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Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White , Lara Korte , Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith | Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming | THE BUZZ: In four days, Californians will finish selecting their representatives for the next two years. In the months after, California’s preeminent politicians face choices that could upend this state’s long-term political reality. You’re surely familiar with some of the central questions: Will Gov. Gavin Newsom run for president? Even if it means challenging his California political parallel and heir apparent, Vice President Kamala Harris? What lies ahead for Sen. Dianne Feinstein who today celebrates 30 years in the Senate — and tomorrow eclipses Sen. Barbara Mikulski as the body’s longest-serving woman? Who’s going to prevail in a protracted Assembly Speaker fight? And then there’s the Nancy Pelosi question. The speaker of the House has been in the news for horrifying reasons after an assailant broke into her San Francisco home and allegedly assaulted her husband with a hammer while seeking to attack Speaker Pelosi herself (Paul Pelosi was released from the hospital yesterday). The shocking event has fueled alarm about the specter of violent attacks on public officials. It has also highlighted Pelosi’s stature: She is synonymous with the party she leads, and revered in San Francisco — the other side of the vitriol she attracts on the right. But her era may be near an end. The 82-year-old Pelosi is widely viewed as likely to announce her retirement if Democrats lose the House next week. Not that she would ever publicly concede that, since the admission would be tantamount to admitting defeat. And don’t expect any of the ambitious San Franciscans eyeing the seat to fess up. Such is the respect (and fear) that Pelosi commands in her homebase and among Democrats more broadly.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during her weekly news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 30, 2022. | Alex Wong/Getty Images | But make no mistake — the race is coming, even if it’s not in the next few months. Pelosi-ologists saw some valedictory moves in recent decisions like her trip to Taiwan. Publicly, the transition is spoken of in hushed tones or euphemism; privately, it’s a constant conversation topic. San Francisco’s politics means whichever Democrat succeeds Pelosi could spend decades in the city’s sole House seat, representing a progressive beacon that has a track record of cultivating national political figures. It will be a generational shift. The potential contenders are studiously refusing to talk about it or make overt moves, but they’re widely known. There’s state Sen. Scott Wiener, the YIMBY standardbearer who would be the city’s first openly gay member of Congress. There’s Christine Pelosi, the daughter and quasi-surrogate with a long history in California Democratic Party politics and ties to national figures from her Hill and candidate-training days. Progressives are mulling who would have a shot after their candidates foundered in recent SF-wide races. Labor could produce a candidate. Here’s Jeremy’s look at what may be coming . BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. The last pre-election weekend is upon us — which means for many of you, shoes are for precinct-walkin’ and doors are for GOTV-knockin’. Top California Democrats are making their final pushes for frontline candidates. Newsom will be campaigning for House Democrats and Proposition 1; Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins is rallying her troops for Sen. Melissa Hurtado and Democratic pickup priority Catherine Blakespear; and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is swinging through districts for Assemblymember Ken Cooley and candidates Esmeralda Soria and Pilar Schiavo (followed by Assemblymember Brian Maeinschein and candidate Christy Holstege). 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 . Send us your political mailers! We’re looking to bring more transparency to the elections process. How you can help: Send us photos of the campaign ads you’ve gotten in the mail. You can upload photos here or email them to mailers@politico.com . QUOTE OF THE DAY: “They were warned. It’s one of those things in gaming where it’s like, you know: Don’t stare into the sun, you look both ways before crossing the street, and you don’t fuck with the California tribes.” Victor Rocha, conference chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association and member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, on Prop 27’s backers, via the Washington Post . TWEET OF THE DAY:
|  Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Cardroom casinos have a well-documented history of flouting the law and have been fined millions of dollars for violating anti-money laundering laws, racketeering, and illegal gambling. Now, cardroom casinos and their gambling bankers are spending millions attacking California Indian tribes and tribal gaming. Hold these bad actors accountable! Get the Facts about Cardroom Casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com | | | |  | Top Talkers | | GOV’S GRIEVANCES — Newsom rejects every California city's homelessness plan in stinging rebuke , by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a blanket rejection of local California governments’ plans to curb homelessness, putting on hold hundreds of millions of dollars in aid — a sharp rebuke to how cities and counties are tackling the metastasizing issue. THOUGHTS ON THE THIRD — “ Exploring the riddle of California’s 450-mile-long congressional district ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Thomas Curwen: “A little before noon on a recent Wednesday, residents of this improbable town halfway between Death Valley and Mt. Whitney gathered in front of the post office after the morning delivery.” — California AG clears LA cops in shooting death in first results under law requiring state review of officer-involved shootings , by POLITICO’s Blake Jones: Two LA police officers should not face criminal charges in the July 2021 shooting death of a man holding a lighter that looked like a gun, the state attorney general said Thursday, releasing the first results of an investigation into an officer-involved shooting under a program intended to increase oversight of law enforcement. WATER WORRIES — “ Investigation: Chronic water shortages increase, yet California regulators are unprepared ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler: "The Bee interviewed dozens of farmers, policy experts, American Indian tribal members, environmentalists and regulators. It reviewed hundreds of pages of court rulings, regulatory filings and other public records. The Bee’s findings reveal a state regulatory system dramatically unprepared to address chronic water shortages and an ecosystem collapse.”
| | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FINAL SPRINT — “ L.A.’s mayor’s race is tightening as Rick Caruso closes in on Karen Bass, new poll finds ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Benjamin Oreskes: “Bass continues to hold an edge, 45% to 41% among likely voters, with 13% saying they remain undecided, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by The Times. But Bass’ advantage is within the poll’s margin of error and strikingly smaller than the 15-point margin she held a month ago.” CASH GRAB — “ A gusher of campaign cash: Industry groups give big in California legislative races ,” by CalMatters’ Ben Christopher and Sameea Kamal: “Independent expenditure committees — political spending groups that are legally required to be unaffiliated with the candidates they’re trying to support — have spent nearly $40 million since Sept. 1 trying to influence competitive legislative races across California.” — “ Luna gains solid lead over Villanueva in sheriff’s race, poll shows ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Alene Tchekmedyian: “Retired Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna has gained support among likely voters in the race for Los Angeles County sheriff, solidifying his lead over incumbent Alex Villanueva, according to a new poll.” THE BIG LIE — “ Who Are the Californians Bankrolling Election Deniers? ” by Capital & Main’s Jeremy Lindenfeld: “Despite being solidly Democratic for decades, California contributes more money to the GOP than any state other than Florida. This election cycle, much of that funding is going to members of one of the GOP’s most extreme clubs: election deniers.”
| | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | BACK AT HOME — “ Newsom Quietly Fights Liberals in California to Protect National Vision ,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Christine Mai-Duc: “As he cruises toward re-election Tuesday, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has spent much of his time and campaign money picking fights with Republicans in other states, including running ads in Texas and Florida criticizing their GOP governors.” — “ Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins gets a crash course in San Francisco politics ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Hannah Wiley: “The political newcomer surged to celebrity in July as Mayor London Breed’s pick to replace progressive Dist. Atty. Chesa Boudin after voters ousted him from office a month earlier. But much like her predecessor, Jenkins has become one of the city’s most controversial political figures.” CAMPUS CRAMMING — “ California Wants to Enroll More College Students, But There’s Nowhere to House Them ,” by Bloomberg’s Mackenzie Hawkins and Jennah Haque: “A push by California’s public colleges to enlist tens of thousands of more students will face a common challenge in the Golden State: where to house them.” — “ An elite S.F. school wants to expand. Pac Heights neighbors fear ‘crowds of exuberant teenagers ,’” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rachel Swan: “Plans to build new science laboratories, classrooms and a basketball gym for an elite San Francisco private high school have hit a major obstacle: neighbors in the city’s wealthy lower Pacific Heights area, who don’t want high-spirited teenagers congregating outside their doorsteps.” PELOSI ATTACK — “ Immigration officials confirm alleged Pelosi attacker was in the U.S. illegally, ” by the Washington Post’s Maria Sacchetti: “The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer is a Canadian citizen who was in the United States illegally and is facing possible deportation after his criminal cases are resolved, the Department of Homeland Security said late Wednesday.”
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:   | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | ON THE TRAIL — “ Campaigning in California and New Mexico, Biden aims to ease voter anxieties ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Seema Mehta and Erin B. Logan: “President Biden, campaigning for an embattled Southern California Democratic congressman, argued that Tuesday’s election will have ramifications for generations on the future of the nation.” VEEP ON HER OWN — Harris finds her footing. She’s still looking to break through, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago and Eugene Daniels: There has been little distance between Harris and Biden as they crisscross the country to campaign for Democrats. But for some in her orbit, the seemingly minor distinction over semantics has come to represent something much larger for a veep intent on maintaining her own voice and carving out a lane for herself, even as she labors in a backup role defined by loyalty. SPEAKING OF… “ VP Harris fights for Democrats’ future — and her own ,” by AP’s Chris Megerian: “The vice presidency is never an easy position, requiring ambitious politicians to contort themselves into the role of sidekick. And it’s been particularly difficult for Harris. She’s a groundbreaking leader, a former U.S. senator and California attorney general. But she struggled with a portfolio of vexing challenges and internal staff turmoil soon after taking office.”
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | DANGER SIGNS — “ Lyft cuts 13% of its workforce ,” by CNBC’s Lauren Feiner and Laura Batchelor: “In an email to employees obtained by CNBC, CEO Logan Green and President John Zimmer pointed to what they called ‘a probable recession sometime in the next year’ and rising rideshare insurance costs. But Lyft is not currently changing the guidance it gave last quarter.” ELON’S BIRD APP — “ Musk’s Trump-style management rattles Twitter workers awaiting layoffs ,” by the Washington Post’s Will Oremus: “With rumors of impending layoffs by new owner Elon Musk swirling inside Twitter on Wednesday, an employee noticed that the Google Calendar of one of their new bosses was publicly viewable. On it was an entry at 5 p.m. that day titled “RIF Review” — an acronym for Reduction in Force, or layoffs.”
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, “At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy” on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America’s national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | MEET & GREET — “ California Assembly 10th District: Meet the candidates running to represent Sacramento and Elk Grove ,” by Cap Radio’s Nicole Nixon. — “ Driver Charged With Manslaughter in Collision That Killed Elderly Asian Woman ,” by the San Francisco Standard’s Han Li. BROWN ON GAVIN — “ Should Gavin Newsom run for president? New movie star Jerry Brown talks politics ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s G. Allen Johnson. — “ Tom Girardi faced more than 150 complaints before State Bar took action, records show ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton. — “ What we know so far about the anticipated University of California system strike ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Jacqueline Pinedo and Maya Miller.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Florencia Iriondo
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Cardroom casinos are contributing millions to politicians to curry political favors. These bad actor cardroom casinos have dished out more than $50,000,000 on contributions to politicians, party bosses and other political campaigns. It's time to finally crack down on cardroom casino's unlawful gambling and criminal activity.
Learn more about cardroom casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com | | | 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. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
