Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 18 Kim Johnson
Following someone as substantial as Dr. Mark Ghaly as California’s Secretary of Health and Human Services is like being asked to pinch hit for Babe Ruth. It’s hard to find anyone around the Capitol community as widely respected as Ghaly, but the governor didn’t just pluck Johnson off a park bench
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 6 Dave Sapp
If suing the Trump administration was currency California wouldn’t have a budget deficit. When Gavin Newsom needs legal advice in his efforts to counter The Donald, he turns for guidance to his in-house lawyer, Legal Secretary Dave Sapp. Sapp oversees any litigation the governor or the state is involved in, but
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 1 Nathan Barankin
How could it be anyone else in this position? Being Chief of Staff to the governor is probably the hardest job in California politics, and maybe doubly so for this governor, who is not exactly known for being a ray of sunshine. There’s a reason he goes through chiefs on the
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 4 Nani Coloretti
Ann Patterson will eventually be out, so we have to turn our focus toward her replacement. Nobody is accusing Coloretti of needing training wheels, but we have traditionally not added folks to this list who are this new to the job. That said, Coloretti’s CV is…awesome. She came to Newsomworld from
Lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
California Mass Deportation Protest, photo by AP. While redistricting has taken center stage for the moment, when lawmakers return next week they will also have a full package of bills addressing interactions with the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to consider forwarding to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
View of the Senate in the California State Capitol building. Image by Sundry Photography. With the final weeks of Session upon us, several procedural items that regularly occur on the Floors of the California Legislature may be in order.
Governor Tim Walz and Mrs. Gwen Walz with campaign staffer Kevin Liao backstage at Howard University in Washington, D.C., November 6, 2024. (David Lienemann/Harris for President)CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined today by Kevin Liao of Frontrunner Strategies. Liao spent over four years as Press Secretary and Communications Director for former Speaker Anthony Rendon, before moving on to national campaign work. He was on first Elizabeth Warren and then Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign teams, and handled comms for Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz as she barnstormed the Midwest for the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024. He shares stories from the road – and tells what advice he’d give any other California politicians who might be seeking the White House.
Black antique rotary style telephone. Image by montreehanlueSince 1996, California has required select telecommunications companies to offer basic, home telephone service to anyone who asks for it. Lawmakers could take a major step toward changing that when they return to the Capitol on August 18th.
Flag of State of California, image by Arseniy45.Special interests paid lobbying firms more than $89 million to lobby state government in the second quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.