Let’s begin by mentioning Hayward, with a diverse population of roughly 140,000, needs district-based elections. Although this council is clearly diverse-- three Latinos, one Afghan American, for example- there is little diversity of opinion. The Hayward City Council, despite being a union town, does not always espouse union values, and only acquiesces to the progressive … Continue reading Hayward City Council election preview: A new hope
Earlier this month, Hayward Councilmember Elisa Marquez and Mark Salinas – two of three incumbents seeking re-election this November – flashed moments of anger and disdain toward their more progressive opponents when challenged about their respective records. In one exchange, Marquez belittled her opponent's portrayal of her record on the council as inattentive to the … Continue reading Hayward: Salinas, Marquez melt down following attacks on their records
Alameda County Supervisor District 1 Alameda County District 1 supervisorial candidates, Fremont Councilmember Vinnie Bacon and Dublin Mayor David Haubert at an Aug. 17 virtual candidate forum. This race has already been the East Bay's most punishing for months. The Alameda County race for District 1 supervisor pits candidates from both halves of the roughly … Continue reading East Bay’s Top 10 November races to watch
Boosted by an emboldened group of progressives and activists, Hayward's sprawling 13-candidate race for four seats on the City Council could be a once-in-generation reconfiguration of its political power structure. The field of 13 candidates this November, includes three incumbents, and a field of newcomers baptized by Hayward's dramatic push to the left stoked over … Continue reading Large, energized field of candidates in Hayward
With the number of coronavirus cases surging in many parts of the country, including California, and locally, in Alameda County, Rep. Ro Khanna, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill on Tuesday to mail a medical mask to all Americans. “If we can afford a $740 billion defense budget, we can afford to send … Continue reading Khanna, Sanders, propose medical masks for all
East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee has always been known as a stalwart progressive, although, her brand of lefty politics has not often proven popular outside the Bay Area bubble. But as the entire country begins to embrace her political values in greater numbers, Lee is in the midst of a career renaissance that is now … Continue reading Lee for veep?
In hindsight, the fact four-term Hayward Assemblymember Bill Quirk had attracted an early handful of potential primary challengers last fall may have been a subtle hint that a level of disenchantment exists among progressives in the 20th Assembly District. Just three challengers finalized their candidacies for the March primary, including the perfunctory Republican sure to … Continue reading AD20: Quirk is 195 votes from facing a challenge from the left in the fall
East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta is endorsing billionaire Tom Steyer for president, it was announced Wednesday. Bonta, who represents Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro in the Assembly, lauded Steyer for his leadership in standing up to Big Oil, along with a belief that Steyer can beat President Trump on the issue of the economy. "Tom … Continue reading Bonta backs Steyer for president
State Sen. Steve Glazer may have a formidable primary challenge on his hands. The Tri-Valley Democratic Club voted Monday night to overwhelmingly support Democrat Marisol Rubio, one of Glazer's challengers in the seventh state senate district. The club, which often skewers a bit more progressive than the region it represents, backed Rubio by a wide-margin, … Continue reading SD7: Marisol Rubio wins early endorsement in bid to unseat Steve Glazer
If Dublin city leaders won't recognize the LGBTQ community's steady effort for inclusiveness by raising the rainbow-striped LGBT Pride flag at their city hall, then Emeryville Councilmember John Bauters says his city will fly one for Emeryville on June 8, and another for Dublin. The Dublin City Council, last week voted down a proposal by … Continue reading Emeryville to raise LGBTQ flag for itself, another for Dublin, as backlash begins
Early reaction among Lee's progressive base for endorsing the centrist Democrat is not positive.
A slate of candidates backed by State Sen. Nancy Skinner and freshman 15th District Assemblymember Buffy Wicks was almost entirely turned away by voters in Saturday's district elections for delegates to the California Democratic Party Convention. The same type of rout bedeviled Assemblymember Rob Bonta two years ago when his slate of candidates was swept … Continue reading Delegate Elections: Progressive activists rout Skinner/Wicks slate in AD15; Bonta’s picks win big in AD18
Progressive House members, including Rep. Ro Khanna, say a proposed rule change that would allow new spending only if offset by matching cuts or increased future revenues, will seriously hamper its favored proposals, including Medicare for All. The rule, known as "PayGo," is part of a rules package coming before the new Democratic Congress. Khanna's … Continue reading Over rule change disliked by progressives, Khanna spars with Pelosi deputy
The year belonged to women of color successfully bowling over the ballot box and a congressman who overwhelmingly proved his progressive credentials in 2018, in addition, to providing a glimpse of the future for the movement in the U.S. Women in East Bay government is nothing new. In fact, mayors and council majorities featuring women … Continue reading THE FINAL WORD ON 2018
ALAMEDA MAYORAL PREVIEW
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