Topline:
With temperatures forecasted in the 90's for Long Beach, race officials have bumped up the start time for Sunday's races.
Start time: Marathoners, set your clocks a half an hour earlier - this Sunday's Wheelchair Marathon and Half Marathon will start at 5:25 a.m. and the 26.2 Marathon begins at 5:30.
Other races: On Saturday, the Aquarium of the Pacific 5k run/walk will start at it's scheduled time, 7:00 a.m.
This Sunday’s 40th Long Beach Marathon and other races on that day will have an earlier start time due to forecasted temperatures in the 90s. As of Wednesday, however, the Oct. 5th Aquarium of the Pacific 5K run/walk will start at it’s regular time.
To stay safe while running the marathon, here are some tips from race officials:
Topline:
With Rep. Eric Swalwell out of the race amid serious allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, the Democratic race for governor remains a toss-up, with Tom Steyer and Katie Porter most likely to benefit from his withdrawal.
How we got here: Swalwell suspended his campaign Sunday evening and resigned from Congress Monday afternoon — a swift fall from power for one of the state’s leading candidates for governor.
What's next: In theory, one fewer Democratic candidate in the race should help liberal voters consolidate the field. But in a race that was already anyone’s to win, Swalwell’s exit has only “caused more confusion,” said political strategist Marva Diaz, who primarily works with Democrats but is not involved in any gubernatorial campaign. “I’ve never seen something so in flux while ballots are about to drop."
If voters were confused about who to support in California’s wide-open race for governor, Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct may leave them as mystified as ever.
Swalwell suspended his campaign Sunday evening and resigned from Congress Monday afternoon — a swift fall from power for one of the state’s leading candidates for governor.
He said he would “fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
In theory, one fewer Democratic candidate in the race should help liberal voters consolidate the field. But in a race that was already anyone’s to win, Swalwell’s exit has only “caused more confusion,” said political strategist Marva Diaz, who primarily works with Democrats but is not involved in any gubernatorial campaign.
“I’ve never seen something so in flux while ballots are about to drop,” she said.
Because Swalwell dropped out after a statutory deadline to formally withdraw from an election, his name will still appear on the June 2 primary election ballot. That makes it possible he’ll still get some votes, but his rivals are already seeking to scoop up as many of his supporters as possible.
Both billionaire climate advocate Tom Steyer and law professor and former Rep. Katie Porter circulated polls indicating they could both pick up a sizable portion of Swalwell’s potential voters. Pollsters with the Public Policy Institute of California and UC Berkeley both agreed Steyer and Porter were the most likely to benefit from prior Swalwell supporters.
But they may not be the only ones, and it’s not clear that either one of them will immediately surge into the lead. An independent campaign committee supporting San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan pulled in $12 million million in new and previously committed contributions from wealthy donors since Friday, committee spokesperson Matt Rodriguez said, indicating his backers see an opening.
They’re launching $4.5 million worth of TV and digital ads Tuesday. Mahan is one of the race’s lower-polling candidates, getting 3% of likely voters’ support in a poll commissioned last week by the state Democratic Party.
Until the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN last Friday published stories with explosive sexual misconduct allegations from four women, including a former staff member, Swalwell had consistently polled ahead of most other Democrats in the race for governor. He was often in a three-way tie for lead Democrat alongside Porter and Steyer, with each of them getting between 10% and 15% of voters polled, tied with or trailing the two leading Republicans, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
And though Swalwell counted among his supporters a sizable share of the Democratic establishment — his colleagues in Congress, major labor unions and other Sacramento interest groups — it was by no means a consensus. Now, after those groups have scrambled through emergency weekend meetings to pull their endorsements, they’ll have to slog through their internal procedures if they want to back another candidate for governor.
That gives voters fewer pointers on which candidate to back, Diaz said. Some organizations, she added, may be hesitant to endorse another candidate out of concern they, too, could have damaging backgrounds.
“Most people look to labor for guidance, especially on the Democratic side,” Diaz said. “When labor organizations are not working in tandem, it causes a lot of confusion.”
