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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s former Controller Betty Yee announced Wednesday she will run for governor in 2026, vying to succeed outgoing Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who is Black, and outgoing state Senate leader Toni Atkins, a lesbian lawmaker, have all announced their candidacies. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesYee served as the budget director for Democratic Gov. She was then elected as a member of the California State Board of Equalization and then as state controller. California controller is responsible for disbursing state funds, auditing government agencies and serving on more than 70 boards and commissions.

Persons: —, Betty Yee, Gavin Newsom, Yee, ” Yee, Newsom, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Toni Atkins, Rob Bonta, Gray Davis Organizations: Democratic, California Democratic Party, Democratic Gov, California State, of Equalization Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, San Francisco, Sacramento, California

California, despite its progressive reputation, has never had a woman or an openly LGBTQ governor. Atkins has only ever been elected by voters in San Diego. She later worked at a women's health clinic that performed abortions before getting elected to the San Diego City Council. She had a brief stint as mayor before getting elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and the state Senate in 2016. Newsom has steadfastly refused sweeping tax increases to balance the budget — something Atkins, too, said she would try to stay away from if she were elected governor.

Persons: Toni Atkins, Atkins, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Rob Bonta, Gavin Newsom, Thurmond, Yee, ” Atkins, “ I’m, Jerry Brown, Newsom, “, ” Organizations: Democrat, Capitol, San Diego City Council, Gov Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, San Diego, Virginia, “

That includes a brief stint as mayor of San Diego, one of the nation’s largest cities. During her tenure as Senate leader, Democrats have grown their caucus to 32 out of 40 seats — their largest majority since 1883. She got her chance when her twin sister joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. In San Diego, Atkins was director of a women’s health clinic that performed abortions. She was also politically active, working to help elect Christine Kehoe to the San Diego City Council.

Persons: Toni Atkins, Tony Gwynn, Jimmy Kimmel’s, Atkins, Jerry Brown, “, Gavin Newsom, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Rob Bonta, ”, Shannon Grove, Newsom, Dolly Parton, ” Atkins, Christine Kehoe, Kehoe, “ Toni, ” Kehoe, Anthony Rendon, Rendon, “ Toni Atkins Organizations: San Diego Padres, Gov, Associated Press, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, Republican, Navy, San Diego City Council, Affordable Care Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Oregon, Black, San Diego, Virginia, Appalachia, Los Angeles

If elected, Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction, would be the first Black person to become California's governor. California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and former state Controller Betty Yee, both Democrats, also announced their 2026 bids for governor. Democratic State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who previously said she would run for governor, announced earlier this year that she is running for lieutenant governor. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley district over the policy, saying it discriminated against students. The school board later reversed course.

Persons: —, Tony Thurmond, Thurmond, ”, Eleni Kounalakis, Betty Yee, Fiona Ma, Gavin Newsom, Rob Bonta, Newsom, Harvey Milk Organizations: Tuesday, Democratic, Democratic California Gov, West Contra Costa School Board, Richmond City Council, Politico Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, “ California, California, Richmond, Philadelphia, Southern California, Chino Valley, San Francisco

☆ Taylor Swift urged to postpone LA shows amid hotel strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —“Swifties” heading to Los Angeles to see Taylor Swift concerts this week may find a large number of staff at their hotels on strike when they get there. Some California politicians wrote to Swift this week urging her to cancel her shows in LA, which run from Thursday through August 9. The politicians said Swift’s shows would be money makers for the hotels they are battling. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesThe open letter addressed to Swift said, “We are writing in support of the hotel housekeepers across Los Angeles. “In Los Angeles, hotels are doubling and tripling what they charge because you are coming… but many workers cannot afford to live close to where they work.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, JW, Beverly Hilton, Seasons Regent Beverly Wilshire, Irfan Khan, “, – CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: New, New York CNN, SoFi, Westin LAX, Democrat, CNN, Ritz, Carlton, JW Marriott LA, Anaheim Hilton, Seasons Regent, Hyatt Regency LAX, Los Angeles Times Locations: New York, Los Angeles, LAX, California, LA, Southern California, Orange, Fairmont Miramar, Anaheim, Los Angeles , CA

☆ Kamala Harris found her voice on abortion rights in the year after Dobbs. Now she’s making it central to her 2024 message.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Jasmine Wright | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris was fed up. Harris left the event railing at the stigma women face for doing so, a staffer told CNN. The shift in posture, many close to the White House say, has also been helped by one of Biden’s closest advisers, Anita Dunn. “The president and vice president cannot both be bouncing around the country doing fundraisers all the time. Long one of the Democratic Party’s most moderate voices on abortion, Biden has reckoned with personal qualms rooted in his Catholic faith.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Roe, Wade, Biden, she’d, “, ” Harris, We’re, Joe Biden, Harris ’, ”, Eleni Kounalakis, Biden’s, “ There’s, Kamala, ” Ron Klain, ” Klain, she’s, Anita Dunn, Dunn, Ben LaBolt, Jeff Zients, Harris “, Cornell Belcher, they’re, . Delaware Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, ” Coons, Laphonza Butler, ” Butler, Sheila Nix, Nix, Court’s Dobbs, Todd Ivey, ” Ivey, roundtables, Jill Biden, Dobbs, Long, he’s Organizations: CNN, Biden, West Wing, White, Republican, General, Republicans, Congress, Nationwide, West, White House, Oval, Democratic Party . Communications, Democratic, voters, Democratic Party, Black, ”, Democrats, Fund, . Delaware Democratic, Biden campaign’s, America, Affordable, FDA Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, Washington , DC, Charlotte , North Carolina, California, Georgia, Texas

☆ Britain eyes trade agreements with California, Utah
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Britain this week inked an agreement aimed at boosting trade and investment with South Carolina, its third such deal with a U.S. state, and is seeking similar deals with California and Utah, the UK junior trade minister, Greg Hands, said on Friday. Britain remains convinced that a comprehensive free trade agreement with the United States makes good sense for both countries, Hands told Reuters, although the Biden administration has put all free trade talks on ice for now. Britain has signed trade agreements with Japan, Australia and New Zealand since leaving the European Union, and hoped to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, he added. "Yet our largest bilateral trade partner of all, the United States, we do not have a comprehensive free trade agreement with," he said, noting that the two countries share similar standards on worker rights, the environment and climate change. California is the most populous U.S. state and would rank as the world's sixth largest economy if it were a country.

Brian Kemp to become the state’s first Black governor — she’d also be the first Black woman in the country’s history to hold a governor seat. In Maryland, Rep. Anthony Brown could be the state’s first Black attorney general if he defeats Republican Michael Peroutka. Smaller historic races include Rep. Karen Bass’ bid to become Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor. Flowers would be the first Black woman to hold the office in Alabama, and she’s already made history as the first Black woman from either major party to win the nomination for governor. If successful, she would be the first Black woman elected to the chamber in the state’s history.

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