California's Billionaire Tax Act has officially qualified for the November 2026 general election ballot after state officials confirmed the initiative gathered more than enough signatures, setting up a costly political battle that has fractured the state's own Democratic leadership.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has agreed to pay a $31,500 ethics fine after state regulators found he repeatedly failed to disclose millions of dollars in corporate donations solicited on his behalf, with the penalty coming one day after Newsom publicly announced he is under federal investigation by the Department of Justice.
Two Republican senators launched a formal inquiry Thursday into improper unemployment insurance payments across New York, California, and Massachusetts, targeting the three Democratic-run states for a combined $1.3 billion in potential fraud and mismanagement.
Republican Steve Hilton has secured a spot in California's gubernatorial general election and will face former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra in November.