Swalwell was one of four Democrats the California Labor Federation jointly endorsed for governor, along with Porter, Steyer and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The federation, which could not reach consensus on any individual candidate, likely won’t be revisiting its other endorsements with Swalwell gone, president Lorena Gonzalez said.
But the Service Employees International Union, California Teachers Association and other heavyweights in Democratic politics which had endorsed Swalwell and then withdrew their support may not have time to go back to the drawing board to pick a new candidate. The teachers’ union’s endorsement process, for example, required a vote among hundreds of members from across the state; the union’s next such meeting isn’t scheduled until after the June 2 primary.
Representatives of both unions said they did not have any campaign updates Monday. A spokesperson for the California Professional Firefighters, another major Swalwell supporter, did not respond to inquiries.
The effects of Swalwell’s exit on public polling of the race may not be seen for weeks. Donors often look to such measures of a candidate’s performance to decide who to back.
In the last survey UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies conducted of the governor’s race, in March, Swalwell’s supporters leaned more liberal and progressive, said institute co-director Eric Schickler. Swalwell also did better than other candidates among older voters and white voters.
Those voters cut a similar profile to Porter’s supporters, Schickler said, lending credence to the idea that his supporters would start following her.
“On the other hand, Porter has had trouble, for a visible politician, has had trouble winning over a lot of Democratic establishment figures in her own right,” he said. “If you look at the support, it’s a little more similar, but not so striking to say these supporters automatically go there.”
As for Swalwell’s congressional seat, it’s not clear when he’s stepping down. But he said he would work with his congressional staff to ensure they are able to meet the needs of his San Francisco East Bay district, where he was first elected in 2013.
Swalwell’s resignation Monday leaves the call for a special election to finish his term entirely at Newsom’s discretion, since the candidate filing deadline for the June primary has passed, according to the state election code.
Newsom’s office would not say Monday whether the governor will do so.
But if he calls for the election, the earliest date it could be held would be in mid-August, since state law requires it to take place between 126 and 140 days after the proclamation. If Newsom declines to call a special election, Swalwell’s seat will remain vacant until mid-January 2027, dealing a blow to the U.S. House Democrats who are already outnumbered by the Republican majority.
Because Swalwell opted to run for governor instead of retaining his seat in Congress, there are already seven candidates in the running to replace Swalwell in the 14th Congressional District.
CalMatters’ Yue Stella Yu contributed to this story.
Topline:
Port of L.A. exports rose 7% in March, compared to last year, despite shipping upheaval in the Middle East.
Why it matters: The port generated over $300 billion in trade last year, making it an important regional and national economic engine.
The backstory: The Port of L.A.’s largest trade partners are big economies along the Pacific Rim, like China, Vietnam and Japan. And that trans-Pacific commerce has insulated the port from the war with Iran.
Go deeper: Would a US blockade of Strait of Hormuz help Trump?
New data from the Port of L.A. for March released on Monday shows a 7% increase in exports compared to the same month last year, with 132,000 containers leaving the port despite the turmoil in the Middle East.
“That's the highest output number for the export containers that we've seen in nearly two years,” Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of L.A. “While encouraging, we have much more work to do to develop a consistent upward trend."
The overall percentage change in container traffic in and out of the port in March is in the single digits, a 3% drop compared to the same month last year. Seroka said that’s because uncertainty over tariffs a year ago led companies to scramble to get their products through ports.
However, while there’s an upward trend in exports, the data confirms something that’s been true for years: the U.S. is in a trade deficit. In March, overseas companies sent about three times more goods to consumers here than were sent out of the port by American companies. Last month, the port processed over 380,000 incoming containers, mostly from China, Vietnam and Japan.
That trans-Pacific commerce is insulating the Port of L.A. container volume from one of the most consequential geopolitical conflicts in recent memory — the war with Iran.
“So far, it's a concern, but it's not a worry,” Seroka said.
Foreign shipping companies that do business with the Port of L.A., as well as ports in the Middle East, are doing what they can to protect their trade with the U.S., Seroka said.
“The transpacific business is the most lucrative of any east west [trade] for the service providers and shipping lines… they'll go to great lengths to make sure those supply chains remain intact,” he said.
The port is the busiest in the Western hemisphere, generating more than $300 billion in trade last year, making it an important regional and national economic engine.
