POLITICO California Playbook PM: Coming soon: a California primary full of intrigue and drama

Presented by the California Clean Cars Campaign: Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Jun 06, 2022 View in browser   By Susannah Luthi Presented by the California Clean Cars Campaign PRIMARY COLORS: Tuesday's primary election has it all. There's drama (see the Chesa Boudin recall), big personalities (see L.A.'s billionaire mayoral contender, Rick Caruso) and political scheming (see Democratic cash going to elevate the Republican candidates they see as the easiest to beat in November). At the same time, even with California doing all but trucking people to polls to get them to vote, early numbers show dismal turnout — which by itself could serve up some unexpected twists Tuesday night. Heading into the day, we asked some of the state's seasoned political observers what they'll be watching, and why. Rob Stutzman, president of Stutzman Public Affairs: Primaries define the race. You've got Democrats trying to pick their opponents: (Gov. Gavin) Newsom elevating (Brian) Dahle to Republicans in his advertising — which has got to be a humiliating feeling to know that your opponent wants to run against you — and independent expenditures for (Attorney General Rob) Bonta doing the same thing with (conservative GOP candidate) Eric Early. The other thing I'm watching is, you're getting low turnouts and weird things can happen. … I think you could see incumbents in trouble. Note: Stutzman consults for two independent candidates: Michael Schellenberger, who is challenging Newsom for the governorship, and Anne-Marie Schubert, who is challenging Bonta as attorney general. Jessica Levinson, director of Loyola Law School's Journalist Law School: I'm watching the AG race because I think it has a lot of interesting components that go beyond California. It's a question of whether somebody with no party preference can gain serious traction, it's a question of a referendum of this criminal justice movement that's really been sweeping certain parts of the nation, and it answers questions about the power of incumbency even when you're not elected to a position. For me the match-up between Bonta and Anne Marie Schubert is a really interesting one, because it asks how blue are we when it comes to criminal justice, when in other eras we've been not afraid to be more conservative. I do think the state controller's race is kind of interesting for its shades of the same question, while it's not as sexy. What happens to someone like Lanhee Chen who has served Republicans but has a sterling background? Andrew Acosta, Acosta Consulting: I'm watching the AG race. I think there was a thought/theory that a no-party-preference person could get through, but it just shows that it's complicated. If Anne Marie Schubert had Caruso's money it would probably be different, but she doesn't. It's really difficult to run statewide with less than $2 million. It's the ongoing frustration with open primaries. You have multiple candidates, so everyone gets a slice of the pie. When people are playing with the process and putting their thumbs on the scale, which Bonta and his allies are doing, it makes it harder for your strategy to work. That's reflective in the polling, and it helps that Bonta is the only Democrat in a crowded field. Voters are looking for a Democrat. They're not going to kick the tires on a no-party-preference person — why would they? HAPPY MONDAY AFTERNOON! Welcome to California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. We'll go Monday to Thursday through June 9 before returning in August for the legislative homestretch. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to katymurphy@politico.com and sluthi@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open! A message from California Clean Cars Campaign: END OUR PAIN AT THE PUMP! Gas prices are as high as $7 a gallon, forcing many to choose between fuel and essentials like food and medicine. The California Air Resources Board is squandering its opportunity to support gas-free, pollution-free transportation. We need an Advanced Clean Cars program that achieves at least 75% electric car sales by 2030 to bring more and more affordable electric cars to market faster. Visit CleanCarStates.org to learn more.   WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY GARCETTI SAGA: Just when you thought the drama over L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's potential passage to India couldn't get any more intense, news breaks that the beleaguered pol's allies privately pressured Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) to support his ambassadorial nomination — and that the push may have backfired. As reported by POLITICO's Christopher Cadelago, Garcetti supporters "left the strong impression" that Kelly could find himself severed from donor networks should he refuse to back the nominee. Read the whole story. ON THE BEATS SCHOOL GRANT DRAMA: Newsom is trying to put pressure on the Legislature to follow his lead on grants for high-poverty schools — on Monday touting a program he wants to boost by $1.5 billion despite the Legislature's passing on his push only last week in its counter to Newsom's May budget revision. Joined by California public schools chief Tony Thurmond , the Democratic governor advocated for the program that would bankroll after-school programs, medical services and even family housing in impoverished districts. Still, the virtual news conference hosted by the powerful California Teachers Association offered few clues into Thurmond's or Newsom's chances of convincing hesitant leadership to increase the grant funding ahead of a June 15 deadline to pass a state budget. — Blake Jones MORE ON MONKEYPOX: Sacramento health officials on Monday announced a fourth suspected case of monkeypox, potentially the sixth statewide, with all the county's cases linked to an initial case reported on May 21 by someone who had recently returned from Europe. Since all the cases appear to be connected, "at this time the risk to the general public is low," but people still need to be aware of the disease, Olivia Kasirye, the county's public health officer, said in a press briefing this morning. About 30 close contacts of the infected individuals have received a monkeypox vaccine, which has to be ordered through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, about 25 people have been infected with the viral disease, which had not previously been found in the U.S. It is typically spread through direct contact with infectious sores or bodily fluids. — Victoria Colliver   A message from California Clean Cars Campaign:   AROUND CALIFORNIA "California lawmakers mull buying out farmers to save water," by AP's Adam Beam: "After decades of fighting farmers in court over how much water they can take out of California's rivers and streams, some state lawmakers want to try something different: use taxpayer money to buy out farmers. "A proposal in the state Senate would spend up to $1.5 billion to buy 'senior water rights' that allow farmers to take as much water as needed from the state's rivers and streams to grow their crops. If state officials owned those rights, they could leave the water in the rivers to benefit endangered species of salmon and other fish. California has been mired in drought for most of the last two decades, prompting intense scrutiny of the state's complex water system and how it might be modified to ensure steady supplies during exceptionally dry periods — including a separate state proposal that wouldpay farmers to grow fewer crops to save water." " Early voter turnout in California is dismal so far," by LA Times' Seema Mehta, Priscella Vega and Terry Castleman: "Judy Nguyen is frustrated that anyone with enough money or the right connections can run as a candidate in an election. She's disappointed she hasn't seen immediate, tangible change under President Biden. And she feels for Americans who are trying to survive in an era wheregas prices are skyrocketing and baby formula is scarce. "But she realizes she's also part of the problem. "'I'm one of those people who talk like, oh, I want change, but then I don't always vote,' Nguyen said as stood in the shade with her baby in a Brea shopping plaza. 'I know I'm in a way at fault, but sometimes it's just so hard to know who to believe' and who to vote for, she said. "The 40-year-old Democrat from Fullerton voted for Donald Trump, then for President Biden, and for Gov. Gavin Newsom. She isn't happy with any of them." MIXTAPE — California's sky-high gas prices are giving Democrats electoral jitters. (NY Times) — "F all politicians" is a line that actually ended up in California's voter guide. Here's how. (KTLA) — The murder case of a California college girl had gone cold until a podcast led to the arrest of her alleged killer. (USA Today) A message from California Clean Cars Campaign: Electric vehicles are the key to freedom from expensive and volatile gas prices. Low-income communities and communities of color are hit from both sides, spending more of their income on fuel and breathing in more toxic tailpipe exhaust that shortens their lives. Strong, equitable electric car sales targets will cut health costs associated with chronic air pollution exposure, support the creation of good jobs in a key economic sector and help unburden family budgets that support local businesses. Governor Newsom and the Air Resources Board California Air Resources Board cannot fail us in setting stronger electric car standards that save people money at the pump, protect public health, fight the climate crisis and create jobs. We need electric car sales targets and mandatory equity provisions that achieve at least 75% pollution-free car sales by 2030.  Click here to learn more about how we can improve the Advanced Clean Cars program.     Follow us on Twitter Katy Murphy @katymurphy POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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