Civics & Democracy

LAist’s coverage of civic life and citizen issues in Southern California. We cover elections, examine who gets listened to and why, and provide a guide for anyone who wants to more fully participate in civic life.

A child holding a folder looks towards the camera as they stand in the distance next to two adults.

California courts will begin tracking ICE arrests at their facilities

The rule being considered comes as immigration arrests rise at state courts, discouraging victims, witnesses and others from showing up, according to lawyers and advocates.

California election officials face false choice: Count votes quickly or count them right

A group of people with multiple USPS boxes filled with ballots inspect and pull from those boxes. They sit in a warehouse.

Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132M campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race

Tom Steyer, a man with light skin tone, gray hair, wearing a dark blue suit, speaks into a handheld microphone as something in the foreground partially covers the frame on the right side.

Rivals target Steyer, Becerra in debate as California governor race tightens

Six people stand behind podiums in a tv studio with lights beaming on them and the background.

Senate votes to kickstart partisan funding process for ICE. Here's how that works

More Stories

Gavin Newsom vows to ‘leave no region behind’ on California jobs

Newsom touts the first of 13 regional plans to boost economic development across the state.
One of the closest watched House races is in California's 45th District. Is it headed for a recount?

A day after the election, incumbent Republican Rep. Michelle Steel was ahead of Democratic challenger Derek Tran. Since then, Tran has pulled ahead but only by a few hundred votes.
Ysabel Jurado pledges to stop 'eviction to homelessness pipeline,' and says LA can't police its way out of problems

The newly-elect councilmember stresses the need for better city services and is eyeing public land to build more housing.
Democrat Derek Tran's lead over GOP Rep. Michelle Steel climbs to 480 votes

The contest in California's 45th district is one of three undecided House races.
How ballot curing could decide those super tight races

Voters have until Dec. 1 to fix mismatched or missing signatures on their ballots. Here’s how it works.
California’s ‘Trump-proofing’ likely won’t include AI — at least not yet

President-elect Trump has vowed to rescind an executive order that imposed AI safeguards, and could use tech to enable mass deportations. How far will California go in the other direction?
California voters pass Prop. 34 health care spending rules

Prop. 34 is about healthcare spending. But it will also likely quash the controversial AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s fight for rent control.
Democrat Derek Tran is now 397 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Michelle Steel

The race for California's 45th Congressional District remains the tightest in the country.
California’s slow vote count sows doubt. Here’s how one group is trying to fix that

The California Voter Foundation launched a tool tracking daily vote counts in 18 close contests for Congress and the state Legislature.
California’s budget is ‘roughly balanced,’ but growing deficits expected

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office projects a $2 billion shortfall for 2025-26, but says the state can’t afford big new programs.
No raise for California’s minimum wage workers. Voters reject Prop. 32

California voters refused to raise the statewide minimum wage to $18 an hour. Fast food and health care workers already get more.
Democrat Tran widens lead to 314 votes over GOP's Steel in 45th House District race

The race for the 45th Congressional District in Southern California has become the closest House race in the nation.

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Civics & Democracy