Democrats are rallying behind a caretaker in the special election to replace Eric Swalwell If any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the June 16 special election, they could head to Congress immediately.

Many — but not all — of the Democrats running to succeed Eric Swalwell have lined up behind a caretaker candidate in the upcoming special election to fill the vacant House seat as quickly as possible, @joegarofoli.bsky.social reports: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joe...

Democrat Betty Yee exits California governor's race Yee failed to gain traction with her candidacy for the state’s highest office in a crowded field.

Betty Yee drops out of the governor's race, but does not endorse another candidate, @sophiabollag.bsky.social reports
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How San Francisco’s Black population changed, block by block over 50 years Newly analyzed census data reveals where the city’s Black population fell most sharply since 1970 — and the neighborhoods fighting to keep their history.

The percentage of Black San Franciscans has fallen to about a third of what it was 50 years ago. @sfchronicle.com dives into the data of the city's shifting Black neighborhoods: www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...

Eric Swalwell’s rapid fall leaves allies reeling as more women come forward Many close allies and people who knew Eric Swalwell are still trying to make sense of his stunning fall from grace.

Close allies and voters are still trying to make sense of the two Eric Swalwells: a leading Trump critic who, in private, allegedly lured young women with offers of mentorship that turned into explicit messages, invitations to his hotels and sexual assault
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‘Keep digging’: What happened in months and days leading up to the Chronicle’s Eric Swalwell story The woman who answered a reporter’s call last month was hesitant, at first. She withheld the painful account she would later reveal. The next morning, she asked to keep talking.

We've been asked a lot how we got our story about the sexual assault allegations against Eric Swalwell. @demianbulwa.bsky.social wrote about the fundamental acts of journalism, not opposition research, that unearthed this scandal: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Rep. @ericswalwell.bsky.social has resigned from Congress as of 2 p.m. ET today.

In a letter of resignation read on the House floor, he apologized to his family, staff and constituents but said he "will fight the serious, false allegations made against me."

Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Monday that he would resign from Congress as he faces a mounting effort to expel him over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Rep. Eric Swalwell is resigning from Congress

“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being, made is wrong,” he said in a statement. “But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties."
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House committee is investigating Eric Swalwell as push to expel him from Congress ramps up The issue will be on the front burner as the House returns Tuesday from a two-week recess.

Will Rep. Eric Swalwell finish his final term in Congress? There is now an ethics investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against him and a growing push to expel him when the House returns from recess this week
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More developments since we published this story today. The Manhattan DA announced an investigation and senior Swalwell staff issued a statement:

“We stand with our former colleague and the other women who have come forward. We believe you should stand with them, too.”

A defiant Rep. Eric Swalwell is fighting on in his quest to become the next governor of California despite growing calls to drop out, resign and even that he be expelled from Congress www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Many California Democrats now calling for Swalwell to drop out of the governor's race, including one of his campaign co-chairs: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell told the Chronicle she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

California Supreme Court halts Republican sheriff's ballot investigation The justices agreed unanimously to hear state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s challenge to the actions by Bianco, a Republican candidate for governor, and decide whether the sheriff was acting...

The California Supreme Court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco on Wednesday to halt his investigation of hundreds of thousands of ballots he obtained from the county registrar to examine alleged voter fraud in last November’s election. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Amid Trump support, prediction markets face political headwinds Concerns about illegal gambling have prompted lawmakers to introduce proposals in Congress and the California Legislature to crack down on prediction markets, which are growing in popularity.

“Can’t let the arsonist write the fire code,” said @mikelevin.org, who introduced a bill last month to ban wagers related to war or an individual's death. “There’s a window to act before all of this becomes entrenched and we can’t change it.”
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Amid Trump support, prediction markets face political headwinds Concerns about illegal gambling have prompted lawmakers to introduce proposals in Congress and the California Legislature to crack down on prediction markets, which are growing in popularity.

In recent weeks, lawmakers have introduced a flurry of proposals in Congress and the California Legislature to crack down on an emerging platform that many argue is rife with illegal gambling and insider trading.
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Trump endorses Republican Steve Hilton in California governor race President Donald Trump endorsed Steven Hilton in the California governor’s race, potentially upending a contest where the two leading Republicans threaten to lock out the crowded Democratic...

