Good morning, Inland Empire and Southern California readers. California’s political landscape shifted over the weekend as new election results rolled in, bringing a mix of outcomes for voters across the political spectrum. Centrist, business-friendly Democrats notched significant wins in legislative races, while progressives found their own cause for celebration in Jane Kim’s election as the state’s next insurance commissioner.
Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision last week to commute a wave of death sentences continued to generate strong reactions statewide, with several families of murder victims telling CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow they felt blindsided and betrayed by the move.
Below, we break down these developments along with a look at why Southern California health officials are bracing for what could be an unusually severe mosquito season tied to El Niño.
Tech money reshapes the Legislature
While billionaire-funded efforts to blunt a Democratic wave nationally largely fizzled, wealthy donors found more success influencing the makeup of California’s Legislature, according to reporting from CalMatters’ Kate Wolffe.
At least nine candidates backed by Silicon Valley interests are headed to the state Capitol after tech companies and investors funneled a combined $50 million into legislative races, largely working to defeat candidates viewed as too far to the left. Among the winners: Assemblymembers-elect Mark Pulido, Andrae Gonzalez and Annalisa Perea, along with Sen.-elect Scott Sakakihara, who previously worked as an executive at Palantir Technologies.
Much of that spending flowed through Grow California, an independent expenditure committee backed primarily by cryptocurrency billionaire Chris Larsen and venture capitalist Tim Draper, which spent $24 million supporting moderate Democrats over their more progressive rivals. A second group, California Leads, funded largely by Meta and Google, contributed another $17 million toward similar goals.
Combined, the two committees accounted for nearly a third of all independent spending on legislative races this cycle — a record-setting year for political money in California. While Grow California and California Leads maintain they aren’t pushing any specific policy agenda, a separate Meta-funded super PAC, META California, has been explicit about backing candidates friendly to artificial intelligence development.
Tech-aligned donors and business groups also poured enormous sums into the ballot measure fight, spending to defeat Proposition 40 — the proposed billionaire tax, which appears headed for defeat — while backing Proposition 42, which would permanently bar any new wealth tax and appears on track to pass. Counting a related anti-tax measure, opponents spent a staggering $316 million combined.
Catherine Bracy, chief executive of the advocacy group TechEquity Collaborative, said the spending spree reflects Silicon Valley’s growing grip on California politics and should concern anyone hoping for stronger tech regulation in Sacramento.
More election results trickle in
Additional ballot counting over the weekend confirmed that California voters rejected three more statewide measures: Proposition 41, which would have restricted certain new state taxes; Proposition 43, which would have made local tax measures harder to pass; and Proposition 45, which would have eased environmental review rules for housing construction.
Voters also confirmed Jane Kim’s election as insurance commissioner, along with Democrats Sally J. Lieber and Tom Umberg winning seats on the State Board of Equalization.
El Niño could bring a mosquito surge to Southern California
A warmer, more humid summer already led to a spike in mosquito-borne West Nile virus cases across the state, with deadly consequences, reports CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang.
As of Nov. 6, the virus had seriously sickened 528 Californians and killed 32 — marking the worst West Nile activity the state has seen in five years. Los Angeles County alone accounted for more than half of this year’s cases. Most people who contract the virus show no symptoms, but roughly one in five develop fevers, headaches and body aches.
Health experts warn that El Niño conditions could make 2027 even worse. If floodwaters linger into spring alongside rising temperatures, mosquito populations across the region could explode, raising fresh concerns for Southern California communities already familiar with the insects’ summer presence.
CalMatters sues Shasta County over withheld subpoena
CalMatters and the nonprofit newsroom Shasta Scout have filed suit against Shasta County after officials refused to release a federal subpoena connected to the 2026 primary election. The subpoena was issued following claims by the county’s outgoing elections registrar, Clint Curtis, that ballots looked, felt and smelled suspicious.
The lawsuit argues the public deserves to know whether any federal investigation is rooted in legitimate evidence of wrongdoing — or whether it’s fueling unfounded doubts about the integrity of California elections. After the June primary, Curtis drew attention from the Trump administration with his claims, and in September told reporters that FBI agents visited a county elections office to examine ballots tied to a federal grand jury subpoena. When CalMatters and Shasta Scout requested copies of that subpoena, the county denied the request, prompting the legal action.
Some victims’ families angered by death row commutations
Reaction among victims’ families to Newsom’s recent decision to commute a number of death sentences remains deeply divided. While some have expressed understanding, others are outraged. Sandy Friend, whose 8-year-old son Michael Lyon was raped and murdered in 1996 by Robert Boyd Rhoades, described feeling “a deep, soul-hurting pain” upon learning of the governor’s decision.
A closing thought
As Los Angeles ramps up construction ahead of the 2028 Olympics — building new transit stations and rail lines across the region — local writer Shanice Joseph, a Watts native, argues the city must not forget the workers who make it run. In a recent commentary, she calls for ensuring those same workers have access to safe, reliable transportation as the city transforms around them.
Original source: CalMatters
