California Politics 360 full episode | Ballots still being counted, major changes to High-Speed Rail

We still don’t know who will move on to the general election in November in several key races.

NEW ACTION TO BUILD CALIFORNIA’S HIGH SPEED RAIL. OUR FIRST HAND LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION. THE STRUCTURE SPANS ABOUT 6333FT LONG. IT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE KINGS TULARE STATION. FROM KINGS COUNTY TO THE STATE CAPITOL. A MAJOR SHAKEUP IN LEADERSHIP ON THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY. THE TWO CHANGES KEY DECISION MAKERS MADE THAT WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE OF THE PROJECT. UNCERTAINTY WITH A FUTURE OF GAS PRICES. THE SITUATION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. WHERE CALIFORNIA’S OIL SUPPLY STANDS GOING INTO THE SUMMER. QUESTIONS AROUND CALIFORNIA’S NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE DEMOCRATS THE UPPER HAND. ARE THEY WORKING SO FAR? THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. I’M ASHLEY ZAVALA. IT’S BEEN A VERY BUSY WEEK FOLLOWING TUESDAY’S ELECTION. AND WHILE THE ELECTION ITSELF IS OVER, THE BALLOT COUNTING CONTINUES. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHO WILL MOVE ON TO NOVEMBER’S ELECTION IN SEVERAL KEY RACES. IT COULD BE DAYS, MAYBE EVEN WEEKS UNTIL THEY’RE SET. A BIG QUESTION COMING OUT OF THIS WILL CALIFORNIA’S NEW U.S. HOUSE MAPS WORK TO ACTUALLY HELP DEMOCRATS, AS PROMISED? WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT COMING UP. BUT FIRST, HISTORIC MOVES WITH TAXPAYER MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT. CONSTRUCTION STARTED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO WITH THE HOPES OF TAKING RIDERS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO LOS ANGELES BY 2020. WHILE WORK IS HAPPENING, WE’RE STILL YEARS AWAY FROM A FRACTION OF THAT. LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK TO SHOW YOU WHAT’S HAPPENED. IN 2008, VOTERS APPROVED NEARLY $10 BILLION IN BONDS FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE BULLET TRAIN. IN JANUARY OF 2015, THEN GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN CELEBRATED THAT GROUNDBREAKING. HIGH SPEED RAIL LINKS FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE, FROM THE SOUTH TO FRESNO AND NORTH. THIS IS TRULY A CALIFORNIA PROJECT BRINGING US TOGETHER TODAY. BUT TODAY IT’S EXPECTED TO COST AT LEAST $126 BILLION. AS OF NOW, THE STATE IS SHORT ABOUT $90 BILLION. THIS WEEK OUR TEAM GOT A LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING SO FAR. WE GOT A TOUR OF ONE OF THE STRUCTURES CREWS ARE WORKING ON IN HANFORD. IT’S PART OF THE OVERALL WORK TO FINISH A 119 MILE SECTION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY THAT WILL SOON BECOME THE MERCED TO BAKERSFIELD LINE. NOW TO THOSE TWO MAJOR DECISIONS BY THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY. FIRST, THEY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PROJECT’S LARGEST EVER CONTRACT AT $3.5 BILLION TO START LAYING TRACKS FOR THE TRAIN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THAT MONEY IS GOING TO A SINGLE BIDDER, A JOINT VENTURE CALLED KIEWIT, STACEY WITBECK. HERZOG. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED A BUSINESS PLAN THIS WEEK THAT’S BEEN AT THE CENTER OF SCRUTINY FOR LACKING KEY COST INFORMATION. THE PLAN PROPOSES CONTROVERSIAL WAYS TO PAY FOR THE TRAIN MOVING FORWARD, INCLUDING A PUSH TO TAKE LAND AND TAX MONEY AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND ANOTHER THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTERS ALONG THE WAY. I SAT DOWN WITH THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE SENATE’S TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN SENATOR TONY STRICKLAND. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. IN YOUR CAPACITY AS VICE CHAIR OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY BOARD’S BIG MOVES THIS WEEK, STARTING WITH THE ABRUPT APPOINTMENT AND VOTE FOR A NEW BOARD PRESIDENT, STEVE CAVA. JUST YOUR REACTION TO HOW THAT ALL PLAYED OUT. MY FIRST REACTION ACTUALLY IS HERE’S A POLITICAL APPOINTEE WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE ON A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. WE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE AT A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE THIS PROJECT IS AT $231 BILLION IN COUNTING. WE HAVE LACK OF CASH FLOW LACK OF RESOURCES. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING FORWARD. WE JUST GOT DONE WITH THE INFORMATIONAL HEARING WHERE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID THIS IS UNREALISTIC. EVEN MY COLLEAGUE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WHO’S BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF THIS, CALLED IT A DISASTER. WE LEFT THAT INFORMATIONAL HEARING WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. AND THE RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNOR NOW IS, I’M GOING TO PUT MY POLITICAL HACK IN THERE WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD. I WOULD SAY THAT IT GIVES US LESS FAITH MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THE REASON WHY YOU WANT THOSE POSITIONS, YOU WANT PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD TO HELP US NAVIGATE TO WHAT WOULD BE AN AMAZING PROJECT. BUT CLEARLY, EVERYBODY KNOWS IN SACRAMENTO, THIS PROJECT HAS PROPOSED PEOPLE. CALIFORNIA IS NEVER GOING TO BE BUILT. IT’S THE MOST WASTEFUL PROJECT IN WORLD HISTORY, AND IT IS TIME TO PULL THE PLUG. I’VE TOLD MY COLLEAGUES WE CAN’T CONTINUE TO WASTE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE DON’T HAVE. WE, WHOEVER THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA IS, IS FACING A MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE TO CLOSE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. THE EASIEST DECISION WOULD BE TO PULL THE PLUG ON THIS HIGH SPEED RAIL. SO I’LL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND. BUT I MEAN, THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY BOARD AND THE POWERS THAT BE, THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, THEY’RE MAKING CLEAR THAT THEY’RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. THE BOARD APPROVED THE PROJECT’S LARGEST CONTRACT YET AT $3.5 BILLION FOR TRACK AND SYSTEMS THIS WEEK. AND THAT WENT TO A SINGLE BIDDER. JUST YOUR REACTION TO TO THAT AND THE LIKELIHOOD WE SEE THAT TRACK BUILT OUT THIS YEAR. WELL, IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE I TOLD MY WIFE WHEN I CAME HOME, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A BILL GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW THAT SAYS IF ANYTHING SHOWS WEAKNESS ON THIS PROJECT, THAT THEY DON’T HAVE TO RELEASE THAT INFORMATION. WE’RE GOING THE OTHER WAY IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS IS THE PEOPLE’S MONEY. IT’S NOT GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S MONEY. THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. AND WE’RE TAKING THE OTHER TRACK. NOW, THERE’S ONE BID, NO BID CONTRACT. IT GOES OUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE REASON FOR THAT BILL THAT’S GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LARGEST CHANGE ORDER IN HISTORY, AND PEOPLE WANT TRANSPARENCY. THEY WANT TO KNOW THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE IN 2020 AT 30 BILLION, AND NOW IT’S 231 BILLION. AND THAT DOESN’T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR ANY BORROWING AT ALL. AS A NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE ANALYST SAYS, AND AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WHEN YOU BORROW MONEY, YOU ACTUALLY PAY MORE MONEY BACK THAN WHEN YOU BORROW. AND SO WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT THAT IS ALMOST EQUIVALENCY OF THE ENTIRE STATE BUDGET. ONE PROJECT. AND I THINK THERE’S A BETTER WAY TO SPEND A HARDWORKING FAMILY MONEY THAN THIS ONE PROJECT. FOR EXAMPLE, PROP 36, TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO KEEP US SAFE. ANOTHER ONE IS WE HAVE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO GET READY FOR THE OLYMPICS. AND WE’RE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS ON UNIVERSITY, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS FOR A BETTER FUTURE. I FOUGHT TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T CUT INTO, U, C AND CSU SYSTEM. AGAIN, THIS ONE PROJECT IS WASTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. ANOTHER REASON EVERYBODY SAYS THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE. WELL, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST GAS PRICES IN THE NATION BECAUSE WE TAX. A LARGE PORTION OF THAT TAX IS GOING TO THIS ONE PROJECT. SENATOR STRICKLAND AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW REALISTIC THE BUSINESS PLAN IS AND A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY BOARD. ASSEMBLY WORK GOING ON RIGHT NOW. SO THIS IS WHAT THIS IS RIGHT HERE. WE’RE WALKING OVER. NEXT WE HEAD TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY FOR A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT WHAT THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW, CREWS ARE WORKING TO FINISH THE FIRST SECTION OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. THE 119 MILE SECTION WILL BE THE PROJECT’S FIRST MILESTONE. EVENTUALLY, IT WILL TAKE RIDERS FROM MERCED TO BAKERSFIELD ONCE MORE RAIL IS BUILT. JASON MARKS GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE WORK BEING DONE. OH YEAH, THIS IS THOUSANDS OF YARDS OF CONCRETE RIGHT HERE. THE WORK TO BUILD A NEW CHAPTER IN CALIFORNIA. TRANSPORTATION CONTINUES. SO WE’RE WALKING DOWN THE HANFORD VIADUCT, GOING SOUTHBOUND RIGHT NOW. WE’LL CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PROGRESS OVER HERE JUST OVER A MILE LONG. THIS IS JUST ONE SECTION OF HIGH SPEED RAIL, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO SOMEDAY CONNECT BAY AREA TO LA. A LOT OF HELP WENT INTO BUILDING THIS BRIDGE. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DIFFERENT CREWS FROM, YOU KNOW, FALSEWORK TO COLUMNS. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF HELP WITH THIS. ADRIAN BADILLO IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO GAVE CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360 A HARD HAT TOUR OF THE PROGRESS. IT’S NICE, YOU KNOW, THIS BEING SO CLOSE TO HOME, USUALLY THE LIFE OF A OF A UNION WORKERS ON THE ROAD. BUT DIO, WHO IS FROM HANFORD, A SMALL CITY ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTH OF FRESNO, HAS WORKED ON THE SITE SINCE 2020. IT’S A GOOD FEELING BECAUSE I, I WHEN I GOT HERE, WE’RE STILL DOING THE FOOTINGS, YOU KNOW, THE STUFF THAT’S BURIED NOW, YOU CAN’T SEE. SO TO STAND ON TOP OF THIS IS IT’S AMAZING. KYLE RICHARDSON HASN’T BEEN ON THE JOB NEARLY AS LONG, BUT HE TOO IS GLAD TO BE HERE. THESE MEN AND WOMEN WORK REALLY HARD. THEY REALLY WORK THEIR — OFF. AND IT’S REALLY AWESOME TO SEE THAT. THE HANFORD VIADUCT IS THE LARGEST ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND IS NEARING COMPLETION. SO FAR, 61 OF 93 STRUCTURES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THIS FIRST LEG OF HIGH SPEED RAIL THROUGH THE CENTRAL VALLEY HAVE BEEN FINISHED. THE CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, THE FIRST IN THE NATION. INNOVATION TAKES TIME. BUT CONSTRUCTION ITSELF HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT HIGH SPEED. THE RAIL WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2008 ON THE PROMISE OF BEING UP AND RUNNING BY 2020. IT’S LOOKING NOW MORE LIKE THE LATE 2030S. A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT SEE THE EFFORT AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE MAKE EACH AND EVERY DAY, BECAUSE WE’RE IN AREAS LIKE THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF HANFORD, IN THE MIDDLE OF RURAL AREAS. BUT WE HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROGRESS. THIS SECTION COULD SEE TRACKS WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THOUGH IT STILL EXPECTED TO BE YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST TRAIN IS ACTUALLY MOVING. I’VE BEEN OUT HERE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN 100% EFFORT TO GET THIS DONE. AND I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN OUT HERE THAT ARE ON THE SAME BOAT. YOU KNOW, WE’RE WE WANT TO WE WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING GREAT IN CALIFORNIA, IN HANFORD, JASON MARKS, CALIFORNIA POLITICS. 360 THAT MERCED TO BAKERSFIELD SECTION IS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY 2033. IN THE APPROVED BUSINESS PLAN, LEADERS SAY IT WILL COST THE STATE $35.7 BILLION TO FINISH THAT SECTION OF THE TRAIN. THE COST NEARLY DOUBLES. ADDING IN A SECTION TO SAN FRANCISCO, THE STATE SAYS IT WILL COST AT LEAST $126 BILLION TOTAL TO BUILD THE HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM THE BAY AREA TO LOS ANGELES. VOTERS IN 2008 WERE TOLD THIS WOULD COST $33 BILLION. THIS HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH A GROWING BUDGET GAP FOR YEARS. HOW EXACTLY THEY COME UP WITH NEW MONEY FOR THIS IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING GAS PRICES AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER. WHAT DRIVERS CAN EXPECT AS THE CONFLICT CONTINUES IN IRAN. THERE’S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND GAS PRICES THIS SUMMER WITH THE EXTENDED CLOSURE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. DRIVERS CONTINUE TO PAY AROUND $6 AT THE PUMP, AND IN LESS THAN A MONTH, CALIFORNIA DRIVERS WILL PAY SLIGHTLY MORE. WITH THE ANNUAL INCREASE IN THE STATE’S GAS TAX. THIS WEEK, STATE LEADERS ANNOUNCED THE TWO CENT INCREASE THAT’S REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW FOR EVERY GALLON OF REGULAR GAS, DRIVERS WILL BE PAYING $0.63 IN WHAT’S KNOWN AS THE GAS TAX. THIS WEEK, CALIFORNIA ENERGY OFFICIALS GAVE LAWMAKERS AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE STATE’S OIL AND GAS SUPPLY. CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION VICE CHAIR LAGUNA SAYS THE STATE HAS ENOUGH SUPPLY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 7 TO 8 WEEKS. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE STATE SAW A SPIKE IN GAS PRICES BEFORE THE WAR IN IRAN BEGAN. AFTER TWO IN-STATE REFINERIES SHUT DOWN, WHILE THE ESCALATION RIGHT NOW IS REALLY TIED TO THE WAR, AND THERE WAS A PRE-WAR ESCALATION THAT DID OCCUR. AND I WANT TO JUST BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE SAW THAT IN A DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EARLY IDLING OF VALERO, GASBUDDY SHOWS A BREAKDOWN OF PRICES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THERE. WHEN THE WAR IN IRAN BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 28TH, GAS PRICES WERE $4.62. GAS PRICES PEAKED ON MAY 7TH, WHEN THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE HIT $6.16. HERE’S A COST BREAKDOWN OF WHAT YOU’RE PAYING AT THE PUMP FOR EVERY GALLON OF GAS. WITH THAT CLOSURE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. AND FOR DRIVERS HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THAT MEANS A PRICE JUMP AT THE PUMP. EVERY TIME THE GAS, THE CRUDE OIL PRICES GO UP BY $10, IT WILL BE $0.25 AT THE PUMP. SO IF YOU KNOW FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IF THERE IS AN INCREASE OF THE CRUDE OIL PRICES BY ANOTHER $3,040, IT’S GOING TO JUST TRANSLATE STRAIGHT TO A DOLLAR AT THE PUMP, PLUS ANY EXPOSURE WE MIGHT HAVE IN TERMS OF GLOBAL TRADING. EXPERTS AND ANALYSTS HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE SITUATION. I SAT DOWN WITH GASBUDDY’S PATRICK DE HAAN. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE SITUATION HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE WE’VE LOST TWO REFINERIES, AND WE’RE ALSO DEALING WITH A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE WAR IN IRAN. THE SITUATION THERE WITH THE STATE RELYING A LOT MORE ON IMPORTED FUEL. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WITH OUR GAS PRICES THIS SUMMER? WELL, PROBABLY AMONGST THE MOST VOLATILE SUMMERS OF ALL, THE SITUATION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. YOU KNOW, WE’VE GONE FROM POTENTIAL FOR NEGOTIATIONS AND A DEAL SEVERAL TIMES TO NOTHING THAT HAS COME OF IT. AND THIS IS NOW THE THIRD TIME WE’VE SEEN OIL PRICES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS DECLINE. AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TEASED THAT THERE IS A DEAL THAT COULD BE IMMINENT, ONLY FOR US TO SEE THAT KIND OF SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS. AND SO OIL PRICES HAVE NOW GONE BACK UP SLIGHTLY AFTER A DISAPPOINTMENT THAT DIDN’T TRANSLATE INTO A REOPENING OF THE STRAIT. AND WE MAY CONTINUE TO SEE OIL PRICES GYRATE DEPENDING ON THE HEADLINES, DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE NEW ESCALATIONS. BUT ALL IN ALL, THE LONGER THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CONTINUES TO BE CLOSED, THE MORE IMPACTED OIL, GASOLINE, DIESEL AND JET FUEL PRICES COULD BECOME IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. THE STATE RIGHT NOW, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S ADMINISTRATION TOLD LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET DEMAND FOR THE NEXT 7 TO 8 WEEKS IN THIS STATE AT THIS POINT. BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THAT, THERE’S UNCERTAINTY AROUND WHAT GAS PRICES COULD LOOK LIKE. DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THEY COULD LOOK LIKE? I DON’T THINK ANYONE WOULD HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF WHAT THEY COULD LOOK LIKE. AGAIN, JUST THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF WHAT’S GOING ON BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN. OBVIOUSLY, CALIFORNIA HAS LOST SEVERAL REFINERIES, MAKING IT MORE RELIANT ON GASOLINE, DIESEL AND JET FUEL THAT COULD COME FROM VERY FAR DISTANCES TO BE ABLE TO MEET DEMAND. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A CRITICAL COUPLE OF WEEKS, AT LEAST FOR NOW. MORE OF CALIFORNIA’S FUEL AND REFINED PRODUCTS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FLOWING ALL THE WAY FROM AREAS LIKE TEXAS, THANKS TO THE JONES ACT WAIVER ISSUED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF CRUDE OIL AND PRODUCTS FLOWING FROM GULF COAST REFINERIES INTO CALIFORNIA, BUT THE LONGER THIS STRAIGHT CONTINUES TO BE CLOSED, THE MORE PROBLEMATIC IT COULD BE AND THE MORE IMPACTFUL TO GAS PRICES IN CALIFORNIA AND MUCH OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. IT’S STILL POTENTIAL THAT WE COULD SET NEW ALL TIME RECORDS LATER THIS SUMMER IF THE STREET REMAINS CLOSED. PATRICK DE HAAN AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT THE U.S. REACHING A 40 YEAR LOW WITH THE EMERGENCY OIL RESERVE AND HOW LONG IT COULD TAKE GAS PRICES TO LOWER IN CALIFORNIA ONCE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ REOPENS AND THE WAR ENDS. WELL, THIS WEEK, VOTERS DECIDED THE REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS OFF OF NEW MAPS MEANT TO GIVE DEMOCRATS AN EDGE. NEXT, I SIT DOWN WITH THE MAN HIRED TO DRAW THOSE MAPS. DOES HE THINK THEY’RE WORKING? CALIFORNIANS ARE DECIDING WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM IN CONGRESS UNDER NEWLY DRAWN MAPS. IT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS UNDER PROPOSITION 50, DESIGNED TO GIVE DEMOCRATS AN EDGE IN THIS STATE. I SPOKE WITH THE MAN HIRED TO CREATE THOSE MAPS. HERE’S PART OF MY CONVERSATION WITH PAUL MITCHELL. IN GENERAL, THE THE DISTRICTS THAT WERE TARGETED, DO YOU THINK PROP 50 AT THIS POINT IS WORKING JUST GIVEN THE. YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUM OF DEMOCRATIC VOTES AND REPUBLICAN VOTES IN ALL THESE DISTRICTS THAT WERE REDRAWN BY PROP 50, THEY WERE THEY PERFORMED WELL FOR DEMOCRATS. WE WILL SEE, AS AN EXAMPLE, IN THE CD 22, THE DAVID VALADAO DISTRICT. THAT’S STILL A CLOSE RACE BETWEEN TWO CANDIDATES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE. ONE MORE MODERATE, ONE MORE PROGRESSIVE. AND SO THE FLAVOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THERE WILL BE UP IN THAT VALADAO DISTRICT IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. BUT YEAH, THE DISTRICTS PERFORMED THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAVE. AND THE DISTRICTS THAT WERE ALREADY HELD BY DEMOCRATS, BUT REALLY KIND OF COMPETITIVE, THOSE DISTRICTS WERE BOLSTERED BY PROP 50. AND WE SEE THAT IN THE DATA, TOO, IN ALL THOSE RACES, YOU CAN SEE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE RATHER EASY GENERAL ELECTIONS NOW. AND I MEAN, EVEN IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ONE, WHERE JAMES GALLAGHER DOES HAVE A LEAD. I MEAN, THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT DEMOCRATS WHO ARE SPLIT AMONG MULTIPLE ONE, TWO MULTIPLE CANDIDATES, WILL NOW COALESCE IN THE GENERAL. THAT’S THE ASSUMPTION. YOU KNOW, I MIGHT BE STEPPING OUT OF LIKE THE PARTY NORM AND THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WHEN I SAY THAT I THINK JAMES GALLAGHER SHOULD BE ELECTED TO THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION. I WISH THAT DEMOCRATS HADN’T EVEN FIELDED A CANDIDATE AGAINST HIM. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FILLING THE REMAINDER OF THE LAMALFA TERM AFTER HIS UNFORTUNATE PASSING, SOMEBODY WHO WAS MENTORED BY LAMALFA AND CLOSE TO LAMALFA, AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE JUST SAID, LOOK, JAMES GALLAGHER, GO BE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. AND THAT’S WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. HE’LL GET ELECTED IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION, AND GOOD FOR HIM. BUT IN THE NEWLY DRAWN ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE SAFELY WON BY FORMER STATE PRO TEM MIKE MCGUIRE. OKAY. HAS ANYONE YET GOTTEN UPSET WITH YOU OVER CIRCLING BACK TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SIX? ANYONE UPSET WITH YOU OVER THE MAP SO FAR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY? NO, NO NO NO, THERE’S NO, IT’S NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE MAPS. I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAD A LOT OF CANDIDATES WHO WERE GOOD CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THAT DISTRICT. NONE OF THEM WANTED TO CONCEDE OR BOW OUT. AND AND THERE WASN’T REALLY A STRATEGY. MAYBE THAT WAS FULLY EFFECTUATED THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT NO MATTER WHICH DEMOCRAT WON THAT THAT MICHAEL STANSFIELD, THE REPUBLICAN WHO BASICALLY HAD NO CAMPAIGN, WOULDN’T JUST ACCIDENTALLY FALL INTO THE SECOND SPOT. PAUL MITCHELL AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT THE VOTER TURNOUT IN THE PRIMARY AND WHO WAS MOST ENERGIZED TO VOTE IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION. RIGHT NOW ON CAL POLITICS 360.COM, YOU CAN WATCH THIS WEEK’S FULL INTERVIEWS AND GET MORE DETAILS ON THESE STORIES. WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WHAT ISSUES DO YOU WANT US TO COVER ON THIS PROGRAM? SEND US AN EMAIL AT CONTACT AT CAL POLITICS 360.COM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK’S CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

