Results for “california”

The police are searching for a person who shot seven people at a costume shop on the eve of the holiday.

All seven victims had gunshot wounds, including the person who died, California police said.

A shooting at a California Spirit Halloween store leaves one dead and six injured. Police are searching for the suspect.

The unprecedented measure has enormous potential nationwide. The clash exposes the party’s corporate-progressive divide Midway through this summer, a high-quality poll found that Democrats in California were overwhelmingly in favor of the upcoming ballot measure for a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth. The ratio was more than 4 to 1. But the state’s most powerful Democrats – including the governor Gavin Newsom, his near-certain successor Xavier Becerra and the Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass – have lined up with Silicon Valley billionaires who’ve raised upward of $340m to defeat the initiative. Continue reading...

Seven people suffered gunshot wounds at a Spirit Halloween store inside Fairfield's Solano Town Center on Halloween eve, with no arrests made.

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 American Community Survey 1-year estimates; Table: Russell Contreras/Axios Homeowners were nearly twice as likely as renters to have an electric vehicle in 2025, new Census data show, revealing a striking divide in America's shift to electric cars. Why it matters : Homeownership is just one factor in EV adoption, but reliable access to charging is critical — giving homeowners with private driveways or garages an advantage over renters, particularly those in multifamily buildings. By the numbers: About 7.3 million U.S. households — 5.5% of the nation's 134 million — reported having at least one EV, according to the 2025 American Community Survey released Thursday. Homeowners reported EVs at a rate of 6.4%, compared with 3.6% of renters. California led the nation at 13.8% overall, more than twice the national rate. North Dakota (1.3%), Wyoming (1.6%) and Louisiana (1.6%) ranked among the lowest. State of play: For the first time, the Census Bureau asked households with vehicles kept at home whether they owned or leased an EV, offering a nationwide snapshot of who has gone electric. The figures cover fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Our thought bubble: Many factors, including local government policies, can influence EV adoption rates, but ultimately, it comes down to affordability and access to charging, says Axios Transportation Correspondent Joann Muller . Homeowners with higher incomes are more likely to afford EVs, sometimes as a second car. The intrigue: A 2026 study by researchers at the University of Vermont and University of California, Davis, found higher home-charger installation costs at rental properties in Burlington, Vermont. Renters were also less likely to adopt fully electric vehicles, even after researchers accounted for home values and vehicle preferences. Zoom in: Even California, the nation's EV leader, has a sharp homeowner-renter divide, new Census data show. About 17.7% of homeowners reported an EV, com

A manhunt is underway for a shooter who killed one person and injured six in a Spirit Halloween store on Friday night, police in Fairfield, California said.

Shili Chen claims husband Shouyong Zhang fired the fatal shots that killed Jonathan McKinsey in a Dublin, California, park amid a bitter custody battle.

A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Department's emergency bid to set aside mail ballots tied to more than 20,000 California voters the Trump administration suspects are noncitizens. Why it matters: The 2–1 ruling leaves California's election procedures intact just days before the midterms, with the judges citing doubts about the DOJ's voter list and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. The ruling is a major setback for a DOJ that has doubled down on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the Golden State. What they're saying: The majority cited the lower court's finding that the DOJ's process for identifying suspected noncitizens was "not credible," undermining its claims. "Granting [the United States]'s request would provoke catastrophic change, upending the administration of the election," it wrote, quoting the district court's finding. "There is a material risk that granting the United States its requested relief would result in disenfranchisement and could jeopardize [Los Angeles] County's entire election." The other side: Ninth U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented, arguing that counting votes from noncitizens dilutes the power of citizens. "The federal government proposes a modest remedy—stopping California from mixing the ballots of citizens and suspected noncitizens. This solution would not cancel any vote but would allow time to verify the eligibility of suspected noncitizens." The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Catch up quick: The DOJ sued California in mid October for refusing to segregate the ballots it asserted were sent to noncitizens. A district court denied the request for an injunction, deciding that the federal law the DOJ was relying on to bring the suit did not supersede existing state law. The Trump administration appealed, leading to Friday's decision. The administration can now appeal again to the Supreme Court. Zoom out: Trump has continu

