Latest news with #CaliforniaPolitics
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
As 2026 pool for CD-22 heats up, Democrat Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains touts endorsements
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 2026 race for the California's 22nd Congressional District is heating up quickly. Last week, Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) declared her candidacy to unseat incumbent Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford). The Bains for Congress campaign announced the congresswoman-hopeful has received dozens of notable endorsements, just days after throwing her hat in the ring. One credible name, Kern Democratic State Senator Melissa Hurtado — a fellow moderate Democrat and close political ally. SEIU California endorses Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains in congressional run for CD-22 The campaign also said numerous city leaders from Arvin, Shafter, Delano, McFarland and Wasco are backing Bains in her fight to unseat Valadao, following his vote for Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' Bains, a family doctor, has pushed her agenda to focus on health care, arguing that by voting for the budget bill, the sitting congressman voted for cuts to federal assistance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. At the state level, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and State Controller Malia Cohen are behind Bains. California congressmembers have also announced their endorsements. Especially noteworthy is the endorsement by Democratic Congressman Adam Gray, who beat incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte in the 2024 election by just 187 votes, flipping a purple district. Gray's 13th Congressional District is just as contentious and swing of a district as Valadao's 22nd Congressional District has been, without fail, in each election cycle. SEIU California – a group of local unions of those in health care and public service jobs – as well as IBEW Local 428, a labor union in Bakersfield have endorsed Bains as well. Support for Democratic candidates in pivotal CD-22 race takes shape Democratic infighting has presented itself, as candidates approach the June primary. Fellow Democrat Randy Villegas announced his candidacy for CD-22 in April. Villegas, a school board trustee in Visalia, is known as the more progressive candidate in the race, compared to Bains, who's made a name for herself as a more moderate Democrat in the California Legislature. On Monday, Villegas received the endorsement of a progressive Democratic organization Working Families Party (WFP), further differentiating his campaign and platform from that of Bains'. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Villegas stated he's collected over 4,000 individual donations amounting to over $250,000 of campaign cash. Bains stated she's has raised over $175,000 since her launch. 'This early show of grassroots support is a powerful affirmation of our message: families across the Central Valley want real leadership on health care affordability and a representative with the courage to act,' Bains stated in a press release. It still remains to be seen how Democrats will perform in June, and if any splitting of the blue vote between the two could allow for Valadao to advance to the November general election, taking him one step closer to another term on Capitol Hill. Click here for the full candidate profile of Jasmeet Bains. Click here for the full interview with Jasmeet Bains. Click here for the full candidate profile of Randy Villegas. Click here for the full interview with Randy Villegas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
One Republic founding member Tim Myers is running for California lieutenant governor
Tim Myers wants to make beautiful music with the state of California. The founding member of One Republic is vying for the office of lieutenant governor of The Golden State. Myers posted a series of photos on social media that feature media coverage of his political aspirations. 'Since launch, my Lieutenant Governor campaign has been covered by The OC Register, The Hill, Sacramento Bee, Fox, and more,' he wrote. 'The momentum is still building. People across California are speaking up — and saying what we all know: it's time for change,' he wrote in the captions. 'The status quo in our politics isn't working. Let's write a new song for California — together!' Myers was part of One Republic, known for their hit 'Apologize,' from 2002 to 2007. He has also founded Palladium Records and produced for artists such as Michelle Branch, Kesha and Hailee Steinfeld. He initially announced in April that he would be running as a Democrat for Congress against Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert before leaving that campaign to focus of running for lieutenant governor. A few days ago, Myers posted a statement on social media, writing in the caption 'California is under attack—and our leaders are silent. So I'm stepping up. I'm running for Lieutenant Governor. Let's fight back, together.' Myers said his platform includes plans to address climate concerns, crime and homelessness.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
One Republic founding member Tim Myers is running for California lieutenant governor
Tim Myers wants to make beautiful music with the state of California. The founding member of One Republic is vying for the office of lieutenant governor of The Golden State. Myers posted a series of photos on social media that feature media coverage of his political aspirations. 'Since launch, my Lieutenant Governor campaign has been covered by The OC Register, The Hill, Sacramento Bee, Fox, and more,' he wrote. 'The momentum is still building. People across California are speaking up — and saying what we all know: it's time for change,' he wrote in the captions. 'The status quo in our politics isn't working. Let's write a new song for California — together!' Myers was part of One Republic, known for their hit 'Apologize,' from 2002 to 2007. He has also founded Palladium Records and produced for artists such as Michelle Branch, Kesha and Hailee Steinfeld. He initially announced in April that he would be running as a Democrat for Congress against Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert before leaving that campaign to focus of running for lieutenant governor. A few days ago, Myers posted a statement on social media, writing in the caption 'California is under attack—and our leaders are silent. So I'm stepping up. I'm running for Lieutenant Governor. Let's fight back, together.' Myers said his platform includes plans to address climate concerns, crime and homelessness.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
