Blue wave? California tops list as midterm matchups form
AP's STEVE PEOPLES/MICHAEL BLOOD: "For years sidelined on the national political fringe, California has lurched to the center of the fight for control of Congress."
"No state will be more consequential in the success or failure of a prospective blue wave this fall. But before then, Democrats must avoid self-inflicted wounds in Tuesday's so-called jungle primaries that feature a swarm of ambitious candidates who could cannibalize their own party's chances. At the same time, Republicans face the embarrassing prospect of failing to nominate any candidates in marquee races for the U.S. Senate and governor."
"California tops a list of eight states holding primary contests on Tuesday. Democrats and Republicans from Montana to Alabama and Mississippi to New Jersey will pick their nominees up and down the ballot to face off this November for the inaugural midterm elections of Donald Trump's presidency."
READ MORE related to Election Day: Yes, you can still get "I voted" sticker if you vote by mail -- Sacramento Bee's DIANA LAMBERT; 'Fighting for our lives.' OC Dems nervous ahead of Tuesday primary -- McClatchy DC's ALEX ROARTY; What to watch for in California's primary Tuesday -- LA Times's JOHN MYERS; 5 important voting rules to know for California's primary -- LA Times's JOHN MYERS; Bay Area voters, this is your guide to a jam-packed primary -- The Chronicle's TRAPPER BYRNE
Before Election Day, votes come in
Capitol Weekly's JOHN HOWARD: "Before Election Day, fewer than one in every five California voters have cast their ballots."
"About 11.8 primary election million ballots were mailed during the past month — 5.3 million to Democrats and about 3.1 million to Republicans, according to figures compiled by Political Data, a firm that markets campaign information. Click here to see details."
"Nearly 2.7 million voters who declined to state a political affiliation — the No Party Preference, or NPP, voters — also received ballots, as did about 600,000 minor-party voters."
Democrats struggle to regain supermajority in Sacramento after sexual harassment scandals
Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA: "The 'Me Too' movement forced the resignations of three California lawmakers and effectively ended the Democratic supermajority in the Legislature. And the reigning party in at least one of the two houses might not get it back this session."
"The Assembly is poised on Tuesday to win special elections for seats that were left vacant when former Assemblymen Matt Dababneh and Raul Bocanegra stepped down last year. Now with 53 Democrats, the majority party in the lower house only needs to win one of the two special elections that will be decided this week to hit a supermajority threshold again."
"Democrat Jesse Gabriel beat Republican Justin Clark by more than 2,000 votes during the first go-round for the Assembly District 45 slot in April. He also competed against five other Democrats and should have a larger edge in the runoff against Clark, the only Republican to throw his hat in the ring at all."
Influencers project debuts in California
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "The Sacramento Bee has launched a series discussing major issues facing California. Check out what leading experts, advocates and educators have to say about the state's biggest challenges."
"These bills aim help labor unions in California."
"Election Day is tomorrow. Catch up with The Bee Voter Guide, as well as stories on issues, from housing to policing."
READ MORE related to State Politics: 60 California leaders discuss the future of our state -- Sacramento Bee; Where the candidates for California governor stand on the state's biggest issues -- LA Times Staff
Opinion: The critical fight to achieve the California Dream
LENNY MENDONCA/PETE WEBER in Capitol Weekly: "As Californians, we proudly boast of having the fifth largest economy in the world. Last year we created more jobs than all but six other states. Because we generate less per capita Greenhouse Gas Emissions than any other state, we pride ourselves on being the nation’s environmental leader. And yet, not all is well in the Golden State."
"California has by far the highest rate of poverty in the nation, when cost of living is taken into consideration. Our state’s middle class has declined from 60 percent of the population in 1980 to 48 percent today. Using the Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, we have the 7th highest rate of income disparity in the country. California is home to some of the most affluent and the highest poverty zip-codes in the nation. We are home to 11 percent of the nation’s population and 32 percent of the population on welfare."
Rebecca Kaplan may be looking at another race for Oakland mayor
The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS: "Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan is doing nothing to douse rumors that she’s about to announce another run for mayor — possibly as early as Wednesday."
