A new report released Thursday finds that despite California’s diversity, the state’s candidates for elective office are largely white and male. Josh Richman has the story at Political Blotter:
“White men represent two of every three names appearing on the ballot in 2012 and 2014 from the federal level down to counties, according to the “Who Runs (in) America?” report released Thursday by the Reflective Democracy Campaign of the Women Donors Network. Overall, 90 percent of candidates are white, 73 percent are men, and 66 percent are white men.
“In California, 68 percent of candidates are white, 76 percent are men, and 54 percent are white men.
Nugget: “96 percent of Republican candidates are white, so are 82 percent of Democrats and 90 percent of independents; woman make up 24 percent of GOP candidates and 33 percent of Democratic candidates.”
California stands to lose over $7 billion in federal funds if the state and feds can’t come to agreement on a plan to extend the Medicaid waiver that expires Saturday. Anna Gorman has the story for Kaiser Health News:”
“Public hospitals throughout the state are counting on the $7.25 billion in state and federal funds to treat large numbers of low-income and uninsured patients. The plan, known as a "Medicaid waiver" because it allow states to make exceptions to Medicaid rules, also would allow the state to continue improving the efficiency, safety and quality of its Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal.
“Medi-Cal serves about 12.5 million people -- roughly a third of Californians. The current waiver, which took effect in 2010, expires on Oct. 31, though the federal government can grant an extension while negotiations over the plan continue.”
In a blow to terminally ill patients unable to take advantage of the recently passed Aid-in-Dying law, a state appeals court ruled that doctors cannot prescribe life-ending medications until 90 days after the current special session ends. Bob Egelko, SFGate:
“Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Oct. 5 that would make California the fifth state to legalize aid in dying. But the law does not take effect until 90 days after adjournment of a special legislative session on health care, which hasn’t yet ended, and it could be overturned by a referendum that opponents plan to circulate for the November 2016 ballot.
“A 19th century state law says anyone who ‘deliberately aids, or advises, or encourages another to commit suicide’ is guilty of a felony. The three plaintiffs, led by 47-year-old Christy O’Donnell, argue that the law prohibits only hands-on assistance in suicide but not a doctor’s aid in making medication available. They also contend the ban on physician assistance violates California’s constitutional right to privacy, approved by voters in 1972.
“A San Diego judge ruled against them in August, and the Fourth District Court of Appeal denied an emergency order in September but agreed to consider their case on an expedited basis, without oral argument. On Thursday, the court said it had “great compassion” for the plaintiffs but disagreed with their view of the law.”
Missing your weekly California Politics Podcast now that John Myers has put down the mic after moving to the LA Times? We have good news from Anthony York at the Grizzly Bear Project:
“This week, we introduce the Grizzly Bear podcast, an audio exploration of the news and issues facing California. For fans of the California Politics Podcast I have done for years, (and hope to do more of) with John Myers of the LA Times and Marisa Lagos from KQED, this podcast may serve as a temporary bridge while we get all the wrinkles worked out and prepare to relaunch that podcast, bigger and better than ever.”
It’s Friday, meaning today’s the day we give out our #WorstWeekinCA politics award. Lots of candidates this week, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson who can’t seem to outrun the allegations of child molestation that have suddenly burped out of the woodwork after being ignored or forgotten for years. George Skelton opines for Johnson’s talent, but says it looks like it’s over for KJ.
“Johnson, 49, has been a troubled man, embroiled in a series of sex-abuse scandals. Nothing criminal that authorities have proved, but still creepy. He denies all, but his once-promising political career seems kaput.”
Yeah, bad, but nothing particularly new. Instead, we decided to tip our Worst Week hat to someone who got a pretty bad shock at the beginning of the week.
Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez got a body blow Monday that made an uphill climb even harder: La Opinión, one of the country’s most influential Spanish-language newspapers endorsed Sanchez’ main rival, Attorney General Kamala Harris, for Senate.
Sanchez needs tremendous support among the Latino community to break though in a race where she is currently polling at 17% - roughly half of Harris’ level of support. Losing the support of a massive Spanish daily isn’t going to help. Also not promising is an LA Times article suggesting that she will need Republicans – whom she has smacked mercilessly for decades – if she hopes to win. Phil Willon has the story:
“Republican consultant Mike Madrid said that's because Latinos running statewide have traditionally had difficulty attracting broad support from ‘white, old, rich Bernie Sanders progressives’ living along California's coast, where much of the population is.
"’For the past 20 years, she, along with other Latino politicians, have been beating on Republicans like a piñata. Now she needs their votes,’ Madrid said. ‘It will be fascinating to watch.’"
“Fascinating to watch” - that sounds a little like the old “May you live in interesting times,” curse. Or, as we say around the office, "no bueno."
See you next week.
