Here are some quick updates on what’s happening in politics and government this week:
- Those hanging around the water cooler are fascinated by Gavin Newsom’s re-election campaign voter outreach efforts. Or lack thereof. We have previously discussed how the campaign chose not to submit a ballot statement in the official Voter Information Guide. A reader recently noticed the campaign’s Facebook page has not had a new post in 3 months; not since July 3. When Newsom was in Texas last week, he was asked if he was running for President in 2024 and according to Business Insider “’Not happening, no, no, not at all,’ Newsom said. ‘I’ve said it in French, Italian. I don’t know German. I mean, I cannot say it enough.’”
- We have yet another effort to establish a new political party in California. Although we will always root for the Pirate Party, we feel obliged to mention the others. Last Friday, the Secretary of State’s office informed the counties of the American Solidarity Party’s intent to qualify for the November 2024 election. Here is the latest list of political parties hoping to qualify in future elections. Unfortunately, the Pirate Party is not yet among them. Arrrr.
- How about some good news? The folks at the Public Policy Institute of California have posted information from new census data showing that “…poverty in California declined among both adults and children last year. While economic downturns typically cause poverty to rise, pandemic relief measures drove a continued decline, especially among children.”
- Capitol Weekly brings us news on who is vying for the new head of California’s stem cell agency: former Assembly Speaker and current U.C. Regent John Perez and Dr. Emilie Marcus of UCLA’s School of Medicine. The job pays up to $632,000 per year. We can only hope the job interviews will be public.