Alex Vassar 📚

Fun Fact: Had she run for reelection and won, Nancy Pelosi would have become the longest serving Member of Congress in California history on June 3, 2027.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

In early October, I participated in the annual Sacramento Archives Crawl, where the California State Library, State Archives, Center for Sacramento History, and the Sacramento Room at the downtown library showcase their collections for the public to explore.

For those keeping track at home, the new maps (once the election is certified) will officially be the 16th time CA has been divided into Congressional districts. The first time was in 1864, when we shifted away from at-large statewide representation in Congress.

#CAPolitics #ProTip: The most interesting website in California politics changed at 9 pm.
11/4 - electionresults.sos.ca.gov/returns/ball...
11/5 - www.fec.gov/data/filings...

I mailed in my ballot weeks ago (the same day that it got me), but I definitely felt like everyone posting their #BallotSelfies made me feel like I was missing out.

My favorite poem, by John Pierpont, is about how on election day, the power of the ballot is unmistakable.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 ‘𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲!’ 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗹

If you visit the websites of more than a handful of Sacramento advocates, lobbyists, and public affairs professionals, you'll notice something interesting: many of the staff photos were taken in just a few locations.

Can you imagine the fallout these days if someone tried selling sewing machines by putting an ad in a newspaper with this headline? Friends, 1992 was some wild times.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟱: 𝗔 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿
In politics, it’s common to hear the words “groundbreaking,” “unprecedented,” or “watershed moment” used to describe events that may not truly merit those distinctions. Yet one episode in California history fully deserves all three labels: the Vetoes of 1925.

Here's a thought for you: There are 28 days until Monique Limon becomes California's Senate President pro Tempore.
The last pro Tem from Santa Barbara was Clarence C. Ward, who represented the Ellwood Oil Field when it was shelled by the Imperial Japanese Navy sub I-17 on February 23, 1942. #WWII

Whenever I talk about history, I always think of former Assemblyman Bruce Young. At the point I knew him, he clearly saw death approaching (it was) and wanted to spend his remaining time explaining his life so that it could be understood. I think we'd all want that if we could see the end clearly.

Garter Snake and Manzanita Join California's List of State Symbols California's giant garter snake and bigberry manzanita are now state symbols, emphasizing their ecological significance and conservation needs.

Taking folks on tours of the State Library is easy. Explaining California history always feels like a heavy responsibility because I'm not just speaking for myself or my employer... I'm trying to share an understanding that is accurate but sympathetic.
pro.stateaffairs.com/ca/environme...

What a time to be a political reporter in California.
Aug-Sept: End of Session
Sept-Oct: Bill Signings
Oct-Nov: Statewide Special Election
Nov-Dec: Post Election Jockeying of candidates (incl. some big new statewide candidates)
January: New Bills & 2026 Election gets into gear

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻

In the 1940s, there was no lobbyist as influential as Arthur H. Samish. Artie, as he was known, primarily represented the interests of the liquor industry...

Experience #CALeg staffers talking to the new kids about the post-bill signing period.

Rolling into the weekend like

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻

As of California’s latest Report of Registration from the Secretary of State, there were just a little less than 27 million citizens in California who are eligible to vote.

You can always trust the library spokesperson. We are super rational, insightful, AND at least a bit humorous if you ask the right questions.

Fun Fact: No California state legislation in the past quarter century has used the phrase "honorable means" which you can find in this 1860 resolution attempting to secure weekly mail between Sonora, CA and Monoville, Utah.

That's true. Life will wait for you and show up when it's most inconvenient.

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: "𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵"

Of the hundreds who have served in the Legislature during the past century, there have been fewer than 50 Assembly members who voluntarily left the #CALeg after a single term. Stan Ellis is the latest.

Probably 4000ish? Way small!

On this date 88 years ago... Shortly after declaring his candidacy for Lt. Governor, State Senator Jerrold Seawell of Roseville responds to a message of support in one of the most elegantly written letters I've ever seen on state* letterhead.

* Not allowed to do that anymore!

Couch says he's running for Assembly as Ellis says he won't seek reelection After less than a year as a state lawmaker, Assemblyman Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, said Friday he won't seek reelection in 2026, endorsing Kern County Supervisor David Couch as his successor,

Couch says he's running for Assembly as Ellis says he won't seek reelection
www.tehachapinews.com/news/couch-s...

2027-28 California State Legislature

2026 Candidate List Updated to reflect Assemblymember Stan Ellis announcing that he will not seek re-election (AD-32).

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

He was always a sweetie for doing things like that. I loved his story about hearing about the story behind the passage of Brown Act and how it led him to write the Public Records Act AND the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆? 𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝘁, 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.

Bills are still being reviewed and signed even as the TV lights have dimmed on the Senate and Assembly floors. The end of a legislative session can be hard because while the start of the year is focused on bold ideas and aspirations...

2027-28 California State Legislature

I finished the weekly survey of California political campaigns. New additions this week:
+ 1 new Congressional candidate
+ 1 new State Senate candidate
+ 4 candidates for constitutional office
+ 6 new Assembly candidates
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀

There's a joke that has been circulating through the Capitol for the past few years that asks “What's the scariest thing at the State Capitol?” The punchline, which varies with each telling, is "@zavalaa.bsky.social in new running shoes.”

thanos says this day extracts a heavy toll in front of a monster ALT: thanos says this day extracts a heavy toll in front of a monster

PREVIEW: All of those first-year #CALeg staffers waking up on Saturday morning after three hours of sleep, before heading back into the office to wrap things up.