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is endorsing a trio of insurgent Democratic candidates who are challenging his fellow California House Democrats, Axios has learned. Why it matters: This is an aggressive move by a potential 2028 presidential contender who styles himself as one of the few Democrats willing to get into direct confrontations with the party establishment. He has backed members of the progressive "Bloc" who have refused to commit to voting for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as speaker. This is territory where even other high-profile House progressives — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), another potential 2028er — have largely refused to tread. Driving the news: "Today I'm endorsing three new generation leaders Angela Gonzales-Torres, Eric Jones, and Mai Vang," Khanna said in a statement first shared with Axios. Gonzales-Torres, a former local elected official challenging Rep. Jimmy Gomez, "will join us in our fight against corruption, to stand up for survivors, and to lead with a moral vision," Khanna said. Khanna said he has known Jones — a venture capitalist running against Rep. Mike Thompson — "for many years," calling him "a change agent who understands the working class and building a better life for those left out." Vang, a Sacramento City Council member running against Rep. Doris Matsui, "will call out the genocide in Gaza, be for taxing billionaires, and stand for Medicare for All and the working class," Khanna said. Between the lines: Khanna said he has a "tremendous respect and admiration," for Thompson, 75, who has been in office since 1999. "But voters are crying out for change." Khanna said of Matsui, 82, who has held her seat since 2005: "I respect Doris Matsui's incredible service to our state and nation. This is the time to pass the baton." Jones is 35. Vang is 41. Khanna did not reference Gomez, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct. Gomez has admitted to "person

Steve Hilton is attempting to become governor in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican to the top job in 20 years.

The complaint was filed a day after the Trump administration issued a flurry of threats and subpoenas to local officials, claiming it was part of an effort to stop voting by undocumented immigrants.

The 2026 midterms already face a messy pileup of lawsuits and ballot battles, raising fears about election confidence before voters even finish casting ballots . Why it matters: Election challenges aren't unusual, but as the Trump administration continues to make false claims about widespread voter fraud, officials are juggling fights over voter lists, mail-ballot rules and election certification challenges. What they're saying: "The types of challenges that we are seeing pre-election, this close to election day, are very unusual, and mostly because they are coming from the federal government," Jonathan Diaz of the Campaign Legal Center told Axios. "These lawsuits are frivolous," Diaz said, adding they could "create doubt in the minds of the public about the legitimacy of the election process." The other side: The White House referred Axios to comments President Trump made to the media. The Department of Justice did not respond to Axios' request for comment. Here's some of the ways chaos and uncertainty have shaped the 2026 midterms: California In the Golden State, the Trump administration asked state election officials to set aside ballots from roughly 20,000 registered voters whom the DOJ suspects are noncitizens. A federal judge rejected that push Wednesday night, warning that the administration lacked sufficient evidence to justify potentially disenfranchising eligible voters. The judge noted that the DOJ had made similar claims in neighboring Nevada, where election officials determined that 185 voters the DOJ had flagged as noncitizens were actually U.S. citizens. Diaz told Axios that, from his perspective as a voting-rights advocate, the California battle is "not a real lawsuit. It's a political press release that they just happened to submit to the court." The other side: The White House directed questions about the ruling to remarks Trump made Thursday, in which he said "California is very corrupt," and the state's elections are "extremely corrupt." He did n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reportedly considering commuting sentences for 563 death row inmates, sparking fierce backlash from victims' families.

House progressives are planning to use their growing power to force votes next year on their most sweeping and divisive policies, including Medicare for All, abolishing ICE and cutting aid to Israel. Why it matters: The ultimate goal is to get these policies on the front burner for a Democratic president in 2029, even if that means forcing House Democrats into tough decisions. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Axios the left wants mark-ups and votes on bills such as Medicare for All "so that we can prepare for when we have the trifecta and so that we can really build the support we need." "Forcing the vote is important so we can see where everyone is at, I think that's really key for 2028 and 2029," said Mai Vang, a progressive House candidate in California. The big picture: Here is what progressives most want to see go to a House vote in 2027, according to lawmakers, candidates and operatives who spoke to Axios: 1) Medicare for All The Medicare for All Act introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) has 118 co-sponsors — more than half the House Democratic caucus. The left wants to force the issue onto the floor and make their Democratic colleagues reckon with the policy's popularity in public opinion polls . Ultimately, they aim to ensure support for Medicare for All is a must-have for any 2028 presidential candidate to win the primary. "Years ago I negotiated with [former House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi to get the hearings , but we have not had a markup," Jayapal, a former Progressive Caucus chair, said in an interview with Axios. Jayapal pointed to the bill she and Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) unveiled last week, which would lower the Medicare age from 65 to 50, as a potential compromise measure that could get caucus-wide support next year. Yes, but: A Democratic wave could bring in a bloc of members from red-leaning districts who could be sensitive to being tagged as wanting to end private insurance. Jayapal told Axios there's an "opening we've never seen before" with

