Politics

Georgia runoff races will determine control of U.S. Senate

Georgia runoff races will determine control of U.S. Senate

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Jan 4, 2021

The country's attention will be riveted on Georgia this week where runoff races for the state's two U.S. Senate seats will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the chamber.

2020: A year like no other

2020: A year like no other

In 2020, the nation faced two existential threats: an out-of-control coronavirus pandemic that killed more than 300,000 people in the United States in less than 12 months, and an erratic, self-obsessed Republican president.

Assemblyman Low returns as LGBTQ caucus chair

Assemblyman Low returns as LGBTQ caucus chair

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 29, 2020

California was experiencing one of its boom cycles the first time gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) served as chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus during the 2017-2018 session.

Political Notebook: A queer comic to ring out 2020

Political Notebook: A queer comic to ring out 2020

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 29, 2020

The Political Notebook's end-of-year op-art offering for 2020 is a queer comic to ring out the annus horribilis.

Newsom names Assemblywoman Weber as secretary of state

Newsom names Assemblywoman Weber as secretary of state

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 22, 2020

Hours after he appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla Tuesday as California's first Latino senator in the U.S. Congress, Governor Gavin Newsom named Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) to be his successor.

Political Notebook: Newsom's CA AG pick could open door for gay SF city attorney

Political Notebook: Newsom's CA AG pick could open door for gay SF city attorney

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 22, 2020

There is one name among the list of possible state attorney general picks that, if selected by Gov. Gavin Newsom, could lead to SF having the second gay man serving in a citywide municipal office.

Political Notes: SF LGBTQ Dem clubs to elect new leaders

Political Notes: SF LGBTQ Dem clubs to elect new leaders

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 18, 2020

San Francisco's two LGBTQ Democratic clubs will be electing new leaders in January, as the political organizations say goodbye to their current male leaders.

Political Notebook: Sacto region bids farewell to gay elected leaders

Political Notebook: Sacto region bids farewell to gay elected leaders

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 16, 2020

The Sacramento region said goodbye to three longtime gay elected officials this month, as the trio all lost their reelection bids in November.

Supervisors panel advances Yekutiel for SFMTA board seat

Supervisors panel advances Yekutiel for SFMTA board seat

A gay small business owner is one step closer to a seat on the powerful San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's board after a hearing Monday by the Board of Supervisors rules committee.

Political Notes: San Diego's first gay elected mayor pledges 'new era' for his city

Political Notes: San Diego's first gay elected mayor pledges 'new era' for his city

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 10, 2020

In becoming San Diego's first gay elected mayor and first mayor of color Thursday, Todd Gloria pledged a "new era" for his Southern California city.

Political Notebook: New San Mateo County out council members get to work

Political Notebook: New San Mateo County out council members get to work

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 9, 2020

A trio of new out San Mateo County city council members, all young people of color, is set to bring a fresh perspective to how their municipalities are run in the coming months now that they have been seated on their governing bodies.

CA LGBTQ lawmakers sworn in to office

CA LGBTQ lawmakers sworn in to office

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 7, 2020

At age 70, gay state Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) became the oldest out member of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Monday when he took his oath of office inside a sparsely attended Senate chamber.

Beckles sworn in on AC Transit board

Beckles sworn in on AC Transit board

The AC Transit District Board of Directors again has an out member, as Jovanka Beckles was sworn into office during a virtual ceremony Friday, December 4.

Political Notebook: For gay councilman, Morgan Hill is a welcoming home

Political Notebook: For gay councilman, Morgan Hill is a welcoming home

  • POLITICS
  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Dec 2, 2020

For close to 17 years Rene Spring and his husband, Mark Hoffmann, have called Morgan Hill home. And during that time the bedroom community south of San Jose has seen rapid development of new homes and businesses.