But the war is affecting shipping companies and consumers in other ways. The price of gasoline has gone up, as well as cargo ship fuel, which will likely be passed on to consumers.
Top five products imported to the U.S. through the Port of L.A.:
Top five products exported from the U.S. through the Port of L.A.:
Top trading partners with the Port of L.A. (cargo value):
Data for the 2025 calendar year
Topline:
A beloved Los Angeles puppetry institution said Monday they’re here to stay now that they’ve worked out a plan to buy their building.
The backstory: The Bob Baker Marionette Theater has been delighting L.A. kids — and kids at heart — since 1963. But in 2019, their landlord’s redevelopment plans forced them to move from their original location near downtown L.A. to their current venue in Highland Park.
What’s new: Co-executive director Mary Fagot said discussions to purchase the building began in 2024. Those talks have culminated in a deal to buy the building for $5 million from its owner, Capstone Equities. Once the sale is complete, Fagot said Bob Baker will be able to redirect rent money to new programming, field trips and special events.
Read on… for more on how this deal comes at a time when Bob Baker puppets are gracing bigger stages and reaching new audiences.
The directors of a beloved Los Angeles puppetry institution said Monday their theater is here to stay now that they’ve worked out a plan to buy their building.
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater has been delighting L.A. kids — and kids at heart — since 1963. But in 2019, a landlord’s redevelopment plans forced the theater to move from its original location near downtown L.A. to its current venue in Highland Park.
Co-executive director Mary Fagot said discussions to purchase the building began in 2024. Those talks have culminated in a deal to buy the building for $5 million from its owner, Capstone Equities.
Once the sale is complete, Bob Baker will be able to redirect rent money to new programming, field trips and special events, Fagot said.
“Buying the building means that we won't be subject to rent increases or even another displacement in the future,” she said. “We'll be able to go on presenting our special brand of magic, creativity and imagination, here in this location, forever.”
The theater said it has already raised $4.5 million for the purchase from organizations such as the Perenchio Foundation, the Kohl Family Foundation and the Ahmanson Foundation, as well as philanthropists and celebrities, including Wallis Annenberg, Jack Black and Tanya Haden.
Now the theater is asking the public for help raising the last $500,000, so it can close the deal without carrying debt into the future.
The news comes as new audiences have been getting to see White Cat, Skateboarding Clown, Gorgeous and all of the theater’s other distinctive puppets in action.
Bob Baker puppeteers brought their talents to Coachella last weekend. They’ll be there again this weekend, adding a dash of whimsy to a lineup that includes headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G.
The theater is also prepping to debut its first new show in 40 years, an hour-long train-themed adventure called Choo Choo Revue.
Fagot said L.A. families are always bringing new generations of kids to their regular shows in Highland Park.
“To be able to say with certainty that this theater will be here for my kids and my kids' kids, and really for the cultural landscape of Los Angeles for generations to come — it feels like a really big deal, not just for us, but for L.A.,” Fagot said.
Topline:
Los Angeles County’s CEO on Monday proposed a $48.8-billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that avoids broad cuts, but warns reductions in federal funding could hit the county hard.
The details: The budget by acting CEO Joseph Nicchitta recommended a net decrease of 81 budgeted vacant jobs for a total of 115,885 positions. It includes $63.2 million in new ongoing local funding for programs and services.
Social service and public defender increases: Family and social service programs would see a $40.1-million bump in funding. That would help protect 1,000 Department of Public Social Service jobs that provide CalFresh services, according to a county statement. The budget plan also includes $12 million more to support public defenders, given increasing caseloads.
Federal policies: Federal policy changes to Medi-Cal and CalFresh eligibility, enrollment and work requirements set to take effect in the next fiscal year “are expected to have a devastating impact on those programs,” according to the statement. The Department of Health Services budget reflects an estimated $662.2 million decline in federal support to maintain the current level of services.
The future: “LA County is currently in the eye of a hurricane,” Nicchitta said. “Previous cuts of 8.5% and a hiring freeze helped balance our spending plan, but we’re preparing for major new budget impacts to our health and social services departments in 2027.”
What’s next: Nicchitta presents the budget to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
