Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed

February 23, 2026

The California Democratic Party Convention revealed significant momentum for Black candidates, with educator Nichelle Henderson unexpectedly leading the delegate vote for Superintendent of Public Instruction over more established politicians like former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. Other Black candidates including unopposed Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Controller candidate Malia Cohen received overwhelming support, while former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs captured 24% support for lieutenant governor. The convention also featured former Alameda County DA Pamela Price publicly condemning gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell for reposting what she called a racist video, demanding Democratic leaders denounce his actions.

Who is affected

**Nichelle Henderson** - leads delegate vote for Superintendent of Public Instruction
**Black Democratic candidates** including Michael Tubbs (24% support for lieutenant governor), Shirley Weber (96% unopposed for Secretary of State), Malia Cohen (95% unopposed for Controller), Steven Bradford (trailing in Insurance Commissioner race), Mike Gipson (80% support for Board of Equalization), and Pamela Price
**Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon** - outpaced by Henderson in superintendent race
**Eric Swalwell** - accused of reposting racist video by Pamela Price
**Bay Area transit riders** - more than 3 million monthly riders and 900,000 daily commuters affected by emergency loan
**Transit agencies** including BART, MTC, Caltrain, and AC Transit
**Transit workers** in Bay Area agencies
**Underrepresented communities** affected by federal DEI rollbacks and EEOC worker firings
**People with disabilities** impacted by DEI policies
**Rev. Jesse L. Jackson's family** - wife Jackie and five children
**California's 8 million children** - focus of new Children's Caucus
**Homeowners and businesses** struggling with insurance coverage
**Octopus Energy and UK clean-tech companies** - investing nearly $1 billion in California

What action is being taken

**Gov. Newsom signed legislation** authorizing a $590 million emergency loan to Bay Area transit agencies
**MTC will repay the loan** over 12 years with interest-only payments during first two years
**Assemblymember Mia Bonta launched** the California Legislative Children's Caucus with 40 legislators
**Bonta introduced two bills**: AB 1969 (It Takes a Village Act) proposing a three-year grant program, and AB 1996 (No More Child Poverty Act) aiming to cut child poverty in half within 10 years
**Gov. Newsom signed** a memorandum of understanding with UK Secretary Ed Miliband for climate cooperation
**Octopus Energy pledged** nearly $1 billion in investments for California clean energy projects
**Former State Sen. Steve Bradford is running** for Insurance Commissioner
**Pamela Price announced** she is seeking to reclaim her Alameda County DA seat
**President Trump is dismantling** federal DEI programs through executive orders
**SCR 89 passed the Senate** on a 29-7 vote on February 19

Why it matters

Henderson's surprise showing demonstrates that grassroots appeal and education-focused messaging may resonate more with Democratic activists than traditional political credentials, potentially signaling a shift in party priorities toward new voices over established power players. The emergency transit loan prevents devastating service cuts that would have created traffic catastrophes for 900,000 daily Bay Area commuters and supports regional economic stability while agencies work toward long-term funding solutions. California's DEI resolution and climate partnerships represent direct opposition to federal policy changes under President Trump, positioning the state as a counterweight to national rollbacks on equity initiatives and environmental protection. The Children's Caucus addresses the critical issue that nearly one in five California children live in poverty in the world's fourth-largest economy, potentially mobilizing legislative action for 8 million young residents. The controversy surrounding Swalwell highlights tensions around race and civility in political discourse within the Democratic Party, particularly for a gubernatorial candidate.

What's next

**Primary election approaching** for Superintendent of Public Instruction race
**Bay Area transit agencies pursuing** a potential November 2026 ballot measure to generate new operating funds starting in 2027
**MTC loan repayment** begins with interest-only payments for first two years, then full repayment over remaining 10 years
**State officials will monitor** regional transportation funds and ensure existing capital projects are not disrupted
**Children's Caucus will work** on priorities including childcare access, foster youth, children's health, education, and housing security
**AB 1969 proposes** a three-year grant program to build cradle-to-career networks
**AB 1996 proposes** an 18-member council to track progress on reducing child poverty by half within 10 years

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