Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
New Poll: Most Black Californians Remain Undecided in California Gubernatorial Race
A CBS News poll, conducted from April 23 to April 27, finds that Black voters in California remain largely undecided in the state’s gubernatorial race, signaling a key opportunity for candidates competing for support ahead of the election.
According to the survey, 30% of Black likely voters said they are still undecided, a larger share than any individual candidate has secured so far. The data suggests the race remains fluid, with no clear front-runner emerging among this critical voting bloc.
Among those who have chosen a candidate, Tom Steyer leads with 18%, followed by Matt Mahan at 15%, an unusually strong showing compared to his support among voters overall. Katie Porter received 13%, while Xavier Becerra garnered 9%. Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa trailed with 7% and 5%, respectively.
Republican candidates registered minimal support among Black voters, with Steve Hilton receiving 1% and Chad Bianco at 2%, reflecting the party’s ongoing challenges in making inroads into the Black community.
The poll highlights the importance of Black voters in a crowded Democratic field, where candidates are competing to build broad, diverse coalitions. Analysts say the high undecided rate may reflect limited engagement so far or a wait-and-see approach as campaigns roll out policy proposals and increase outreach.
Key issues for Black voters include economic opportunity, housing affordability, education, health care access, and criminal justice reform. Advocates say candidates who directly address these concerns and demonstrate consistent engagement may be best positioned to win support.
With months to go before Election Day, the findings suggest campaigns still have time to shape voter preferences. The large share of undecided voters underscores that the race remains open, and that Black voters could play a decisive role in determining who ultimately leads California.
California Leaders Respond to Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Decision
California leaders sharply criticized a new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, handed down on April 29, that affects enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, warning it could weaken protections for voters of color and reshape redistricting efforts nationwide.
The decision in Louisiana v. Callais addresses whether creating additional majority-minority congressional districts to remedy discrimination violates constitutional equal protection principles. The ruling raises new uncertainty around how states can use race to ensure fair representation, a key tool in enforcing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
California officials said the outcome could make it harder to challenge voting maps and policies that dilute minority voting power, signaling potential ripple effects across the country.
Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the court’s majority of weakening core democratic safeguards.
“The Supreme Court majority continues to gut the Voting Rights Act and vital protections for our democracy and fair representation,” said Newsom. He added that California “will not sit back” and will continue taking action to safeguard voting rights.
Attorney General Rob Bonta called the decision “deeply disappointing,” emphasizing the long-standing role of Section 2 in protecting equal access to the ballot.
“While the full impact of this ruling is still uncertain, we know from past experience that decisions striking down, or effectively gutting, provisions of the Voting Rights Act are often followed by new state laws that restrict access to the ballot for voters of color,” Bonta said.
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) linked the ruling to broader concerns about election integrity ahead of November. Speaking alongside Chuck Schumer, Padilla announced a Senate Democratic election protection task force aimed at countering what he described as threats to free and fair elections.
“Fair, non-discriminatory redistricting is just as fundamental to voting rights as access to the ballot,” said Padilla. He warned of continued efforts to make it harder for Americans to register and vote, adding, “Try as hard as they might, we’ll try even harder and we will succeed in defending our elections.”
Padilla also sharply criticized Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers, alleging efforts to restrict voting access through policy and legal changes. The new task force, he said, will focus on legal challenges, voter outreach, and coordination ahead of Election Day.
The ruling comes amid heightened national debate over voting rights and election laws. California leaders signaled they will continue expanding access through state policies while pushing for federal reforms, positioning the state as a leading voice in defending voting protections and ensuring equal representation.
California Republican Party Launches ‘California Promise’ Website and Video Ahead of 2026 Elections
The California Republican Party on April 30 unveiled a new statewide policy initiative — the “California Promise” — alongside a dedicated website and announcement video aimed at shaping voter engagement ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
The initiative, introduced under California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin, outlines a 10-point agenda focused on affordability, public safety, education, infrastructure, homelessness, water, workers and government accountability. The rollout includes a digital platform and video campaign that opens with sweeping images of the Pacific Coast, the Golden Gate Bridge, Central Valley farms and the Los Angeles skyline, asking viewers: “What happened to the California promise?”
The party says it will host a series of public events across the state to engage voters and gather input on the plan.
“California has always been a place of possibility, but too many families are now asking whether they can still build a future here,” Rankin said.
“The California Promise is our answer. We are going to talk about the problems people live with every day and offer a clear path to fix them.”
Among its proposals, the plan calls for expanding housing supply, reducing regulations, stabilizing insurance markets and lowering energy and transportation costs. It also emphasizes support for law enforcement, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and strengthening education systems with career and technical pathways.
Additional planks focus on repairing infrastructure, expanding water storage, addressing homelessness through treatment and accountability, and supporting workers across industries.
“The California Promise is our commitment to listening to Californians and delivering real results on the issues that matter most,” Rankin said. “From making life more affordable to building safe communities and expanding opportunity, this plan puts California first and offers an aspirational vision for our state’s future.”
AKAs, Zetas and Sigmas Rally at State Capitol to Advocate for Legislative Priorities
On April 27, members of two Black sororities and one fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma – all members of the Divine Nine (D9) — visited the California State Capitol for a day of legislative advocacy, including presentations on the Senate and Assembly floors led by lawmakers from the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).
The State Capitol, Swing Space Annex, and surrounding areas were filled with members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., dressed in their signature colors of pink and green, and royal blue and white, respectively.
“Being a Zeta strengthened my commitment to community and reminded me that leadership is about showing up, especially for those voices too often unheard,” said Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-La Mesa). “I am honored to be joined today with 50 members of Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated, as well as the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., in the rear of the chamber and gallery.”
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. were at the Capitol for their 27th Annual Day, meeting with legislators to discuss 2026 priorities, including voting rights protections. Their visit included recognition on the Senate floor, hosted by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles).
“Today, we recognize not only the legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha, but the continued impact of its members who lead, serve, and uplift communities across the nation,” said Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood).
The D9 is the collective name for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), an umbrella organization representing nine historically African American Greek-letter fraternities and sororities founded between 1906 and 1963.
Bill Aims to End Tax Break for Wall Street Landlords — Curbing Their Impact on First-Time Homebuyers
California lawmakers are advancing legislation that would eliminate a tax break used by large corporate landlords to reduce taxes on profits from buying and selling single-family homes, a move supporters say is designed to protect first-time homebuyers from being priced out of the market.
The proposal, Assembly Bill (AB)1611, was introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) and targets investors who directly or indirectly own more than 50 single-family homes. The bill seeks to end the use of so-called “1031 exchanges,” a tax provision that allows investors to defer capital gains taxes when they sell properties and reinvest the proceeds into other real estate.
Under the bill, large-scale landlords would no longer be able to defer California taxes on profits from the sale of single-family homes. Instead, they would be required to pay taxes on those gains at the time of sale.
Haney said the measure is aimed at addressing growing concerns that institutional investors are outcompeting families in the housing market. “Working people are doing everything right and still getting outbid by Wall Street,” he said, arguing that homes should be reserved for families rather than corporations.
Supporters of the bill say investor activity has increased competition for limited housing supply, particularly in entry-level markets where first-time buyers are most active. They argue that cash-heavy corporate buyers can move quickly on listings, often outbidding households that rely on mortgage financing.
Housing advocates estimate that a significant share of California homes are now investor-owned, contributing to reduced affordability and limited inventory for traditional buyers. They say this trend has made it more difficult for middle-income families to build wealth through homeownership.
Paulino Gonzalez-Brito, chief executive officer of Rise Economy, backed the proposal, saying large investment firms often drive up prices and reduce access for local buyers. He also warned that distressed housing markets, including areas affected by natural disasters, can become targets for rapid investor acquisition.;
The bill also highlights broader concerns about housing inequality in California, where high prices and limited supply have created one of the least affordable markets in the country. Advocates say limiting tax advantages for large-scale investors could help slow corporate expansion into single-family neighborhoods.
AB 1611 is expected to be heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee as lawmakers continue debating how to balance housing supply, affordability, and investor activity in the state’s real estate market.
Report: The Number of Black Police Officers in California Is Declining
A new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report on policing finds that the number of Black police officers has declined over the past two decades, even as law enforcement agencies continue to face ongoing staffing shortages, rising workload pressures, and uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, Understanding Trends in Law Enforcement Staffing by Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar, and Mandi Acevedo, analyzes statewide data on more than 77,000 sworn officers. It examines long-term trends in staffing levels, demographics, hiring, and retention across California’s police departments and sheriff’s offices.
One of the key findings is a shift in officer demographics. The report states that “representation of Latino officers has increased significantly over the last two decades, while representation of White and Black officers has declined and representation of Asian officers has remained largely unchanged after accounting for shifts in the underlying California population.”
While Latino representation has grown steadily, Black officer representation has declined compared to earlier decades, reflecting a long-term change in workforce composition.
At the same time, overall staffing levels remain below pre-pandemic levels. The report finds that “despite small growth over the last two years, the statewide officer count (77,200) in 2024 is 3% less than it was in 2019 (79,600).” California now has about 196 officers per 100,000 residents, down from a peak of 221 in 2008.
The report highlights that staffing declines are not evenly distributed. It notes that “the post-pandemic drop in staffing has been driven by large agencies with over 100 officers,” while sheriff’s departments have generally grown over the long term and police departments have seen slight declines. Rural agencies, meanwhile, have experienced more volatility in staffing changes in recent years.
Retention challenges have also intensified. The report finds that separations, including resignations, retirements, and terminations, rose by about 11% from 2016 to 2020, then increased by more than 30% between 2020 and 2022. Researchers link these shifts to pandemic-related disruptions and broader social and institutional pressures during that period.
Financial trends may also be contributing to staffing strain. After adjusting for inflation, average base salaries fell from about $116,000 in 2011 to $110,000 in 2023. Over the same period, overtime pay rose significantly, increasing from about $10,000 to more than $25,000 annually. The report suggests agencies are increasingly relying on overtime to fill staffing gaps.
