CAPITOL DAYBOOK NEWS

Becerra has eight weeks to staff a government and write a first budget

Governor-elect Xavier Becerra has 55 days before his January 4 swearing-in to fill hundreds of appointed posts and propose a budget by January 10. The Legislative Analyst's Office plans to release its Fiscal Outlook on November 18.

• The Legislative Analyst's Office estimates a structural deficit of $18.5 billion in the current 2026-27 fiscal year
• The office estimates annual operating deficits of $8 billion to $10 billion in later years
• Outstanding budgetary borrowing from the last three budgets will total about $29 billion by the end of 2026-27
• The new Legislature convenes on December 7 to swear in members

San Francisco Inquirer · 11/10/26

Newsom leads California delegation to COP31 climate summit in Turkey

Governor Gavin Newsom is leading a California delegation to COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20. The governor's office said the United States State Department confirmed it will not send a federal delegation.

Governor's Office United States Tribune · 11/10/26

House sends Hegseth impeachment articles to committee in 211 to 204 vote

The House on Tuesday referred Representative Thomas Massie's eight impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee. All eight California Republicans and Representative Kevin Kiley voted to refer, and 40 California Democrats voted no.

San Francisco Inquirer

Voters approve Proposition 38, an $8.4 billion immunology research bond

Voters approved Proposition 38, authorizing $8.4 billion in bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research on cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. The Associated Press called the measure on November 9.

• At least $4.2 billion must be used for immunology research on cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease
• About half the funds will go to a research institute specializing in immunology and immunotherapy, chosen by the California Department of Public Health
• Repaying the bond will cost the state $500 million to $600 million annually for about 20 years
• Yes received 54.2 percent of votes cast as of Monday evening, according to the Associated Press call report

Nature Becker's Hospital Review Daily Bruin · 11/10/26

Calvert defeats Kim in redrawn 40th District incumbent contest

Representative Ken Calvert defeated fellow Republican Representative Young Kim in the redrawn 40th Congressional District, in a contest created by Proposition 50 redistricting. The Associated Press called the race at 6:31 p.m. on Monday, November 9.

• Unofficial results showed Calvert with 93,948 votes, 53.8 percent, to Kim's 80,707 votes, 46.2 percent
• The district covers parts of Orange County and the Inland Empire, from Mission Viejo to Murrieta and Menifee

Political.org MyNewsLA · 11/10/26

Kiley discusses reelection defeat after leaving the Republican Party

Representative Kevin Kiley, who left the Republican Party in March and ran as an independent, spoke with NPR about losing his reelection bid last week. Democrat Richard Pan won the redrawn 6th Congressional District race.

KNKX Public Radio

Statewide winners projected with about 83 percent of votes counted

One week after the midterm election, the Associated Press estimated about 83 percent of votes had been counted as of Tuesday. Projected winners included Xavier Becerra for governor, Fiona Ma for lieutenant governor, and incumbents Shirley Weber, Malia Cohen and Rob Bonta.

• Becerra led Steve Hilton 65.8 percent to 34.2 percent in Secretary of State results as of November 10
• Fiona Ma led Gloria Romero 65.7 percent to 34.3 percent for lieutenant governor
• County officials must certify results by December 3, and the Secretary of State certifies on December 11

Desert Sun $ · 11/10/26

Propositions 4 and 5 remain uncalled in updated count

Proposition 4 on public campaign financing and Proposition 5 on recall elections remained uncalled in the Secretary of State count as of 5:31 p.m. on November 10, with all 23,860 precincts partially reporting.

• Proposition 4: no led with 5,768,677 votes, 50.3 percent, to yes with 5,694,686 votes, 49.7 percent
• Proposition 5: yes led with 5,851,098 votes, 51.9 percent, to no with 5,417,336 votes, 48.1 percent

CalMatters via KVCR California Today · 11/10/26

Newsom announces nearly $1.3 billion for transit and rail projects

Governor Gavin Newsom announced nearly $1.3 billion in 28 awards through state transit and rail programs. The funding helps prevent Metrolink service cuts, advances the Caltrain extension into downtown San Francisco, and adds more than 75 zero-emission buses.

• A $750 million investment will advance The Portal, extending Caltrain about two miles into downtown San Francisco
• A $20 million investment will help Metrolink avoid proposed service reductions through summer 2028
• An additional $66.5 million in State Rail Assistance funding will support eight projects

Governor's Office · 11/10/26

Newsom issues emergency proclamations for Humboldt and Imperial counties

Governor Gavin Newsom issued emergency proclamations for recovery from the Mile Post 18 Fire in Humboldt County and the August monsoon storm in Imperial County. The Humboldt proclamation lets Caltrans seek federal highway repair funding for State Route 96.

Governor's Office · 11/10/26

Newsom proclaims November 11 as Veterans Day in California

Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed November 11, 2026, as Veterans Day in California. The proclamation cited state work on veterans housing, health care, income tax relief for eligible military retirees, and property tax exemptions for disabled veterans.

Governor's Office · 11/10/26

A look at Newsom's final bills, from election security to research funding

Governor Gavin Newsom signed his final bill on September 30, capping his term with a 13-bill election package signed September 19, a financial aid delays law, and Senate Bill 895, which puts a $7.5 billion research bond on the March 2028 ballot.

Daily Bruin

Democrats called as winners in several Republican-held Assembly seats

An election update reported races called for Democratic challengers in three Republican-held Assembly districts, in the Imperial Valley, the Palm Springs area, and Riverside. Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover trailed Democrat Amy Slavensky in a Sacramento County district.

Greenberg Traurig · 11/10/26

Former insurance judge sues Lara over rate approval process

Kristin Rosi, the former chief administrative law judge for the Department of Insurance, sued Commissioner Ricardo Lara in Alameda County Superior Court. She alleges the department approved insurance rate increases without required review and retaliated against her for objecting.

Insurance Business Magazine New York Post

Wiener called as winner in race for the Pelosi House seat

State Senator Scott Wiener was called as the winner over San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan in the 11th Congressional District, the seat of retiring Representative Nancy Pelosi. Chan was backed by Pelosi in the Democrat against Democrat contest.

Greenberg Traurig · 11/10/26

Proposition 42, the personal property tax ban, leads in the count

Proposition 42, created by opponents of the billionaire tax to make it harder for the state to levy a new tax on wealth or personal property, was leading in updated results. Proposition 41, a companion measure, failed, and Proposition 40 itself failed.

CalMatters via KVCR · 11/10/26

Lara orders one year insurance protection for about 50,000 policyholders near Dove Fire

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ordered insurers to preserve coverage for about 50,000 policyholders in Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Calaveras counties for one year after the Dove Fire emergency declaration. The moratorium covers homes in or next to the fire perimeter ZIP Codes.

Lassen News

Wildfire liability overhaul could return in a special session, columnist writes

Columnist Dan Walters wrote that speculation continues that Governor Gavin Newsom could call a special session on wildfire liability for utilities after the November 3 election. Newsom dropped a broader liability plan during the regular session and signed Senate Bill 492 instead.

CalMatters via Santa Monica Daily Press · 11/4/26

State awards another $9.14 million for factory-built housing

The California Strategic Growth Council awarded an additional $9.14 million through its Factory-Built Housing Regional Pilot Program, building on $10 million awarded in August. Projects include workforce housing in Anaheim, mass timber work in the Tahoe Truckee region, and modular housing in Los Angeles County.

Strategic Growth Council · 11/2/26

Barrera wins state superintendent race as Shaw concedes

San Diego Unified board president Richard Barrera won the race for state superintendent of public instruction, and Chino Valley Unified board president Sonja Shaw conceded. As of November 10, Barrera led with 59.1 percent to Shaw's 40.9 percent in Secretary of State results.

EdSource Desert Sun $ · 11/10/26

Newsom executive order advances independent AI oversight and a kill switch review

Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing work on independent verification of artificial intelligence models and an expert review of a kill switch for frontier AI agents. The order also accelerated implementation of Senate Bill 813 and Assembly Bill 1405.

Al Jazeera Governor's Office