If Kamala Harris wins her bid for the U.S. Senate come November, Gov. Brown stands to gain an important appointment.
BOB EGELKO with SF Chronicle: "California’s attorney general, the state’s top lawyer and law enforcer, is chosen by the voters, as provided by the state Constitution since 1849. But there’s a good chance the state’s next AG will be picked by Gov. Jerry Brown."
"If Attorney General Kamala Harris wins her U.S. Senate race against Rep. Loretta Sanchezand succeeds retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer, she will vacate the state office she has held since 2011. Her immediate successor, by law, would be her chief deputy, Nathan Barankin, but it would be up to Brown to decide who holds the office for the remaining two years of Harris’ term."
"That hasn’t happened since 1902, when Attorney General Tirey Ford resigned just before the end of his term after being accused of bribery. (He was later acquitted.) Gov. Henry Gage appointedUlysses Webb. the Plumas County district attorney and a fellow Republican, as Ford’s successor. Webb served the last few months of Ford’s term and then was elected to a four-year term — and re-elected eight more times before finally retiring in 1938."
READ MORE related to Ballot: How 'MASH' actor Mike Farrell became a leading voice gainst the death penalty in California -- JAZMINE ULLOA with L.A. Times
Meanwhile, campaign contributions for this year's election may soon reach $400 million.
JIM MILLER with The Bee: "Campaigns for and against the 17 propositions on California’s November ballot are closing in on $400 million in total contributions."
"Through Sunday, the committees had reported receiving about $345 million from donors, according to state filings."
A wildfire has erupted in Napa Valley wine country, with mandatory evacuations temporarily displacing residents.
AP in The Bee: "A wildfire burning in Northern California wine country has prompted mandatory evacuations."
"California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the 45-acre blaze is burning 3 miles west of Yountville, in Napa County. It is 20 percent contained."
"The Napa County Sheriff's Office says mandatory evacuations were ordered Monday for hills southwest of Oakville."
There are differences between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and that's particularly clear when their foreign policy views are examined.
CARL PRINE with Union-Tribune: "It’s 3 a.m. at the White House, and the caller tells the president that Chinese troops have occupied territory claimed by two American allies."
"Or that an Islamic State terror cell is attacking the U.S. Embassy in a European capital."
"Or that armed separatists, backed by Russian tanks, are blasting their way through Ukraine."
READ MORE related to Beltway: Hillary Clinton ad showcases Sacramento's Doug Elmets rejecting Trump -- JEREMY B. WHITE with The Bee; Watch Trump fire a 'Celebrity Apprentice' contestant for 'locker room talk' -- JOE OTTERSON with The Chronicle; Trump falsely claims CNN turned off camera during rally -- HADAS GOLD with Politico
Meanwhile, Rep. Tom McClintock defends Donald Trump and disses 'hand-wringing' Republicans.
ADAM ASHTON with The Bee: "Republican Congressman Tom McClintock on Monday criticized his “hand-wringing” GOP peers for breaking with presidential nominee Donald Trump since the leak on Friday of an 11-year-old tape that showed him crudely describing his use of his fame to kiss and grab women."
"McClintock, of Elk Grove, was silent on the tape through the weekend, not responding to a request for comment from The Bee on Saturday."
"Late Monday, McClintock posted a sharply worded statement on his website in which he called the tape a “diversion” meant to distract voters from crucial questions about the country’s future. He wrote that he favors Trump because of his positions on the economy, immigration and guns, among other stances."
READ MORE related to GOP: Republican split deepens as House Speaker Ryan abandons Trump, says every candidate for themselves -- MARK Z. BARABAK and LISA MASCARO with L.A. Times
And in environmental news, Southern California will see a replenishing of Southland's water storage reserves with an influx of aqua from the north, despite the current drought.
BETTINA BOXALL with L.A. Times: "The Southland’s biggest water agency painted a surprisingly upbeat picture Monday of the region’s water supplies."
"Although the Southland remains stuck in a severe drought, officials of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California say they are rebuilding depleted storage reserves with imports from the north."
"They also dismissed concerns about slipping conservation efforts since state regulators eased urban water savings requirements in June."
READ MORE related to Environment: Human-caused warming doubled how much of the West has burned since 1984, study finds -- WILLIAM YARDLEY with L.A. Times; Critics question state pipeline oversight after 2 Altamont oil spills -- TED GOLDBERG with KQED; In Ohio, Clinton draws what appears to be her largest crowd to date -- JOHN WAGNER with The Washington Post
And in San Diego, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis discusses the 'early speculation' of her possible resignation.
DANA LITTLEFIELD with Union-Tribune: "District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis acknowledged Monday that there has been talk about the possibility of her stepping down from office before her term ends, but she said she hasn’t made any decisions about her political future."
"I have not decided yet whether I’ll seek re-election in 2018,” she said in a phone interview. “That’s about two years from now, and I’ve got plenty of time.”
"For weeks, people in legal and political circles, have said Dumanis is likely to resign from the office she has held since 2003, possibly as early as January. Summer Stephan, a chief deputy in the District Attorney’s Office, has been mentioned by lawyers and judges as the person Dumanis has been grooming as her replacement.
