Podcast
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, the state’s preeminent cannabis lobbyist. Jenkins was one of the first lobbyists for the state’s once-maligned, now coveted, cannabis industry, first when she worked out of Darius Anderson’s shop, then later at her own firm, Precision Advocacy. She describes an industry in peril, with legal outlets closing, legal sales dropping, and the state’s cannabis excise tax poised to go up July 1 unless the legislature acts.
Micheli Minute
Lobbyist and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
News
Tensions 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.
Capitol Briefs
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.
News
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.
Rising Stars
Most 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).
Experts Expound
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
Analysis
This 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.
Podcast
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.
Micheli Minute
Lobbyist and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
