![\"Candidates](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774446550_831_020326-Governor-Debate-AP-CM-01-1.jpg\")
California gubernatorial candidates on stage during a debate in San Francisco on Feb. 3, 2026. Photo by Laure Andrillon, AP Photo<\/p>\nCalifornia gubernatorial candidates on stage during a debate in San Francisco on Feb. 3, 2026. Photo by Laure Andrillon, AP Photo<\/p>\n
From CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang:<\/p>\n
Ten weeks before the primary election, California Democrats still haven\u2019t narrowed down the field of candidates enough to reduce the chances of splitting the vote so much that two Republicans make it to the ballot in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what polling released by the Democratic Party<\/a> on Tuesday showed, with the two GOP candidates \u2014 Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco<\/a> and former Fox News host Steve Hilton \u2014 tied for the lead, and Democrats Rep. Eric Swalwell, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter roughly tied behind them. The results mirrored other recent polls in the race.<\/p>\n It was the first of several polls party chairperson Rusty Hicks intends to release in an effort to nudge some of the candidates to drop out.<\/p>\n Hicks: \u201cIf you\u2019re polling at 1 to 2 percent, do you have a path to get to 20? That\u2019s the question. Do you have a path to put you in a position to win the primary election?\u201d<\/p>\n But the lower-polling candidates remain unlikely to bow out<\/a>. Former controller Betty Yee, polling at 1 to 2 percent, told reporters Tuesday afternoon that she\u2019s \u201cstaying the course.\u201d Yee is the former vice chairperson of the party and placed second<\/a> in a tally of party delegates\u2019 support last month.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yee: \u201cWe\u2019ve had this unprecedented effort to try to limit choice for voters, sidelining candidates and frankly pushing them out of the race. I\u2019m not going to let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n The primary is June 2. About a quarter of likely voters remain undecided.\u00a0<\/p>\n A Tuesday debate hosted by the University of Southern California and ABC7 might have been a chance for voters to pick a favorite. But USC canceled it at the last minute over an uproar from candidates who were excluded. All those who failed to make the cut, based on a \u201cviability\u201d formula devised by USC professors, were candidates of color.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, polling at just 2 to 3 percent, was included because he\u2019s raised millions of dollars, much of it from Silicon Valley, in a short time \u2014 boosting him beyond his polling numbers under USC\u2019s formula.<\/p>\n Focus on Inland Empire: Each Wednesday, CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Aidan McGloin<\/a> surveys the big stories from that part of California. Read his newsletter<\/a> and sign up here<\/a> to receive it.<\/p>\n Join CalMatters on April 22 in Pasadena for a conversation on rebuilding after the devastating January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. As communities shift from emergency response to long-term recovery, experts will examine how workforce shortages are shaping rebuilding efforts and what it will take to strengthen the skilled trades pipeline. Register today<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other Stories You Should Know<\/p>\n Preventive approach to homelessness will get tested elsewhere<\/p>\n A nearly decades-old homelessness prevention program in Santa Clara County is piloting its model throughout the country<\/a>, reports CalMatters\u2019 Marisa Kendall.<\/p>\n Run by the nonprofit Destination: Home, the program focuses on giving temporary financial support to people who may be on the brink of losing their housing. This approach is different from what cities, counties and the state typically do, which is using resources to help people who are already unhoused get back on their feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the past year, Destination: Home has given people an average of about $6,500, most of which went toward rent, security deposits and other housing expenses. But participants can also use the money to address issues that are threatening their housing, such as car repairs, medical expenses or credit card debt.<\/p>\n The program has inspired pilots in 10 other places, including California\u2019s San Mateo County, but also counties in Florida and Texas, and communities in Alaska and Minnesota.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tussle over taxes<\/p>\n A dispute that\u2019s been brewing since 2014 between California and the Federal Aviation Administration is coming to a head, as the state answers questions about how it\u2019s spending revenue from an aviation fuel tax<\/a>.<\/p>\n As CalMatters\u2019 Levi Sumagaysay explains, since the 1980s, the FAA has required states to use money from the fuel tax for airports. The federal agency has disputed whether California is spending the money like it\u2019s supposed to.\u00a0<\/p>\n The state\u2019s finance department responded March 20 that, essentially, the state has spent over $2 billion on airport infrastructure over the time period in question, and is therefore in compliance with the spirit of the law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The FAA did not answer CalMatters\u2019 questions as to what form enforcement might take if it finds California in the wrong, but at stake are potentially hundreds of millions of federal dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n And lastly: Court rejects Bonta\u2019s attempt to block Bianco<\/p>\n A state appeals court rejected California Attorney General Rob Bonta\u2019s request to stop an attempt by the Riverside County Sheriff to recount votes from last year\u2019s special election. Bonta argued that Bianco\u2019s seizure of 650,000 ballots is intended to \u201cundermine public confidence in our elections.