One Republic founding member Tim Myers is running for California lieutenant governor
Tim Myers wants to make beautiful music with the state of California. The founding member of One Republic is vying for the office of lieutenant governor of The Golden State. Myers posted a series of photos on social media that feature media coverage of his political aspirations. 'Since launch, my Lieutenant Governor campaign has been covered by The OC Register, The Hill, Sacramento Bee, Fox, and more,' he wrote. 'The momentum is still building. People across California are speaking up — and saying what we all know: it's time for change,' he wrote in the captions. 'The status quo in our politics isn't working. Let's write a new song for California — together!' Myers was part of One Republic, known for their hit 'Apologize,' from 2002 to 2007. He has also founded Palladium Records and produced for artists such as Michelle Branch, Kesha and Hailee Steinfeld. He initially announced in April that he would be running as a Democrat for Congress against Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert before leaving that campaign to focus of running for lieutenant governor. A few days ago, Myers posted a statement on social media, writing in the caption 'California is under attack—and our leaders are silent. So I'm stepping up. I'm running for Lieutenant Governor. Let's fight back, together.' Myers said his platform includes plans to address climate concerns, crime and homelessness.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘No one' excited about Kamala Harris' potential gubernatorial run, say California donors
Former Vice President Kamala Harris' prospective gubernatorial bid is not striking up much excitement among Democratic fundraisers in California, Politico reported Friday. The outlet spoke to multiple Democratic Party donors in California to see how they felt about Harris possibly running for governor. So far, her interest in exploring a gubernatorial run in the state following her 2024 presidential election loss hasn't enthused many. "She still would probably lead, but honestly, no one is incredibly pumped," one Southern California fundraiser told Politico. Republicans Use Mamdani Bombshell Victory Over Cuomo As Ammunition To Blast Democrats As Extremists Harris, who lost November's election to President Donald Trump, is seriously considering a 2026 bid to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif. A source close to Harris told Fox News Digital in March that she has told allies she will decide by the end of summer on whether to launch a gubernatorial campaign. The two potential options for Harris are launching a gubernatorial run next year in her home state or seeking the presidency again in 2028. Extremely early polls in the next Democratic Party presidential nomination race — which are heavily reliant on name recognition at this point — indicate that the former vice president holds a significant lead over other potential White House contenders. Read On The Fox News App "In interviews, several major donors in the state told POLITICO they fear her reemergence as a candidate would re-open still-fresh wounds from her defeat in 2024," the outlet reported. "Some harbor lingering frustration about how her billion-dollar campaign juggernaut ended in debt and want assurances she would have a clear plan to win the governor's mansion." Top Trump Ally Teases Bid For California Governor If Harris Runs Mather Martin, a party fundraiser from San Francisco who worked for multiple Harris campaigns, told Politico, "There was more enthusiasm at first" for Harris' run. However, he added, "I think it waned a bit." Another donor who gave a six-figure donation to Harris' presidential campaign last year told the outlet they had found the implosion of her White House bid "traumatizing" and seemed reluctant to support her in the state. "Kamala just reminds you we are in this complete s--- storm. With Biden, we got bamboozled… I think she did the best she could in that situation, but obviously she knew about the cognitive decline too. I've written so many checks because I knew the Trump administration would be horrible, but we're living in a nightmare because of the Democrats. I'm furious at them, truly." The donor who declared that "no one is incredibly pumped" about Harris' run also shared that donors "realize it's just going to bring up the whole pathetic last presidential, which no one wants to hear about again. And then it's the whole 'Did you know Joe Biden?' thing." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Scott Drexel, a donor-adviser based in the San Francisco Bay Area, noted, "It's very fair to say there's not an overwhelming clamor" for Harris' gubernatorial run. He also pointed out, "It's very hard for there to be one if it's not 100 percent clear if she really wants to do it." "She's going to have to work for the nomination. Every day that passes, there's less of a sense of inevitability about her candidacy," Drexel said. Democratic donor and San Francisco trial lawyer Joe Cotchett told Politico, "She is talking to people around the state about whether she is going to run. If she does, she's going to have very difficult problems." Harris' team did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this article source: 'No one' excited about Kamala Harris' potential gubernatorial run, say California donors
