Voters cast ballots in several states as California governor primary goes down to the wire
Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.
Californians are voting today in the initial round for a new governor, with a competitive three-way contest for two run-off positions.
The Golden State will also elect House representatives for the first time since approving Proposition 50, a measure passed in response to Texas redrawing its congressional districts last year to create five Republican-leaning seats, reportedly influenced by former President Donald Trump.
In addition to California, elections are taking place in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, and New Mexico on Tuesday.
California Governor Primary Details
California’s governor primary features all candidates competing in a single contest regardless of party affiliation, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the November general election to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, according to AFP.
The ballot includes over 60 candidates, mailed to all registered voters in the state, which has a population of approximately 40 million and leans heavily Democratic. Recent polls indicate a three-way split, with Xavier Becerra, former President Joe Biden’s health secretary, leading the field.
Competing for the second spot to face Becerra in November are Democrat Tom Steyer and Republican Steve Hilton, who is backed by Donald Trump.
Governor Newsom is reportedly considering a 2028 presidential run, following the precedent set by Ronald Reagan, who served as California’s governor from 1967 to 1975.
Los Angeles Mayoral Primary
Los Angeles voters are also participating in the city’s mayoral primary. Incumbent Karen Bass is seeking a second term and faces challenges from the left by former city council ally Nithya Raman and from the right by reality TV personality Spencer Pratt.
If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday, they will win outright; otherwise, the top two candidates will advance to the November 3 general election.
Senate Democrats and the $1.8bn Fund
Democrats in the US Senate have pledged to compel a vote on a $1.8 billion fund, described by critics as a "MAGA slush fund," which was created as part of a resolution to Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The fund is intended to compensate individuals who have been victims of politicized prosecutions, according to the Trump administration.
Tina Peters Released from Prison
Tina Peters, a former clerk convicted for her involvement in election conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump, was released from prison on Monday after the president successfully pressured Colorado’s Democratic governor to commute her sentence.
Protests in New Jersey
On Monday afternoon, outside the New Jersey state legislature in Trenton, a group of protesters condemned Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill’s decision to deploy state police to Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark that has experienced over a week of chaotic and often violent incidents.
Transgender Military Service Ruling
An appeals court ruled on Monday in a split decision that transgender troops may remain in the US military; however, the armed services may continue to restrict their enlistment. This ruling carries significant implications for the Trump administration’s policies opposing diversity in the military.
Congressional Trips to Israel Amid Conflict
Since October 7, 2023, dozens of members of Congress and Capitol Hill staffers have participated in lavish trips funded by an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) affiliate, despite declining American support for Israel’s policies amid expanding conflicts with neighboring countries, according to an analysis by .
Congressional ethics filings and public records reveal that these trips, organized by the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), included one-sided briefings on Middle East politics and Israeli domestic and foreign policy. Lawmakers and staff from both parties met with Israeli officials, military contractors, and civil society figures, including advocates for the annexation of the West Bank and the displacement of Palestinians from Jerusalem.
While AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups have sponsored such trips for years with bipartisan participation, the continued involvement of Democratic lawmakers and staff is notable given the recent decline in Democratic voter support for Israel and efforts by some Democratic politicians to distance themselves from the lobby.
A recent poll found that 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold a favorable view of Israel, along with 60% of Americans overall.
Ethics filings show that members of Congress and their staff were accommodated in luxury hotels, dined at high-end restaurants, and received briefings in at least one West Bank settlement. While some aspects of these trips have been previously reported, is disclosing detailed itineraries, costs, and additional trips for the first time.
Restrictions on Pentagon Press Access
Journalists are no longer permitted to enter the Pentagon’s press office, which has been reclassified as a classified space amid increasing restrictions on press access to the Department of Defense.
Jose Valdez, acting Defense Department press secretary, stated on social media:
“This is the most transparent war department in history. No amount of spin from the Fake News media will change that.”
He added:
“The Pentagon Press Office has been redesignated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility due to speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of War sharing the facility.”
Valdez further explained that because speechwriters handle classified material, journalists will no longer be allowed access to the office space. This move was initially reported and later confirmed by Valdez on social media.
The Department of Defense, referred to by the Trump administration as the War Department, began implementing new policies in September requiring journalists to pledge not to collect unauthorized information, including unclassified documents, or risk losing press credentials.
Historically, credentialed journalists have had broad access to the Pentagon, but after sweeping restrictions were announced in October, many veteran reporters resigned and surrendered their press passes. That month, the department introduced a "next generation of the Pentagon press corps" comprising 60 journalists from far-right outlets. The New York Times filed a lawsuit challenging these policies, which labeled journalists as "security risks," and a federal judge has been involved in the case.
Trump’s $1.8bn Fund Under Review
Donald Trump is reconsidering whether to continue advocating for the $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate his allies, according to a person familiar with his thoughts, as the Justice Department paused the program to comply with a court order.
The "anti-weaponization" fund has encountered legal challenges since its announcement two weeks ago and faces growing political opposition due to concerns over oversight and the potential for payments to individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Some Senate Republicans are urging the White House to abandon the fund.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters:
“I do think the best way to handle it is if the administration decides to shut [the fund] down themselves.”
Senators have vowed to force a vote on what they describe as a $1.8 billion "MAGA slush fund," created as part of a resolution of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS.
The Trump administration has characterized the fund as a means to compensate victims of politicized prosecutions, but critics have expressed alarm.
The fund’s terms do not require disclosure of payment amounts or recipients. Administration officials have indicated that payees could include pardoned January 6 rioters.
