Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol WeeklyTensions are running high in the state legislature’s upper house this weekend as lawmakers assess a potential leadership fight. Two senators are said to be preparing a run at Senate leader Mike McGuire, who has served as the Senate president pro tem for just under 18 months. A vote could come as early as next week.
The California state Capitol at dusk. (Photo: Karin Hildebrand Lau, via Shutterstock)This was crossover week, and both chambers considered hundreds of bills that only a few days before had cleared their respective suspense hearings. Here is a smattering of some of the significant action under the dome this week.
Sharifah Hardie, image via Sharifah Hardie for Governor. In the fourth installment of our ongoing look at candidates to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom when he terms out next year, we look at Republican candidate Sharifah Hardie.
Lea Park-Kim, photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol WeeklyMost mornings, before the sun can make its appearance, you’ll find Lea Park-Kim out on the water in West Sacramento rowing or coaching with the River City Rowing Club. It’s a practice that reflects her discipline and motivation to continually evolve. That same energy has propelled her to success as the communications director for Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks).
Kamala Harris. Photo by AP. Polls have for months shown that Kamala Harris would be the strong favorite should she opt-in to the 2026 governor’s race, prompting some already-declared candidates to say they would drop out. But Republicans actually seem to relish the chance to run against her, and several Dems now say they will stay in even if Harris joins the
Image by cbiesThis weekend Democrats are meeting at their annual convention in Orange County. With just over a year before the 2026 Primary, and short of 18 months before the General Election, we wanted to take the temperature of California Democrats.
California Insurance Crisis, Panel 2: The Los Angeles Fires. Journalist Dan Morain, Kelsey Szamet, Eaton Fire Survivors Network, Nancy Wallace, UC Berkeley, Steve Hawks, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore.
Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly.CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: A Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast, recorded live at the California Insurance Crisis, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. This is Panel 2: The Los Angeles Fires, featuring Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore; Steve Hawks, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; Kelsey Szamet, Eaton Fire Survivors Network; Nancy Wallace, UC Berkeley. Moderated by journalist Dan Morain.
Lobbyist and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
Image by Png-StudioIn this edition of Capitol Briefs we take a quick look at final numbers from the suspense file hearings and note a few bills that will be moving on and one that won’t be.
Image by BrianAJacksonThere have been many court decisions over the past century interpreting key provisions of the Government Code. The following cases highlight some of the key decisions interpreting these statutory provisions. This is Part 2 of a two-part series.