A Post-Mortem of the 2026 Election, Thursday, November 5
Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center present A Post-Mortem of the 2026 Election, Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Attend in person, or by Zoom. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
Click here to save your spot at the live event in Sacramento.
Click here to attend via Zoom.
8:30 AM: Check in, coffee
9:15 AM: Introduction and Welcome
Catharine Baker, UC Student and Policy Center
Tim Foster, Open California
9:30 – 10:20: Blue Wave or Washout?
What is the takeaway from the election? Midterms are usually a referendum on the party in power; with gas prices at unprecedented highs and presidential approval at a historic low, will Republicans pay the price at the ballot box? And, what was the impact of Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional districts?
Panelists: Sean Clegg, Bearstar Strategies; Rusty Hicks, California Democratic Party; Lindsay Hopkins, SEIU California; Andre Levesque, Gilliard Blanning and Levesque
Moderated by Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times
10:40 – 11:30: The Ballot Initiatives
California voters confronted a wide variety of themes on this year’s ballot – how did they vote on these important issues, and why?
Panelists: Brandon Castillo, Bicker Castillo Fairbanks & Spitz Public Affairs; Teri Holoman, California Teachers Association; Thad Kousser, UC San Diego; Rob Lapsley, California Business Roundtable
Moderated by Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times
11:45 – 12:10: The View from the Parties
With party insurgents, PACs and outside influencers playing a bigger and bigger role in elections, where do the official Democratic and Republican parties stand?
Panelists: Robin Swanson, California Democratic Party; David Wilson, Red Dog Inc.
Moderated by Leah O’Tarrow, Capitol Weekly
12:30 – 1:25: Luncheon Keynote – The Polls
Pollsters have come under increased scrutiny for real or perceived ‘misses’ in high profile contests – how accurate were the polls this time? And, what to make of the surge of ‘fake’ polls that roiled the LA mayor’s race and other campaigns?
Panelists: Mark Baldassare, Public Policy Institute of California; Shakari Byerly, Evitarus; Mark Di Camillo, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies; Paul Mitchell, Political Data Inc.
Moderated by Ashley Zavala, KCRA 3
1:45 – 2:15: The New Governor – A Look Ahead
The race for governor had numerous dramatic turns before narrowing to Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton. We’ll discuss the campaign, and get insights on what to expect from the new administration from a close confidant of the new governor.
Capitol Weekly editor Rich Ehisen interviews a close confidant of the incoming Governor.
2:30 – 3:25: The Dem on Dem Races
California’s Top Two Primary has made intraparty contests a certainty in many California districts, setting up tense battles between younger DSA-affiliated candidates and older or more moderate Dems. Progressive outsiders did well in the primary – can they translate that energy into wins in November?
Panelists: Ruth Bernstein, EMC Research; Jorge Contreras, Working Families Party; Doug Herman, The Strategy Group; Nairka Joe Treviño Müller, Mai Vang for Congress; Brian Parvizshahi, Eric Jones for Congress; Bill Wong, Doris Matsui for Congress
Moderated by Jenny Huh, ABC 10
A Post-Mortem of the 2026 Election will be held from 9:15 AM – 3:25 PM, Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento – or, attend via ZOOM from anywhere.
There is no cost to attend this event but registration is required.
For Registration information contact Vanessa at [email protected]
For all other questions contact Tim Foster at (916) 612 2613 or Tim.Foster@capitolweekly.
Thanks to our sponsors:
K STREET CONSULTING, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, STUTZMAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, RANDLE COMMUNICATIONS and LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS.