San Jose Inside

State lawmakers’ budget plan would reject or delay many of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s social service cuts. Now, the budget negotiations begin in earnest.

Though the report names six high-risk systems in use today, California state agencies have used some for several years.

Tom Steyer wrote a concession letter to his supporters, which he posted on X, saying it was clear he lacked the votes needed to make the runoff in November.

The Associated Press determined that Hilton had a big enough lead over Steyer to move on, predicting that Hilton would join Becerra on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. The AP on Friday declared that Becerra had enough votes to move forward.

Shahin Gheblehshenas, 67, and her daughter, Nina Fathizadeh, 43, were sentenced June 5.  Gheblehshenas, who was convicted in March, was sentenced to eight years. Fathizadeh, who pleaded guilty just before her trial was set to begin, was sentenced to 13 years and four months.

A Santa Clara County Superior Court jury earlier this year found Jesse Manuel Figueroa guilty of murder, for fatally striking 8-month-old Baby Raina in 2020 while babysitting her.

Why do so few California mayors become governor? San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan was a relatively late entry into the governor’s race but was widely expected to shake things up. The business-friendly, centrist (for California) Democrat reduced street homelessness in his city and tapped into the state’s post-pandemic retreat from criminal justice reforms. Tech billionaires like Sergey Brin and Steven Huffman, and more conventional billionaires like Rick Caruso, gave lavishly to committees backing him.

The top-two primary election law designed to encourage moderates was approved by California voters. But in most races, it ends in a conventional Democrat vs. Republican ballot, prompting complaints the 16-year-old law should be scrapped.

The ballot count is barely two-thirds complete, but that didn’t stop President Trump from jumping in to stir controversy and challenge the outcome, prompting multiple U.S. Department of Justice investigations in Los Angeles.

The June 4 totals, with an estimated 60% of the ballot counted, offered no mathematical or statistical reason to believe that third-place candidate Tom Steyer will be on the November runoff ballot.

As the counting progressed, the Becerra-Hilton battle settled into a steady pattern, as the pair widened their gap over Tom Steyer to nearly 300,000 votes.

Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer put up $216 million to fund his campaign for governor. All together, more than 200 candidates have contributed about a quarter billion dollars of their own money this year. 

Wednesday morning it seemed very likely that Hilton would be Becerra’s November rival, and just as likely that the former congressman, attorney general and Biden administration cabinet member would succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The independent Emerson College poll of likely voters showed that Becerra, who was among the also-rans at 4% in early April, is now clearly leading the race for governor at 28%.

Billionaires, Big Oil and other interests spent big to influence the California governor’s race. Here are five key takeaways: Outside money shatters records. Mahan fizzles out. Steyer personal spending breaks records. Swalwell donors flock to Becerra. Republican Steve Hilton has the most donors.