\u201d But the court ruled Tuesday that the lawsuit should have been filed with the Riverside County court instead. Read more<\/a> from CalMatters\u2019 Cayla Mihalovich and Jeanne.<\/p>\n California Voices<\/p>\n CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: The race to be California\u2019s governor \u2014 marked by the odd fact that two Republicans are currently topping the polls \u2014 gets even weirder with the USC debate cancellation<\/a>.<\/p>\n After artificial intelligence exposed how comfortable I became with waiting for district guidance, I used AI to sharpen my professional judgment, clarify my thinking and create a more focused, student-centered lesson, writes Al Rabanera<\/a>, math teacher at La Vista High School in Fullerton.<\/p>\n Other things worth your time:<\/p>\n Some stories may require a subscription to read.<\/p>\n ICE deployments created chaos for cities and cost them millions, NPR analysis finds \/\/ NPR<\/a><\/p>\n How do we assess the millions CA spends in its legal wars against Trump? \/\/ The Sacramento Bee<\/a><\/p>\n CA\u2019s latest weapon against speeders? GPS \/\/ The San Francisco Standard\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n CA bill to redefine child neglect clears key committee hurdle \/\/ The Sacramento Observer\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Will CA finally grant unions\u2019 bid for confidential conversations with workers? \/\/ The Sacramento Bee<\/a><\/p>\n Ex-Antioch cop sentenced to prison for crimes of violence, ending massive police corruption probe \/\/ The Mercury News<\/a><\/p>\n Is Fresno County botching child abuse investigations? An audit is on the table \/\/ Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n A huge solar project grows in CA \/\/ Canary Media<\/a><\/p>\n Officials considered warning Altadena before Eaton fire, but no alert was sent \/\/ Los Angeles Times<\/a><\/p>\n .wp-block-group__inner-container > :not(h2){margin: 16px 40px !important;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container{display: flex;gap: 12px;align-items: center;}.cm-cta.long-ask figure{max-width: 40px;flex-shrink: 0;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group p{font-size: 18px;font-weight: 700;line-height: 120%;letter-spacing: -0.36px;width: 100%;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-buttons{flex-shrink: 0;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-button__link{padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;}@container long-ask (min-width: 601px){.cm-cta.long-ask *{font-size: 16px;}}@container long-ask (max-width: 600px){.cm-cta.long-ask h2,.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group p{text-align: center;}.cm-cta.long-ask h2{background: linear-gradient(90deg,#FFE094 0%,#FFB500 100%);padding: 12px 20px;font-size: 20px;letter-spacing: -0.4px;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container{flex-direction: column;}.cm-cta.long-ask > .wp-block-group__inner-container > :not(h2){margin: 16px 20px !important;}}]]><\/p>\n Nonpartisan, independent California news for all<\/p>\n We\u2019re CalMatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide.<\/p>\n Our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential.<\/p>\n We are independent and nonpartisan. Our trustworthy journalism is free from partisan politics, free from corporate influence and actually free for all Californians.<\/p>\n We are focused on California issues. From the environment to homelessness, economy and more, we publish the unfettered truth to keep you informed.<\/p>\n We hold people in power accountable. We probe and reveal the actions and inactions of powerful people and institutions, and the consequences that follow.<\/p>\n But we can\u2019t keep doing this without support from readers like you.<\/p>\n Please give what you can today. Every gift helps.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California\u2019s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters\u2019 flagship daily newsletter…\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/031726-PIT-San-Jose-AC-Getty-01-CM.jpg\")
Then-Mayor Sam Liccardo takes part in the 2022 point-in-time count for Santa Clara County in San Jose on Feb. 23, 2022. Photo by Aric Crabb, MediaNews Group\/East Bay Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774446551_891_020226-Airport-MT-Getty-CM-01.jpg\")
A plane lands at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 6, 2025. Photo by Mario Tama, Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774446551_130_022425-Chad-Bianco-MB-Rueters-01-CM.jpg\")
Riverside County Sheriff Bianco speaks at a press conference in San Diego on Feb. 21, 2025. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Asset-2ii-2.png\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Avatar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/cropped-Lynn-La-80x80.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMore by Lynn La\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"California gubernatorial candidates on stage during a debate in San Francisco on Feb. 3, 2026. Photo by Laure…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":214590,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-235839","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-california","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-california-headlines","10":"tag-california-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235839\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}