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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 | THE BUZZ: Please give a hearty hello to the new California lawmakers. Yes, it’s true we’re still waiting on final calls in several Assembly and Senate races (including a few that could oust some closely-contested incumbents). But now, nearly three weeks out from election day, we have a clearer picture of the incoming class of lawmakers. That’s a good thing, too, because we’re one week away from the Dec. 5 organizing session, where legislators will gather in Sacramento for the first time to be sworn-in and cast leadership votes. They’re also expected to gavel in for a special session that day, per Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request, though details on that session and the gas windfall tax that is supposed to go along with it remain scant. New district lines, new opportunities and term limits made this an unusually high turnover year in the Capitol. As of right now, 18 new assemblymembers are preparing to make their way to Sacramento: Democrats Stephanie Nguyen (AD-10); Damon Connolly (AD-12); Liz Ortega (AD-20); Diane Papan (AD-21); Esmeralda Soria (AD-27); Gail Pellerin (AD-28); Dawn Addis (AD-30); Dr. Jasmeet Bains (AD-35); Gregg Hart (AD-37); Juan Carillo (AD-39); Rick Chavez Zbur (AD-51); Corey Jackson (AD-60); Blanca Pacheco (AD-64); Avelino Valencia (AD-68); and Republicans Joe Patterson (AD-5); Juan Alanis (AD-22); Bill Essayli (AD-63); and Tri Ta (AD-70). Several Assembly races remain undecided, including one between incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Ken Cooley and Republican staffer Josh Hoover in AD-7. Latest results show Cooley trailing Hoover by 2,432 votes. Similarly, Republican Assemblymember Suzette Martinez Valladares is fighting off a challenge from Democrat Pilar Schiavo, who is leading by 498 votes in AD-40. We’re also keeping a close eye on AD-47, where Democratic Palm Springs Council Member Christy Holstege is just 52 votes ahead of Republican Greg Wallis . In AD-71, neither of the two Republicans vying for the Temecula-area seat, Kate Sanchez and Matt Rahn, have claimed victory yet.
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The American, California State, and POW/MIA flags fly next to the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, California, U.S., on Thursday, March 30, 2017. | David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images | The Senate will also welcome newcomers to their ranks: Democrats Marie Alvaro-Gil (SD-4), Aisha Wahab (SD-10), Steve Padilla (SD-18), Caroline Menjivar who beat out would-be-legacy Daniel Hertzberg in SD-20, Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (SD-28), and Catherine Blakespear (SD-38). Republican Assemblyman Kelly Seyarto is moving from one chamber to the other after beating out Democrat Brian Nash in SD-32. And fellow Republican Assemblymember Janet Nguyen is taking a similar tack — returning to the Senate to represent D-36 after previously being elected in 2014 to represent SD-34. Although not officially called yet, Democrat Paula Villescaz has conceded to Republican Roger Niello in SD-9. Democratic Sen. Melissa Hurtado is among those Senate races yet undecided. GOP candidate David Shepard is leading Hurtado by 373 votes in SD-16. We’re also waiting on a final call in the Dem-on-Dem challenge in SD-8, where Angelique Ashby is ahead of Dave Jones by 5,488 votes. BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. We are still holding out for the results in one last California congressional district race — Republican John Duarte is just 593 votes ahead of Democrat Adam Gray in closely-watched CA-13. Stakes for the district are even higher after GOP Rep. David Valadao held onto his seat in nearby CA-22 last week. 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: “...to have another mayor, a Black woman, who’s going to lead one of our nation’s major cities? That’s a big deal.” Little Rock, Ark. Mayor Frank Scott remarking on Rep. Karen Bass’ win in LA. With her victory, Black mayors will lead the country’s four largest cities. TWEET OF THE DAY:
|  Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter | BONUS TWEET OF THE DAY:
|  Today's Bonus Tweet of the Day | Twitter | WHERE’S GAVIN? Back in California after leaving the state for Thanksgiving.
| | | | POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP . | | | | | |  | Top Talkers | | TALK OF THE TOWN — Newsom Told the White House He Won’t Challenge Biden , by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin: The 2024 showdown, it would seem, was on. But this is Sacramento not Hollywood. And today’s political culture, particularly among Democrats, isn’t the stuff of Aaron Sorkin pictures. So after addressing the cameras, Newsom found himself standing outside his motorcade on a chilly-for-California night, speaking on his cell phone and telling the soon-to-be-80-year-old president, worry not, he was on board. — “ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Sen. Scott Wiener a ‘communist groomer’ after he tweets about hate speech ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Dustin Gardiner: “A day after her account was reinstated on Twitter, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene used the platform to refer to San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener with a homophobic slur.” POLL-ITICS — “ ‘Opening the gates of hell’: Musk says he will revive banned accounts ,” by the Washington Post’s Taylor Lorenz: “After posting a Twitter poll asking, ‘Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?’ in which 72.4 percent of the respondents voted yes, Musk declared, ‘Amnesty begins next week.’”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | BOARDS ON THE BALLOT — “ ‘Conservatives were shocked’: Democrats held ground in Sacramento-area school board elections ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Sawsan Morrar, Jenavieve Hatch and Ariane Lange: “Energized by activism against COVID-19 education mandates, conservative parents all over California put their names on the ballot this fall aiming to claim seats on local school boards. Some saw the makings of a GOP wave in a blue state, and the Republican Party recruited and trained candidates. It didn’t work.” — “ Democrats now control all House seats along the Pacific Ocean for first time in memory ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Nora Mishanec: “The West Coast has long been dominated by Democratic politicians — it’s referred to the Left Coast for a reason. But for the first time in modern memory, Democrats are set to control every congressional district along the Pacific Coast.” THE PRICE OF CARUSO — “ What $104 million could buy, instead of a failed mayoral run ,” Opines Gustavo Arellano for the Los Angeles Times: “$104 million and change is, well, pocket change for someone whose fortune the Los Angeles Business Journal estimates at $5.9 billion. That’s what makes the amount so obscene. Once the final campaign finance tallies are in, it could soar even higher. If [Rick] Caruso wanted to change people’s lives through goodwill, there are many ways he could’ve done so with that same money.”
| | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — “ Police commission rules officer broke policy in fatal department store shooting ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Libor Jany: “The Los Angeles police officer who inadvertently killed a teenage girl when he shot at an assailant in a North Hollywood department story late last year was justified in firing his weapon once, but was wrong to keep shooting, the city’s Police Commission ruled on Tuesday.” OUT OF OFFICE — “ A work-from-home culture is taking root in California, Census data show ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Phillip Reese: “Even as pandemic lockdowns fade into memory, COVID-19 has transformed California’s workplace culture in ways researchers say will reverberate well beyond 2022.” — “ Embattled S.F. homelessness organization lost nonprofit status this year ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s St. John Barned-Smith: “A San Francisco homelessness services organization that’s recently come under intense scrutiny for a range of alleged improprieties saw its nonprofit status suspended earlier this year, officials with the California Attorney General’s Office said.” TRUTH TO POWER — “ California political ethics watchdog is losing its bite ,” Opines the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: “Lately, the commission has been taking so long to complete investigations that it’s losing power. It’s overloaded with old, unresolved cases and is not properly prioritizing those that need urgent attention. Elections come and go without answers. The watchdog has no bite.” THE BIG PICTURE — “ California’s economic double whammy: tech, housing losses mount ,” Opines Jonathan Lanser for the Orange County Register: “Soaring mortgage rates scared off house hunters. Sales collapsed to lows last seen during the Great Recession. Prices weakened. No deals, no loans. Thus, Orange County-based LoanDepot says it’s trimming jobs, too. The mortgage-maker, which started the year with 11,300 workers nationwide, had 8,500 employees in September and plans to cut to as low as 6,500.” — “ Former California police chief charged in CalPERS double-dipping fraud case ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Randy Diamond: “Criminal charges of grand theft have been brought against Greg Love, one of several Broadmoor Police Department chiefs and commanders that CalPERS said defrauded the pension system by collecting more than $2 million in excessive retirement payments.” MATH CLASS — “ Cal State University poised to drop plan for tougher math admissions requirement ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Debbie Truong: “California State University trustees are poised to abandon a proposal to require a fourth year of math-related coursework for admission, ending a plan introduced six years ago that touched off fierce criticism among many who said it would create barriers for students trying to enter the system.” HOUSING HEAT — “ California’s Homelessness Problem Pits Gov. Gavin Newsom Against Mayors ,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Christine Mai-Duc: “California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing off with local government officials, many of whom are fellow Democrats, over responsibility for the lack of progress combating homelessness in America’s most populous state.” — “ Can California avoid a third devastating COVID-19 winter wave? Cautious signs of hope ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Rong-Gong Lin II and Luke Money: “‘You never can definitively say what to expect,’ said Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s outgoing chief medical advisor for the pandemic. ‘But you should really take some comfort in knowing that we have within our wherewithal to mitigate anything that comes up our way.’”
