Capitol Briefs: Leadership transitions and California’s slow growth

California Democratic Party announces leadership transition: The California Democratic Party has named Yvette Martinex senior advisor for Chairman Rusty Hicks. Martinez previously served as CADEM’s Executive Director.

“Yvette’s leadership has helped transform the California Democratic Party into a national model for organizing, coalition-building, and electoral success,” Hicks said in a statement.

She is known to have vast experience in both state and federal politics. Previous leadership positions she has held include: Southern California Director to Gavin Newsom, Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, and a campaign strategist for Alex Padilla for State Senate.

CADEM also named Melanie V. Ramil Executive Director. She spent the last year as Deputy Executive Director, where she played a key role in training strategies, expanding the party’s digital communications and the passage of Prop 50. She has previously worked as the California Deputy State Director for the Harris-Walz campaign, and the Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Kamala Harris.

The Party also named Andrés Molina Acting Political Director. He will be the first Latino and the youngest person to fill that role for CADEM. He is currently the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP). LACDP is the largest County Central Committee in the States.

“We are thrilled that Andrés is sharing his invaluable time and expertise with CADEM and look forward to creating strategic victories with him in 2026,” Hicks said.

NFIB announces new California leadership team: The National Federation of Independent Business has announced its new Leadership Council chair and vice-chair for 2026.

Beth Booth, who with her husband Marshall co-owns the residential design-and-build firm Spaces Renewed in Oceanside, has been named the Council Chair.

Jeff Pardini, owner of Hills Flat Lumber Co. in Grass Valley, was named vice-chair.

California Hispanic Legislative Caucus names new consultant: The California Hispanic Legislative Caucus (CHLC) announced Carlos Valdez as the group’s new Caucus Consultant. Valdez brings nearly three decades of public policy and public affairs experience at the federal, state, and local levels. Valdez previously spent nearly 15 years working on public policy for tribal governments, including the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and CNIGA, advancing policy that protected tribal sovereignty and cultural resources.

Newsom notes passing of Dead’s Weir: Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, First Partner Jennifer Newsom, responded to the recent passing of Bob Weir, co-founder of the Grateful Dead.

“Weir was – and will always be – a king of psychedelic rock; he will be deeply missed, and his music will forever live on,” the pair said in a statement Saturday, January 10.

Described by the Newsoms as “a true son of California,” Weir was born in San Francisco and raised in neighboring Atherton.

When he and famed Jerry Garcia, “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzman converged in Palo Alto, they created a unique artistic movement that dramatically shaped music culture in California and further afield, shaping what would become known as psychedelic rock.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues,” Weir’s family said in a post to the deceased guitarist, vocalist and songwriter’s Instagram page Saturday, January 10.

They also “request privacy during this difficult time and offer their gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and remembrance”.

Initiative cleared for circulation: Secretary of State Shirley Weber cleared a proposed initiative Monday, January 12 to collect petition signatures and enter circulation. The initiative seeks to prohibit the use of the Congressional District map adopted by voters in 2025 in response to Texas’ redistricting, which many viewed as partisan.

The proposal would:

• allow use of the Proposition 50 approved maps only in the 2026 congressional election (as opposed to through 2030, as set out by Proposition 50);
• instead require use of “the maps adopted in 2021 by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission”, said Weber’s office in a press release.

The Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance determined this would set counties back a one-time cost of less than a few hundred thousand dollars collectively.

James V. Lancy, the initiative’s proponent, must collect 874,641 signatures in 180 days from registered California voters for the measure to be ballot-eligible.

No real surprises in Planned Parenthood legislative scorecard: Planned Parenthood of California released its annual scorecard for the 2025 State Legislative Session, with legislators’ scores based on their votes or actions on PPAC’s sponsored legislation in 2025 or other actions taken to support PPAC’s mission. The scores came down heavily along partisan lines, with all Democrats comprising all 89 members receiving 100 percent scores. One Dem, Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) came in at 93 percent. Most Republicans received a score of zero, with the notable exception of Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs), who received a score of 80 percent. Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) was top scorer for Republicans, coming in at 17 percent.

Scores were based on how lawmakers voted on the 2025 PPAC-sponsored bills: 2025 PPAC Sponsored Bills: AB 54 (Krell), AB 82 (Ward), AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry), SB 339 (Cabaldon), SB 418 (Menjivar), SB 497 (Wiener), and SB 528 (Weber Pierson).

The full results can be found here.

Newsom rejects Louisiana AG’s extradition request: Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a call by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and Gov. Greg Landry to extradite a California doctor who they accuse of mailing abortion pills to a Pelican State resident in 2023 through a telemedicine service.

“We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services. Not today. Not ever,” Newsom said in a statement. “We will never be complicit with Trump’s war on women.”

Laird intros resolution opposing Trump offshore oil drilling plan: Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 12, a call for the Trump administration to call off its plan to re-open oil drilling off the California coast. Forty six lawmakers signed on as co-authors – 44 Democrats and two Republicans (Assemblymembers Laurie Davis and Greg Wallis).

California’s growth slows to record low rate: A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that since the turn of the century the state has experienced its slowest growth rate ever recorded. According to the PPIC report, California’s population grew by 5.8% (or 2.4 million) 2010 to 2020, a rate of growth slower than the rest of the nation (6.8%). That decline led to the loss of a seat in the US House of Representatives for the first time in California’s history.

California remains the nation’s most populous state, with the Department of Finance projecting it will reach 40.5 million residents by 2040.

Capitol Weekly interns Jasleen Kaur and Aidan Wyrough contributed to this story.

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