Former California Assemblymember Evan Low tried to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to celebrity Alec Baldwin for campaign appearances using a big tech advocacy group he founded, according to a recent state report. Low — who represented Assembly District 26 and lost a bid for Congressional District 16 to former San Jose...
California Democrats look for a path forward for their party
As Democrats soul-search for a new message to meet the current Trump era, many lawmakers are pointing to the ideas at the center of “Abundance,” the much-hyped book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, as at least a partial solution to the party’s woes. “This is one of the most important books Democrats can read...
DOGE is changing California — and Democrats worry it’s just starting
California is being hit particularly hard by Department of Government Efficiency cuts. It is home to more federal workers than any other state, many of them with the Department of Veterans Affairs, whose workforce is being slashed by thousands nationwide. Its national parks and reserves are facing staffing cuts, while its universities stand to lose...
Silicon Valley lawmakers aren’t racing to back latest governor candidate
Katie Porter, the whiteboard-wielding former member of Congress, announced on Tuesday her bid for California governor to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Her former House colleagues appeared far more interested in whatever Kamala Harris decides to do. “I think I’ll sit on the sidelines for a while,” Rep. Ami Bera told NOTUS. “It’s still a...
State lawmakers disagree with Newsom’s take on transgender athletes
California Democrats on Thursday distanced themselves from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent comments on transgender athletes, saying they are committed to protecting equality even as their state’s leader sides with a prominent right-wing figure on inclusion in sports. Newsom said on his new podcast that he “completely agrees” with guest Charlie Kirk that transgender athletes should...
New laws affecting Silicon Valley in 2025
A new year brings new state laws, with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing hundreds of bills addressing many of California’s pressing issues. The bills range from cracking down on crime to creating safer spaces in schools for LGBTQ+ students, all of which will affect Silicon Valley. Here’s a list of some laws that take effect in...
How will the 2024 propositions affect Silicon Valley?
This year’s election cycle brought 10 propositions to California voters. Some will either usher in statewide changes or no changes at all. Some residents were shocked by the rejection of Proposition 6, which would have ended forced labor in prisons. Others are celebrating the passage of Proposition 3, which codified the right to same-sex marriage...
San Jose’s new congressman tried to kill story to protect state speaker
In an anxious 30-second voicemail, Sam Liccardo urged a friend to kill a critical article related to California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas — warning it would “blow up in a really bad way” for himself and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. The voicemail from the former San Jose mayor and congressman-elect — left three days...
Patrick Ahrens leads in Assembly District 26 race
In the South Bay’s only competitive Assembly race, Patrick Ahrens is leading over Tara Sreekrishnan to fill the Assembly District 26 seat. As of 5 p.m. Friday, Ahrens, district director for Assemblymember Evan Low, is ahead with roughly 56.8% of the vote, or 58,658 votes. Sreekrishnan, a deputy chief of staff and legislative director for state...
Silicon Valley candidate apologizes for egging car
With one week until the election, a years-old video showing Tara Sreekrishnan egging a Cupertino resident’s car has resurfaced, moving some to raise concerns about her run for state Assembly. Sreekrishnan, a candidate for the contentious Assembly District 26 seat, egged the car of a Cupertino resident who she felt made offensive comments regarding her...