| | | | GO INSIDE THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO is featuring a special edition of our “Future Pulse” newsletter at the 2022 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit from Dec. 6 to 8. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of health industry leaders and innovators solving the biggest global health issues to ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE . | | | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | MADAME SPEAKER — “ Is the Nancy Pelosi Era Really Ending? ” Opines Benjamin Wallace-Wells for the New Yorker: “The job that Nancy Pelosi is leaving is called Speaker of the House, but her interpretation of the role has never had much to do with decorous speech. Pelosi cajoled; she annoyed; jostled by the left-wing faction around Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, she rolled her eyes and sniped.” — Biden gives Chevron permit to restart Venezuelan oil sales , by POLITICO’s Matt Daily: The Treasury Department granted permission Saturday for oil giant Chevron to produce and export oil from Venezuela following the South American country’s decision to restart talks with opposition groups.
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | IT’S ALWAYS POLITICAL — “ Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Triggers Partisan Clash on Government’s Role ,” by the Wall Street Journal’s John D. McKinnon: “Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter Inc. is fueling a partisan clash in Washington, as Democrats raise concerns about the platform’s security and Republicans counter that the criticism is a thinly veiled attempt to stamp out conservative voices on the site.”
| | CANNABIS COUNTRY | | — Cannabis banking supporters scramble to reach lame-duck deal , by POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig: Urgency is building in the Senate to get cannabis legislation passed before the year is over. The specter of a Republican-led House has lit a fire under proponents of cannabis banking legislation, according to three House and Senate staffers involved in discussions on both sides of the aisle.
| | MIXTAPE | | — “ First Thanksgiving meal for Ukrainian refugees in LA is filled with gratitude ,” by the Los Angeles Daily News’ Olga Grigoryants. GRIM STAT — “ Florida, California worst in nation on FBI crime reporting ,” by Axios’ Russell Contreras. — “ A new General Hospital: Turning an iconic L.A. landmark into homeless housing ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Doug Smith and Andrew J. Campa. SACRAMENTO FAREWELL — “ Steven Choi set to depart Assembly leaving a legacy of education and service ,” by the Orange County Register’s Kaitlyn Schallhorn. CONDOR CORNER — “ Top-flight recovery: the inspiring comeback of the California condor ,” by the Guardian’s Patrick Greenfield. — “ California high schools need a mission overhaul ,” Opines Dan Walters for CalMatters.
| | Transitions | | — Thomas Birmingham, the longtime general manager of California's powerhouse Westlands Water District, is retiring at the end of the year.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Monday: Suzi Emmerling (was Sunday): Kathryn Ciano Mauler … Kaiya Waddell (Was Saturday): Chris Hughes of the Economic Security Project (4-0) … Andrew Moore … Katie Gommel of Sunshine Sachs (Was Friday): Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) … Colin Crowell … Elan Carr … Insider’s Brent Griffiths … Reuters’ Sarah Lynch … Adam Zeplain … Lee Dunn … Rachel Holt of Construct Capital … Kristina Bas Hamilton (Was Thursday): DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas … Tyler Goodspeed of the Hoover Institution … Jared Cohen ... (Was Wednesday): Terry Tornek ... Elliot R. Wolfson 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 | | | | |  |
