Come Together: Asm. Heather Hadwick and Asm. Patrick Ahrens

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 06.22.2026

Asm. Patrick Ahrens and Asm. Heather Hadwick in Hadwick's office. Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol Weekly

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Sometimes it seems like bipartisanship has gone the way of the dinosaur, the Dodo Bird and $3 gasoline, but Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick (R) and Patrick Ahrens (D) are doing their best to keep the dream alive. While the two come from dramatically different districts with distinct priorities (AD01 and AD26) the two bonded over their shared childhood experiences with the Head Start program, and have teamed on legislation to support California children. They sat down with us to talk about their shared priorities, and where they have to differ.

Capitol Briefs

Capitol Briefs: A new caucus, ballot measure deals, pitching Newsom

Capitol Briefs logo

by LEAH O’TARROW & RICH EHISEN posted 06.19.2026

The number of women serving in the California Legislature has grown steadily in recent years, due in great part to the efforts of Close the Gap California’s recruiting efforts. Now the group has its own caucus.

Micheli Minute

The Micheli Minute for June 22, 2026

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 06.22.2026

Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.

Opinion

May Revise reveals 2 budgets: The written and the lived

Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Capitol Weekly.

by COREY JACKSON and SARITA A. MOHANTY posted 06.22.2026

OPINION—The governor’s May Revision is being framed as a response to fiscal uncertainty, but for Californians, it reads as a decision to make essential services harder to reach, just as need is rising.

Podcast

The Primary is over – What now?

Image by Viktor Hanacek.

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 06.15.2026

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: The Capitol Weekly crew look at the California Primary. How did Proposition 50 impact the races, what did billionaires get for their money, and will the generation gap be a defining factor in November? Plus, Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

Micheli Files

California Legislature’s support agencies

Image by Nicholas Klein.

by CHRIS MICHELI posted 06.18.2026

There are several important entities that support the work of the California Legislature. But what do they all do? Capitol lobbyist, McGeorge law professor and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Chris Micheli explains it all for you in this week’s Micheli Files.

News

Big Cities, Big Challenges: Capitol Weekly’s Big City Mayors Forum

Big City Mayors Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Matt Mahan, Karen Bass, Larry Agran, Daniel Lurie, Jerry Dyer, Rex Richardson. Photo courtesy of Big City Mayors coalition.

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 06.11.2026

Mayors from several of California’s largest cities gathered on Wednesday for the Capitol Weekly Big City Mayors Forum to discuss some of the state’s most pressing challenges, including homelessness, housing affordability, economic development, regulatory reform and the evolving relationship between local governments and Sacramento.

Capitol Spotlight

Capitol Spotlight: Marie Liu, Fearless Advocacy

Marie Liu. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly

by LEAH O'TARROW posted 06.09.2026

An accidental encounter with a California Senate Fellows brochure launched a career that would take Marie Liu deep into the halls of the Capitol, where she spent more than two decades helping shape California’s environmental policy.