The primary election didn’t prove to be an easy win for California’s Democratic Party.
Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason report in the Los Angeles Times: “”This primary election showed that it will be very difficult for Democrats to get to 27 seats,” said Alan Clayton, an analyst who has worked for Democrats.”
“Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) downplayed the results, saying the true test is in November, when Democrats believe they will draw more voters to the polls and tap stockpiled cash.”
Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers are devising a plan to lure the pending Tesla Motors battery factory to California.
David Siders reports in the Sacramento Bee: “Steinberg, D-Sacramento, will introduce so-called "intent" language Thursday regarding locating a large battery factory in the state, according to a Brown administration official and Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, who is working with Steinberg on the legislation.”
“The bill is only a marker, but it signals to Tesla the significance of the $5 billion factory to the Brown administration and lawmakers. Bill language is expected to suggest the possibility of financial incentives or regulatory changes, but it will not say what those might be.”
Despite his close ties with labor, Brown has seemingly done less for state workers than his Republican predecessor.
Jon Ortiz reports in the Sacramento Bee: “Schwarzenegger championed shifting more public pension costs onto workers and eventually negotiated higher contribution rates from state employees. Brown did that and more to cut pension costs at the state and local level in 2012. And he did it legislatively, without bargaining.”
David Evans is the California City accountant who’s competing against goliath politicians, with just a $600 campaign.
Dan Morain reports in the Sacramento Bee: “Turnout was incredibly low. Few voters know anything about down-ballot offices, let alone the candidates who seek them. Evans’ ballot designation, chief financial officer, is impressive. He ran for controller once before, in 2010, and was mayor of California City. His name is easy to remember, though also easy to forget.”
“Maybe his secret is his daughter, Kistie, a 25-year graduate of Brigham Young University-Idahowho works for a public relations firm in Torrance.”
Tim Donnelly may have lost the battle, but he still thinks there’s a war to be fought with the GOP establishment.
Josh Richman reports for The Mercury News: “Assemblyman Tim Donnelly has conceded fellow Republican Neel Kashkari‘s win in Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary, his congratulations thus far haven’t been accompanied by an endorsement, leaving Kashkari’s call for GOP unity unfulfilled at least for now.”
The Obama administration’s handling of a controversial prisoner exchange has Senators doubting the decision.
Michael A. Memoli and Christi Parsons report in the Los Angeles Times: “Lawmakers expect further briefings over the coming weeks, some classified and others public, as the administration faces continued hostility from key members about why they were not briefed about the mission ahead of time.
"I think that they expected everybody just to fall in line," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in an interview before Wednesday’s briefing. "A lot could have been avoided had we been called and advised and talked with."
The Navy is investigating why two military jets crashed in California yesterday.
Mark Berman reports for the Washington Post: “The AV-8B Harrier jet that crashed was based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona, which is about an hour west of Imperial by car.”
“This is the second time a Harrier jet from the Yuma air station has crashed in less than a month. Another crashed on May 9 in an unpopulated area south of Phoenix. And Wednesday’s crash in Imperial is at least the 11th Harrier crash in California or Arizona since 1996, according to the Yuma Sun.”