"“I am considering it,” Kaplan told us late Friday, taking aim at what she sees as “Oakland’s rising problems” under incumbent Mayor Libby Schaaf — including “skyrocketing rates of homelessness and illegal dumping, which the current administration is failing to implement solutions for ..."
In the fire-scarred Wine Country, new help for the blind in disasters
The Chronicle's LIZZIE JOHNSON: "The classroom was full of students, all of them blind or visually impaired. Their canes were propped in the corner, their guide dogs asleep under a table. It was time, so Patricia Jefferson began reciting from a list of 21 questions."
"Do you know where the fire alarms are in your home? Do you know where the gas shut-off valve is? Do you have an orange vest? Extra dog food? What about Braille labels?"
California ponders wildfire relief fund as PG&E seeks rate-case delay
The Chronicle's DAVID R. BAKER: "California legislators are quietly discussing a new disaster relief fund that, in the aftermath of last fall’s devastating wildfires,could take some of the financial pressure off utility companies such as Pacific Gas and Electric Co."
"The discussions come as the state awaits the results of official investigations into the causes of last year’s fires, which swept through both Northern and Southern California during intense windstorms. In both regions, power lines falling down or coming into contact with trees are widely considered as possible ignition points for the fires."
Toll lanes on the Yolo Causeway? State begins tackling I-80 bottlenecks with creative ideas
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK/KELLEN BROWNING: "Commuters and weekend drivers alike have complained for years about traffic bottlenecks on Interstate 80 near the city of Davis and across the Yolo Causeway."
"State highway officials say it's time to talk about a fix — a dramatic one."
"A 16-mile widening of the freeway through Yolo and Solano counties is among the early ideas Caltrans will showcase during a trio of public meetings this month."
LA mayor's pick for LAPD chief is 36-year veteran with deep mastery of crime statistics
LA Times's CINDY CHANG/DAVID ZAHINSER/RICHARD WINTON/JAMES QUEALLY: "Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Monday that he had chosen Michel Moore, a 36-year LAPD veteran known for his mastery of subjects including crime statistics and budgets, to be the city’s next police chief."
"For Garcetti, who is contemplating a run for president, Moore offers the security of a proven administrator who has headed every major branch of the department. But the choice disappointed some who had hoped Garcetti would appoint the city’s first Latino police chief."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: SF Police Chief Bill Scott passed over for top job in LA -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Lawyer Burris says conflicts for SF Police Commission nominee can be avoided -- The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA
Justices side with Colorado baker on same-sex wedding cake
AP's MARK SHERMAN: "The Supreme Court ruled Monday for a Colorado baker who wouldn't make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in a limited decision that leaves for another day the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people."
"The justices' decision turned on what the court described as anti-religious bias on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips. The justices voted 7-2 that the commission violated Phillips' rights under the First Amendment."
"The case had been eagerly anticipated as, variously, a potentially strong statement about the rights of LGBT people or the court's first ruling carving out exceptions to an anti-discrimination law. In the end, the decision was modest enough to attract the votes of liberal and conservative justices on a subject that had the potential for sharp division."
Mueller calls for Manafort's release to be revoked, citing alleged efforts to influence witnesses
NY Daily News's CHRIS SOMMERFELDT: "Special counsel Robert Mueller called on a federal Washington, D.C., judge on Monday to revoke Paul Manafort's release conditions, saying the embattled former Trump campaign chairman has attempted to influence potential witnesses while out on bail."
"If approved by Judge Amy Berman Jackson, the explosive motion from Mueller's team could land Manafort back in house arrest, or even behind bars, as he awaits two separate trials on a laundry list of charges relating to his shady business dealings in Ukraine."
"A spokesman for Manafort, 69, declined to comment when reached by the New York Daily News on Monday evening."
READ MORE related to POTUS45/KremlinGate: Defendant in Trump Inauguration Day rioting acquitted -- AP; Trump calls of WH visit by Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles over anthem dispute -- AP