Trump endorsed Steve Hilton for California governor early this morning, opening the door for a fractured Democratic field at risk of locking itself out of the top two www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Amid Trump support, prediction markets face political headwinds Concerns about illegal gambling have prompted lawmakers to introduce proposals in Congress and the California Legislature to crack down on prediction markets, which are growing in popularity.

Prediction markets are booming. So is political skepticism about the industry: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Donations to gubernatorial candidate could violate California campaign rules Republican California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco received maximum donations from two closely linked Corona companies, which could violate California campaign finance law.

Chad Bianco received maximum donations from two closely linked Corona companies that have been run by the same siblings, which could violate California campaign finance law, @sophiabollag.bsky.social reports: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Trump praises Lurie — but again floats sending federal agents to S.F. During a Cabinet meeting, Trump praised Lurie for trying to get San Francisco’s crime under control. But he implied that Lurie would not be able to finish the job without federal intervention.

Trump still wants to send troops into San Francisco, even as reported crime rates fall to historic lows

"I know they have a mayor who’s trying very hard," he said Thursday. "But we can do it much more effectively, because he can't do what we do."
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On the front page of today's @sfchronicle.com:

How @rokhanna.bsky.social's support for the California wealth tax proposal reshaped his bid for a sixth term and potentially his future political ambitions, just as he reached a new career apex

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‪A moment of silence at the plaque in the Senate basement. @pelosi.house.gov said Democrats will move it to a more prominent location when they win back control of the House in November.‬

After a three-year delay and some resistance from Republican leadership, Congress finally installed a plaque this month commemorating police who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6.

@pelosi.house.gov is at a ceremony for the plaque, alongside @schiff.senate.gov and @padilla.senate.gov.

The Epstein files made him a political star. Then he posted six words to social media As he lays the groundwork for a presidential bid, Ro Khanna couldn’t ask for a more perfect opportunity to burnish his credentials than a fight with billionaires.

As he eyes a run for president, @rokhanna.bsky.social’s fight with Silicon Valley billionaires over a wealth tax proposal could boost his political star — if he survives it
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Trump’s H-1B visa overhaul is upending Bay Area employment and separating families The Trump administration’s overhaul of the Bay Area tech industry’s H-1B visa program has scrambled the plans of companies and foreign workers and left families separated across continents.

San Jose and San Francisco metro areas have the highest concentration of H-1B workers in the country. As registration for the latest lottery ends today, new rules from the Trump administration have scrambled the local job market, @saradinatale.bsky.social reports: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Trump’s SAVE Act could upend California’s vote-by-mail system Because the vast majority of Californians vote by mail, the state stands to be disproportionately affected by new restrictions sought by President Trump.

Innovations such as automatic registration and providing mail ballots to every voter would become infeasible or even illegal under the SAVE America Act www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Trump said his admin will go after California for providing public benefits to people living in the country illegally during an Oval Office ceremony on Monday where he launched a new anti-fraud task force and personally attacked Gov. Gavin Newsom for his dyslexia
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Trump is waging a holy war in Iran. A Marin congressman is fighting one at home The House’s only openly nonbelieving member says President Donald Trump is trying to reconfigure the country as a Christian state.

“This is unthinkable. We are being taken to places we have never been.”

Through the Congressional Freethought Caucus, @rephuffman.bsky.social is sounding the alarming about a rising Christian nationalism in the Trump administration, including the war in Iran

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Trump is waging a holy war in Iran. A Marin congressman is fighting one at home The House’s only openly nonbelieving member says President Donald Trump is trying to reconfigure the country as a Christian state.

The only open nonbeliever in Congress, @rephuffman.bsky.social is leading a crusade to uphold the separation of church and state www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

A Trump-appointed judge used a vulgar term to attack trans women. His colleagues hit back The episode, which drew a scathing rebuke from fellow judges, is not the first time Lawrence VanDyke has stoked controversy.

A war of words on the 9th Circuit after one judge slammed his colleagues for losing "their collective minds" in a case about "swinging dicks," @saralibby.bsky.social reports: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Kiley told reporters this afternoon that he will serve the remainder of his term in the House as an independent, but will continue to caucus with Republicans