California Politics 360 full episode | Ballots still being counted, major changes to High-Speed Rail

We still don’t know who will move on to the general election in November in several key races.

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Updated: 6:17 AM PDT Jun 7, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Millions of ballots are still being counted from Tuesday’s primary election. We still don’t know who will move on to the November General Election in several key races. It could be days, maybe even weeks, until they are set. Leaders of the California High-Speed Rail made two major decisions this week to try to move the embattled project forward. The authority approved a $3.5 billion contract to start laying tracks by the end of the year. The board also approved a business plan this week that’s been at the center of scrutiny for lacking key cost information. Ashley Zavala sat down with the vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Republican Sen. Tony Strickland. California Politics 360 got a first-hand look at the construction underway on the 119-mile Central Valley Section. This will be a key part of the eventual Merced-to-Bakersfield line. Jason Marks talked with the crew working on one of the dozens of structures being built to carry the High-Speed Rail. There’s a lot of uncertainty about gas prices this summer, with the extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz. California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda gave an update to lawmakers this week about the status of the state’s oil and gas supply, saying the state has enough supply for the next seven to eight weeks. Zavala checks in with GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan to see the trends for California’s gas prices. We are still waiting for the results of several key congressional races from Tuesday’s election. It was the first time voters decided their representation in Congress based on the newly redrawn maps designed to give Democrats an edge. Zavala spoke with the man hired to create those maps, Paul Mitchell.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google

Millions of ballots are still being counted from Tuesday’s primary election.

We still don’t know who will move on to the November General Election in several key races. It could be days, maybe even weeks, until they are set.

Leaders of the California High-Speed Rail made two major decisions this week to try to move the embattled project forward. The authority approved a $3.5 billion contract to start laying tracks by the end of the year. The board also approved a business plan this week that’s been at the center of scrutiny for lacking key cost information. Ashley Zavala sat down with the vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Republican Sen. Tony Strickland.

California Politics 360 got a first-hand look at the construction underway on the 119-mile Central Valley Section. This will be a key part of the eventual Merced-to-Bakersfield line. Jason Marks talked with the crew working on one of the dozens of structures being built to carry the High-Speed Rail.

There’s a lot of uncertainty about gas prices this summer, with the extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz. California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda gave an update to lawmakers this week about the status of the state’s oil and gas supply, saying the state has enough supply for the next seven to eight weeks. Zavala checks in with GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan to see the trends for California’s gas prices.

We are still waiting for the results of several key congressional races from Tuesday’s election. It was the first time voters decided their representation in Congress based on the newly redrawn maps designed to give Democrats an edge. Zavala spoke with the man hired to create those maps, Paul Mitchell.

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google