid Bee investigation, Sacramento opens review of company appointed to code enforcement cases,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Theresa Clift: “The city of Sacramento initiated a review for receivers it recommends to take over properties in serious code enforcement disputes following questions from The Sacramento Bee that exposed high fees one of the companies passes on to homeowners.” A BAY DIVIDED — “Build more housing to ease crisis? Poll shows how Bay Area residents resist ,” by the Mercury News’ Ethan Varian: “Nearly everyone agrees that sky-high housing costs are a serious problem in the Bay Area. But there’s potent resistance to the notion that the region could — or should — try to build its way out of a deepening crisis.” — “ Dual admission program will give community college students an early taste of life at UC,” by CalMatters’ Megan Tagami: “Under the dual admission program, high school seniors rejected from the UC can enroll at a California Community College with a conditional offer of admission to one of six UC campuses.”
| | | | A message from UPS:   | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | FAMILY MATTERS — Why Biden world isn’t overly worried about House GOP investigations, by POLITICO’s Eugene Daniels, Jonathan Lemire and Jordain Carney: Congressional Republicans are talking more openly about their desire to investigate every aspect of the Biden administration — and family — should they regain control of one or both houses of Congress. — “U.S. East coast faces 'competing catastrophes' as fire risk grows ,” by Context’s David Sherfinski: “Western U.S. states, including California, have grown accustomed to dealing with catastrophic-scale wildfires in the face of a relentless increase in "fire weather" - conditions of record temperatures, low humidity and high winds. But now similar threats are quietly spreading across the nation, including into states not up to now thought of as at significant risk.”
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — Kim Kardashian to pay $1.26M to settle SEC crypto charges, by POLITICO’s Declan Harty and Sam Sutton: Kim Kardashian will pay $1.26 million to settle federal charges that she promoted a cryptocurrency without disclosing she was paid to do so, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday. ROCKY RETURN — “Here’s how Bay Area residents really feel about returning to the office ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Chase DiFeliciantonio: “Some are finding everything from child care to dog walking has to be overhauled as they return to the office. Workers nudged back to desks and meeting rooms are finding that commutes can still be as harrowing as ever.” IN THE COURTS — “ The Supreme Court has steered clear of immunity for tech companies — until now,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “On Monday the justices agreed to decide whether relatives of victims of mass killings can sue the media platforms for posting terrorist videos and allegedly sharing advertising revenues with the terrorists.” — “ Silicon Valley County Battles With Uber Over Reporting of Sexual Assault,” by the New York Times’ Cade Metz: “The impasse is part of a larger battle over the way Uber and other ride-hailing companies handle reports of sexual assault. In recent years, both Uber and Lyft have released data revealing the number of assault and harassment incidents reported to the company.”
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | CANNABIS COUNTRY | | — “Sacramento revamps cannabis enforcement system after facing dozens of lawsuits, racism allegations,” by Cap Radio’s Scott Rodd: “Hundreds of houses across Sacramento have been converted to illegal grow operations in recent years. But the city’s enforcement approach has faced intense scrutiny, after issuing more than $100 million in fines since 2017.”
| | MIXTAPE | | — “Bird flu spreads to Southern California, infecting chickens, wild birds and other animals,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Susanne Rust. — “What scientists learned about a Bay Area fault that could unleash a magnitude 6.9 earthquake,” by SFGate’s Amy Graff. — “ Understanding What California’s New ‘Jaywalking’ Bill Really Does (And Doesn’t Do),” by LAist’s Ryan Fonseca. — “ Gov. Newsom signs hundreds of new California laws. Here's what they cover,” by KCRA’s Ashley Zavala. — “Trader Joe’s finally brings back free samples,” by CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Will von Meister … Steve Picheny…Roz Wyman ... Alan Rosenberg ... Liev Schreiber ... Alicia Silverstone
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