Dolores Huerta , the pioneering labor organizer who co-founded the United Farm Workers and coined the rallying cry "Sí, se puede," died Wednesday at 96, her family announced on her Instagram account. Why it matters: The civil rights legend helped lead strikes and boycotts, fought to expand rights for Hispanic Americans and became a powerful kingmaker in politics. What they're saying: "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96," her family wrote in a statement posted on Instagram . "As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family. We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning, and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy." Her cause of death was cancer, per the New York Times. Zoom in: Huerta worked alongside farmworker leader César Chávez, organizing workers who were routinely subjected to poor labor conditions on farms. The pair founded UFW with fellow activist Gilbert Padilla. Huerta also stood next to Sen. Robert F. Kennedy moments before he was fatally shot after his 1968 California primary win, after having worked to get Mexican American voters to support him. She would befriend the widows of RFK and Martin Luther King Jr., Ethel Kennedy and Coretta Scott King, as they fought together for civil rights. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers group, with a union flag that reads 'Viva La Causa', 1970s. Photo: Cathy Murphy/Getty Images Catch up quick: Chávez, who died in 1993, allegedly sexually abused multiple women and girls during his time as UFW leader, which only came to light this year following a New York Times investigation. Huerta said that she was raped by Chávez decades ago, becoming the most high-profile figure to accuse him of misconduct . "I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement

A federal judge restricted Department of Homeland Security investigations into suspected noncitizen voting in nine states, citing concerns that the agency's tactics could intimidate eligible voters. Why it matters: With the midterms less than two weeks away, the ruling curtails a central part of the Trump administration's efforts to investigate suspected noncitizen voting. Driving the news: The ruling, issued late Wednesday, blocks election-related field operations and interviews under the government's Unlawful Voter Initiative that involve or are likely to involve U.S. citizens. California-based U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín also blocked the administration from conducting operations against likely citizens in states relying on records generated by its voter-matching policy. Zoom in: Martínez-Olguín wrote in her order that the groups that sued provided "substantial evidence" that the government's "intimidating conduct" was "directly interfering with their members' right to encourage voters to participate in the 2026 midterm elections." Her order stated that DHS had compiled a "target list" of individuals from a variety of sources, including state voter rolls and commercial data. But Martínez-Olguín cast doubt on the accuracy of the administration's data, warning of a "high likelihood of error in review because there is no federal database containing citizenship status of U.S. residents." Court filings indicated that officers were ordered to prioritize probes in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. Catch up quick: Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Alex Padilla (Calif.) released a whistleblower report last month alleging that officials had diverted fraud and national security personnel to the Unlawful Voter Initiative using "highly questionable data" and methods. The whistleblower disclosure alleged that officers were directed, in violation of state law, to access sensitive voter in

Democratic groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday, accusing it of using unfounded voter fraud claims to muscle its way into how states run elections. Why it matters: The groups say the administration is issuing a stream of threats to intimidate and bully both voters and election officials. They're asking a judge to declare the administration's actions unlawful and block further interference. Driving the news: The lawsuit condemns the administration for targeting state voter rolls by insisting that local officials review federally compiled lists of alleged noncitizens on their voter rolls. The suit also alleges that the administration is improperly demanding that states deny ballots to registered voters based on those federal lists. The Democrat-aligned groups also claim the administration has attempted to intimidate state and local officials by threatening them with jail time or prosecution. Case in point: The lawsuit cites a Department of Homeland Security claim that Nevada had nearly 16,000 noncitizens on its voter rolls. The department later claimed that it had confirmed 185 of those people were noncitizens. State records later indicated that all 185 were citizens. The DOJ also demanded that California deny ballots to more than 20,000 people based on a federal list that flagged them as suspected ineligible voters, the lawsuit says. A preliminary investigation by Los Angeles County investigators found that more than 25% of those flagged listed a U.S. birthplace, and others already had their voter registrations canceled. What they're saying: "Department of Justice and DHS officials have sought to bolster their interference efforts through a persistent stream of threats and intimidation directed towards state and local election officials across the country," the groups' attorneys wrote. "Defendants' coercive threats of legal retaliation against state officials, including even potential imprisonment, for simply following state law and aiding registered voters i