Alexei Koseff

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Gov. Gavin Newsom greet each other during a press conference in Antioch on Aug. 11, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Newsom gave his political rival a $380k job. Special interests helped foot the bill

June 18, 2025 at 6:03 a.m.

At the request of Gov. Gavin Newsom, a nonprofit paid former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa more than $380,000 to advise the governor for about 10 months on how to...

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a visit to an area affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Feb. 11, 2025, while he assures a crowd funding relief for the winter fires is forthcoming from Washington D.C. to rebuild homes and businesses, Feb., 2025.. Damien Dovarganes photo.

How Gavin Newsom is balancing fight against Trump with LA fire relief

April 25, 2025 at 1:36 p.m.

Three months into President Donald Trump’s second term and the recovery from the firestorm that devastated Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom finds himself at a precarious juncture.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis speaks at the State of the State ceremony on March 8, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

California’s lieutenant governor leases offices to the state. What if she’s elected governor?

April 15, 2025 at 6:04 a.m.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who earns millions of dollars annually from extensive property investments around the Sacramento region and beyond, says she will put some of her holdings into a...

Then-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, addresses the Women's Caucus at the Democratic Party convention in Sacramento on Nov. 17, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters. Miguel Gutierrez. Lake County Publishing.

Katie Porter enters race for California governor promising to stand up to Donald Trump

March 13, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Katie Porter, the former Democratic congress member from Orange County who became a progressive star with her vigorous interrogations during committee hearings, is running for governor of California.

Earlier in the month, Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (not pictured) spoke on ways to oppose cuts from the incoming Trump Administration. (File photo- L AKE COUNTY PUBLISHING.)

Top Dems say they won’t just Trump-proof CA but make it affordable

December 11, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

The leaders of the state Legislature have a message for voters: We know you’re frustrated with how expensive California is — and we’re going to fix it.

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