Matt Ortega

Remainders

Posted on February 5, 2010

Carly Fiorina defended and promised more of the wildly popular (and widely-mocked) "demon sheep" advertisements.

In a video released on the web, Meg Whitman received flack from the conservative base for disavowing a supporter that said they were a "proud racist." Whitman released a television ad that begins airing today.

Fresno Bee: Steve Poizner backed a voter initiative that led to $40 billion in more taxes.

A new poll showed Gavin Newsom leading the field of Democrats -- Janice Hahn and Dean Florez -- for lieutenant governor. Newsom "shot down" such a run a month ago but the San Francisco Chronicle believes the San Francisco mayor ain't out yet.

Jackie Speier ruled out running for the state's top cop job. Kamala Harris raised $1 million in the last six months but Chris Kelly leads the field in cash-on-hand, while Republican Steve Cooley is getting hammered by conservative activists.

Republicans collectively raised several hundred thousand to unseat Jerry McNerney in CA-11 while most lent themselves a huge chunk of their campaign cash.

Richard Pombo raised $260,000 campaigning for a return bid to Congress in CA-19.

San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson (R) outraised the AD-15 Democratic incumbent, Joan Buchanan.

CA-AG: Speier Explores Run

Posted on January 30, 2010
Jackie Speier

Speier contemplates run for California attorney general.

Freshman member of Congress, Jackie Speier, confirmed she is contemplating a run for attorney general in California.

The buzz that Speier, a freshman congresswoman and 20-year veteran of the state Legislature, was weighing a run was first reported by The San Francisco Chronicle's Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross and confirmed by Speier at a Thursday appearance in San Mateo.

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, Facebook executive Chris Kelly, former Los Angeles District Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and Assemblymen Ted Lieu, Pedro Nava, and Alberto Torrico are all vying to be the Democrats' nominee for to be the state's top law enforcement official.

Speier, then-state senator, won a special election after the death of the late Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor.

Remainders

Posted on January 11, 2010

Democratic Governor's Association launched an independent-expenditure campaign in California.

Steve Cooley, Republican district attorney in Los Angeles, formed an exploratory committee for the state's attorney general.

Carpetbagger switch: Larry Pegram dropped out of the 11th Congressional District campaign and backed David Harmer, who said Republican leaders reached out to him about running.

It was Elizabeth Emken's turn for a Manteca Bulletin puff piece.

In the nearby 19th Congressional District, Richard Pombo seeks a return to Congress. In an editorial, the Los Angeles Times says, "this is a comeback we don't need."

It's the other things we know about Pombo -- that he's rabidly anti-environment, ethically challenged, overly eager to hand public resources to private corporations -- that worry us and were among the reasons a Democratic challenger was able to oust the seven-term Republican from his reliably GOP seat in 2006. Endorsement season hasn't started yet, but we don't need a campaign to know that Pombo would not contribute anything useful if he rejoined the House of Representatives.

FDL provided steady coverage of the Proposition 8 trial's first day.

Remainders

Posted on January 8, 2010

John Perez is the next Speaker of the Assembly and also the first openly gay official to hold the post.

Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered his final State of the State address this week with the help of a former Reagan speechwriter. Contra Costa Times reporter Josh Richman liveblogged the event. In the speech, the governor outlined a jobs plan estimated at roughly $500 million.

The state is moving closer towards resuming executions in California.

San Jose Mercury News and other Bay Area New Group papers seek copies of the four gubernatorial candidates' federal and state tax returns from the past decade.

Alberto Torrico, a candidate for state's top cop gig, takes on the role as the chair of the Assembly's prison reform committee. Chris Kelly, an executive officer at Facebook, donated $2 million to his campaign for attorney general. The pool of Democratic candidates tallies half a dozen, including Kamala Harris, district attorney for San Francisco.

It is not like billionaires Steve Poizner or Meg Whitman need his money, but major Republican donor Rick Caruso is backing Jerry Brown for governor.

Jeff Takada, a Republican seeking the nomination to challenge Jerry McNerney, says his fellow candidates "leave me with a lot of questions."

Marriage equality activists sought to have the proceedings of the Proposition 8 trial televised. It looks like they will have to settle for delayed video.

Several Bay Area educators were honored at an event held at the White House.