A win for the Republican Party? California Democrats can’t agree on the governor’s endorsement

The California Democratic State Convention wrapped up Sunday in San Francisco, capping a three-day event in which 3,500 delegates chose some of their party endorsements for the June 2 primary.

As expected, none of the nine Democratic candidates gubernatorial hopeful Gavin Newsom won the necessary 60% of the vote to win the party’s official endorsement, though results showed Bay Area U.S. Rep. Eric Swwell leading with 24% of the vote. Former California State Inspector Betty Yee and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra came in second and third, though they fell short of 5% support in the polls.

The lack of party consensus on the next governor underscores concerns among some Democrats that a crowded field could mean two Republicans and no Democrats will advance past the primary and into the November vote. That’s because in California, the top two finishers in the primary advance regardless of party.

Outside the gubernatorial election, the party endorsed candidates for the state legislature and the US House of Representatives. This includes aging incumbents younger newcomers.

But there may be room for new blood: The party failed to endorse a candidate for California 22nd Congressional Districtwhere an incumbent state legislator faces off against a progressive political newcomer.

Read more about gubernatorial race and House elections by Jeanne Kuang and Maya C. Miller of CalMatters, respectively.

More news from the convention:

• Pelosi appears: House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi addressed delegates Saturday after receiving a standing ovation at the convention. She urged Democrats to take back the House in November: “We’re not agonizing, we’re organizing. Read more by Juliet Williams.

• Democratic infighting: State Senator Mike McGuire of Santa Rosa secured the party endorsement in his bid for California’s 1st Congressional District, but not without some drama. After McGuire received the endorsement of 74 percent of the region’s delegates, his Democratic primary opponent, Audrey Denny, contested the endorsement. California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks moved to block the endorsement, prompting a heated exchange between Hicks and McGuire. Hicks later voted to reject Denny’s challenge. Read more from Maya.

Newsom calls out the Trump administration to restore Americans on top of the tariffs it began imposing last year on goods imported from most countries around the world.

As CalMatters’ Levi Sumagasai explains, the US Supreme Court has declared that President Donald Trump global tariffs are illegaland that only Congress has the authority to impose taxes under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump claims gives him the power to set tariffs.

Trump immediately denounced the decision and then ordered a new one 150 days, 10% tariff everywhere under a different authority. Later he promised on social media to raise this to 15%.

California industries that have been affected by the tariffs include ports, wineries and farms. The possibility of a process to recover the more than $264 billion in tax revenue collected by the government in 2025 from tariffs across the U.S. remains unclear. American corporations such as Costco have sued the federal government over the tariffs, hoping to get their money back. Meanwhile, a study by Yale University cited by Newsom estimates that the average cost of Trump’s tariffs was more than $1,700 per household.

Read more.

In addition to calling for fare refunds, Newsom also:

• Money granted to immigrants: The governor said his office plans to allocate $35 million to help philanthropic organizations provide food assistance, legal aid and other services to immigrant families. GOP Assemblyman Carl DeMaio of San Diego called the allocation “absurd.” Read more by Wendy Fry.

• Opened a training center in prison: On the grounds of California’s oldest prison, Newsom opened a new training facility Friday at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The large facility includes a technology center, classrooms and a cafeteria. Newsom seeks to remodel the prison into “the most innovative rehabilitation facility in the nation.” Read more by Kayla Michalovic.

• BART Funding Allowed: Last week, the governor approved a bill authorizing a $590 million emergency loan to help maintain public transportation systems in the Bay Area. For years transit agencies are facing a budget deficitprompting pleas for more government aid. The bailout will help stabilize the agencies in the short term. Some Democrats who voted for the loan said transit systems mismanaged funds. GOP members agreed, but voted against the loan.

Despite receiving permission to inspect the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County, two county supervisors, along with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, were denied access to the facility where people are being held in ICE custody. Padilla said the facility was regularly over capacity and officials were there to review Otay Mesa’s medical care and living conditions. Read more by Deborah Brennan of CalMatters.