Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed

August 11, 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently nominated eight appellate court judges, including three Black women—Justice Rashida Adams, Judge Denise Hippach, and Judge Juliet Macaulay—to serve on state Courts of Appeal, while also appointing nine Superior Court judges across five counties. Additionally, a Sacramento County judge ruled that Proposition 39 supporters made false claims in the official voter guide about their voter identification measure, ordering revisions before distribution ahead of the November 3 general election. In legislative news, California Assembly Republicans replaced Minority Leader Heath Flora with first-term Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo during a closed-door meeting in early August.

Who is affected

Justice Rashida Adams, Judge Denise Hippach, and Judge Juliet Macaulay (nominated to appellate courts)
Brendalynn Goodall (appointed to California Workforce Development Board)
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón (filed lawsuit regarding Proposition 39)
Proposition 39 supporters (ordered to revise voter guide statements)
California voters (affected by Proposition 39 and voter guide changes)
Heath Flora (removed as Assembly Republican Minority Leader)
Alexandra Macedo (elected as new Assembly Republican Minority Leader)
California schools and small- to mid-sized California farmers (potentially affected by AB 1731)
Traditional television broadcasters and local news outlets (affected by FCC ownership rule changes)
American television viewers and media consumers

What action is being taken

The appellate nominations are awaiting confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments
Proposition 39 supporters are required to remove or revise false and misleading statements in the official voter guide before distribution ahead of the November 3 general election
AB 1731 has been placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee's Suspense File for consideration alongside other bills with fiscal impacts
SB 958 has cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is moving toward a full Assembly vote
The FCC is implementing its decision to eliminate the national television ownership cap and allow companies to own more than two stations in a single market through case-by-case reviews

Why it matters

Newsom's judicial appointments, particularly the three Black women nominated to appellate courts, represent efforts to diversify California's judiciary at its higher levels. The court ruling on Proposition 39 is significant because it protects voters from misleading information in official election materials about a measure that could fundamentally change voting requirements in California. The leadership change in the Assembly Republican caucus reflects internal party tensions and could shift the minority party's strategic approach in the legislature. The FCC's elimination of television ownership limits represents a major policy shift that critics warn could concentrate media power and reduce independent local journalism, potentially affecting how Americans receive news and information across the country.

What's next

Justice Rashida Adams' term would begin January 4, 2027, subject to voter confirmation in the November 3 general election
The revised voter guide regarding Proposition 39 must be distributed ahead of California's November 3 general election
California voters will decide the fate of Proposition 39 in the November 3 statewide election
Alexandra Macedo is seeking re-election in the November 3 general election
AB 1731 will be considered by the Appropriations Committee alongside other bills with fiscal impacts before deciding whether it advances for a vote
If AB 1731 is approved and signed into law, the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Office of Farm to Fork would establish the procurement fund by January 1, 2028
SB 958 will move to a full Assembly vote; if approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Newsom, it would become law
The FCC's ownership decision is expected to face legal and political scrutiny regarding whether the agency has authority to eliminate the limit established by Congress

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint