| | | | |  | | By Tyler Katzenberger and Dustin Gardiner | | Presented by |  | | | PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday but back to our normal schedule on Monday, Dec. 2. WHO SAID IT? Test your knowledge of new lawmakers, win POLITICO swag! We’ve been reaching out to the large class of newly elected state lawmakers about what’s topping their to-do lists this year — Match their names and responses in the quiz below. We’ll announce the winner at our new member reception on Dec. 2. RSVP here. | 
Democratic former Rep. Jerry McNerney is set to become a freshman lawmaker in the California Legislature. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo | THE BUZZ: CLASS ROSTER — Bust out your Rolodexes, Sacramento insiders: Come next week, a crop of more than two dozen fresh faces will descend on the California Legislature, brimming with ideas that definitely haven’t been tried before. The class of 2024 is stacked with the usual suspects: former local government leaders, education policy wonks and former legislative staffers. And while it feels like a big group, this year’s number of new recruits — about 30, when including repeats — is “actually a pretty normal-sized class,” the California State Library’s Alex Vassar told Playbook. We’ve put together a (loose) roster to help the legislative vets get to know a few of their new classmates — er, we mean, colleagues — ahead of the swearing-in on Monday. Don’t worry, new kids: We promise the Legislature is nothing like high school.
|  Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín, who has been elected to the state Senate, speaks at a March news conference. | AP | Prep school invasion: More than a third of this year’s incoming class, by Vassar’s count, has prior experience in city government, which he said is “higher than average” compared to recent years. More than a half-dozen are current or former Democratic mayors, including Reps.-elect John Harabedian (Sierra Madre), Celeste Rodriguez (San Fernando), Chris Rogers (Santa Rosa), Nick Schultz (Burbank) and Jose Solache (Lynwood), as well as Sens.-elect Jesse Arreguín (Berkeley) and Christopher Cabaldon (West Sacramento). Many have close ties with business and housing groups. Republicans’ crop of local leaders includes Carl DeMaio, a firebrand conservative activist who provoked union groups with efforts to slash public pensions and pay during his time on the San Diego City Council. Teacher’s pets: At least seven incoming members are current or former education officials, according to Vassar. Two Democrats have backgrounds in community college leadership: Cabaldon is the former vice chancellor of California Community Colleges, and Patrick Ahrens, a community college district board member, is stepping up to replace his former boss and Assemblymember Evan Low in Silicon Valley. Former school board members graduating to the Legislature include Democrat Robert Garcia, an educator replacing Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes in San Bernardino County, and Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s Inland Empire seat for Republicans. And in San Diego County, Darshana Patel is poised to bring her experience as a school board president and research scientist to the Assembly after Democrats spent approximately $4 million backing her in one of the state’s most competitive and expensive legislative contests.
|  State Sen.-elect Suzette Valladares shown at the Capitol in 2022, while serving in the Assembly. | AP | Super seniors: Not all of California’s member-elects are new to state office. Republican Steven Choi, who narrowly defeated incumbent state Sen. Josh Newman in Orange County, served three terms in the Assembly before being ousted after redistricting in 2022. And in Los Angeles County, former Republican Assemblymember Suzette Valladares won an open state Senate race in the Santa Clarita Valley to punch her ticket back to Sacramento. Also returning to the Legislature is Los Angeles-Area Democrat Laura Richardson, who spent a short stint in the Assembly from 2006 to 2007 before serving three terms in Congress. Richardson will succeed Democrat Steven Bradford in the Senate. She’ll be joined by Jerry McNerney, a former Democratic congressmember who shouldered Democrat Carlos Villapudua out of contention in the primary for an open Stockton-area Senate seat currently held by Susan Eggman. So much for legacies: Just one new member of this year’s class is related to a current state lawmaker, according to Vassar — Democrat Michelle Rodriguez, who will take over a Pomona Assembly seat from her husband, Freddie Rodriguez. Expect her to get involved with public safety policy; Rodriguez is a member of the state’s Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, and she received a slew of endorsements from law enforcement groups. In the Inland Empire, Republican Leticia Castillo is on track to beat out Democrat Clarissa Cervantes in the race to replace her sister, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, who has been elected to the state Senate. Castillo, a psychotherapist, supports parental notification, expanded mental health treatment and tough-on-crime policy. GOOD MORNING. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@politico.com and tkatzenberger@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @TylerKatzen. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | | | A message from Food & Water Action: Will Gov. Newsom side with the oil and gas industry or Californians after the “worst gas leak in US history?" In 2015, the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Facility released 100,000 tons of methane and toxic chemicals, endangering public health. Governor Newsom vowed to shut down Aliso Canyon, but his Public Utilities Commission appointees voted to expand it. The PUC will decide Aliso Canyon’s future on December 19th. Learn more. | | | |  | WHO SAID IT? | | ROOKIE CLASS QUIZ — We've been asking new lawmakers the same question: If you could accomplish one thing in your first year, what would it be? Six assemblymembers-elect and two incoming state senators responded — Patrick Ahrens (Silicon Valley Democrat), Carl DeMaio (San Diego Republican), Jeff Gonzalez (Imperial County Republican), John Harabedian (Pasadena-area Democrat), Maggy Krell (Sacramento-area Democrat) and Catherine Stefani (San Francisco Democrat) from the Assembly — and, in the Senate, Steven Choi (Orange County Republican) and Suzette Valladares (Santa Clarita Republican). Match the names to their responses and email your guesses (please include your full name for a chance to win) to tkatzenberger@politico.com.
- "To strengthen the promise of community colleges as a key driver of our state’s economic success."
- "To make Republicans a viable, effective voice of opposition, and to inflict consequences on the Democrat supermajority, such that they have to moderate and work in a more bipartisan fashion."
- “Figure out how to be in three places at once!”
- “I have a day-one bill that’s very important. It shores up access to medication abortion for Californians in anticipation of potential threats from the federal government or other states.”
- “In my first year, I want to pass meaningful legislation that curbs gun violence, protects women’s health and safety, and addresses the housing crisis because I’m committed to building a safer and more affordable California for all."
- “Advocate for meaningful legislation that’s community centered and reaches across the aisle.”
- “Cutting costs. From groceries to gas, electricity to rent, I’m focused on making life more affordable for every Californian.”
- "California is a beautiful state, but heavy taxes and regulations make it difficult to live and do business here. My hope is we can begin to reduce some of these burdens on our residents and businesses so more Californians can begin to afford the Golden State dream once again.”
| | | | Want to know what's really happening with Congress's make-or-break spending fights? Get daily insider analysis of Hill negotiations, funding deadlines, and breaking developments—free in your inbox with Inside Congress. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | ELECTION RESULTS | | | | 
Adam Gray | Adam Gray for Congress | | GRAY STORMS AHEAD — Democrat Adam Gray now holds a 182-vote lead over Republican Rep. John Duarte in the contest for a Central Valley House seat thanks to ballot drops yesterday in Stanislaus and Merced counties. If Gray’s lead holds, the House tally would be 220-215 in favor of Republicans, with the GOP slated to lose three seats by late January to President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet.
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California Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey outperformed Donald Trump's election results margins in counties across California. | Mario Tama/Getty Images | GARVEY’S SILVER LINING — Kudos, Steve Garvey: You lost by less than Trump in California, even if Sen.-elect Adam Schiff totally blew you out of the water. The former baseball star was outperforming Trump in all 58 California counties as of Tuesday, at least when comparing percentage of total votes, according to a data analysis from California Target Book mastermind Rob Pyers. The widest gaps came in rural northern California, where Garvey bested Trump by more than 4 percent in Mono and Placer counties. Garvey’s numbers suggest his campaign strategy — separating himself from Trump to win over independents — was a beneficial move, even if ticket-splitters were hard to come by. If you recall, Garvey didn’t seek Trump’s endorsement, and at one point, he wouldn’t even rule out voting to reelect President Joe Biden. And yet, it seems California Republicans are embracing rather than shunning Trump ahead of his White House return. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher sent the president-elect a letter earlier this month asking Trump to check the Democratic majority in Sacramento. Corrin Rankin, the party’s vice chair, similarly told Playbook last week she saw “tremendous opportunity” for the party to work with the Trump administration on environmental, economic and border issues.
| | | | A message from Food & Water Action:   | | | | | CLIMATE AND ENERGY | | | 
Trump speaks during a news conference held at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., in September. | Jae C. Hong/AP | MONEY OUT THE DOOR — Trump wants to unwind federal funding for California’s climate goals. His chances of succeeding depend on which pot of money you’re looking at. Read more in last night’s California Climate.
| | NUMBER OF THE DAY | | | | 
Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Allentown, Pa. in November. | Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO | $1.5 BILLION — That’s how much money Vice President Kamala Harris told top donors she raised during her 107-day campaign for president, NYT’s Teddy Schleifer reported yesterday.
| | | | Policy Change is Coming: Be prepared, be proactive, be a Pro. POLITICO Pro’s platform has 200,000+ energy regulatory documents from California, New York, and FERC. Leverage our Legislative and Regulatory trackers for comprehensive policy tracking across all industries. Learn more. | | | | | | | TOP TALKERS | | |  Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) has filed a temporary restraining order against an ex-boyfriend. | Jerod Harris/Getty Images | RESTRAINING ORDER: As our colleagues Melanie Mason and Christopher Cadelago reported yesterday, outgoing Rep. Katie Porter is seeking a temporary restraining order against an ex-boyfriend, telling the court that his “persistent abuse and harassment” — including sending her, her family and her staff more than 1,000 text messages and emails over three months — has caused “significant fear for [her] personal safety and well-being.” In a petition for a domestic violence restraining order, filed Tuesday with the Orange County Superior Court, Porter alleged Julian Willis, her romantic partner of several years, sent a litany of abusive messages with the intent to cause “significant harm” to her public image. Porter, in her declaration, said that Willis is dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues, which have led to Willis undergoing two involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations since 2022. Willis, 55, told POLITICO in a telephone interview Tuesday that Porter sought the restraining order to preempt him from suing her and seeking protection for himself and her children — and to prevent him from going to the media. PRIZE CATCH — Where in the world is Daniel San Diego? The Marin County man, wanted for his role in two 2003 animal rights-related bombings in the Bay Area, is in police custody after evading capture for more than 20 years, the FBI announced yesterday. San Diego was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2009 for his involvement in the bombings, according to the agency. He was arrested Monday in Wales with help from U.K. authorities. HE’S NO FAUCI — Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University physician and economist known for his controversial views during the Covid-19 pandemic, is Trump’s choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, the former president announced late Tuesday, POLITICO’s Erin Schumaker reports. Bhattacharya, 56, has advocated for a major shakeup of the agency and accused former NIH leaders of suppressing scientific debate and research during the pandemic. | | | AROUND THE STATE | | | — Project 2025 could come with a $300 million cut to Medi-Cal, should Trump implement the program’s recommendations on abortion policy. (CalMatters) — Two Los Angeles County supervisors want to overhaul how the county manages homelessness programs. (Los Angeles Times) — California’s recent string of rainy weather is filling the state’s reservoirs and watering thirsty soil. (San Francisco Chronicle) — A San Francisco Fairmont Hotel employee was arrested Tuesday for bringing a loaded gun to work during Harris' stay at the hotel. (ABC 7 News)
| | | | A message from Food & Water Action: Will Gov. Newsom side with the oil and gas industry or Californians after the “worst gas leak in US history?" In 2015, the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Facility released 100,000 tons of methane and toxic chemicals. SoCalGas’ disaster forced thousands to evacuate their homes to avoid further exposure to cancer-causing benzene and other chemicals.
SoCalGas took four months to seal the gas leak. Families near Aliso are still suffering the consequences. Instead of shutting it down like Gov. Newsom promised, the PUC allowed Aliso to expand by 3,000%, perpetuating the public health threat.
Over 150 organizations have come together to call for a shutdown of Aliso by 2027, but the PUC is considering kicking the can down the road instead of protecting communities. Gov. Newsom and allies should stand with families, not SoCalGas’ profits. On December 19th, the PUC will decide the future of Aliso Canyon. Learn more. | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | ENGAGED — J. Baylor Myers, VP at digital asset company BitGo, on Friday proposed to Dakota Char-Lee, paralegal at the law offices of Michael Mazzocone. The couple, who met two years ago in San Francisco, got engaged in Rome. Pic BIRTHDAYS — Michael Vartan … Linda Fife … Samantha Shapiro ... Kathryn Ciano Mauler … Kaiya Waddell ... Ronald Reagan Institute's Daniel Samet BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Tuesday): Thomas R. Baruch ... Gary P. Ratner ... Nathan Hochman WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO’s California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Rebecca Haase to find out how: rhaase@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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