| | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte, Matthew Brown and Ramon Castanos | Presented by Kaiser Permanente | THE BUZZ: If you want to finish first, declaring first can help. Just ask Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. Kounalakis is announcing that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Sen. Barbara Boxer are endorsing her gubernatorial bid, roughly three years before the first votes will be tallied. Those blessings from widely-recognized Democrats build Kounalakis’ credibility and nurture a sense of momentum that TBD-candidates can’t claim. Those kinds of things can sway insiders with outsize campaign clout. They won’t attract the notice of California voters who aren’t watching the nascent 2026 campaign or reading this newsletter — you know, normal people. But they’re certainly on the radar of people who can move money, marshal endorsements and help determine who prevails in the 2026 gubernatorial race. It’s a world Kounalakis knows well. She became the Obama administration’s ambassador to Hungary in part because of her Democratic fundraising acumen. Her San Francisco apartment was a fixture of the West Coast big check circuit. Kounalakis’ then-neighbor and major money-mover, Susie Tompkins Buell, has already maxed out to Eleni 2026, as have criminal justice benefactor M. Quinn Delaney, tech titan Sheryl Sandberg and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. The tribe, at the urging of Kounalakis last year, steered $5 million to enshrine abortion rights in California’s constitution. Money isn’t everything. But it’s both a necessity for a statewide campaign and an indicator of viability in the early days when a field is still coalescing. Kounalakis also had $4.4 million left over from her re-election campaign at the end of 2022 and a father — developer Angelo Tsakopoulos – who sunk millions of dollars into his daughter’s 2018 LG bid and presumably has some money left for 2026. She’ll have competition. Former State Controller Betty Yee has said she'll run, and Attorney General Rob Bonta has publicly acknowledged his interest without committing to a run. Both would bring the recognition and connections that come with statewide office. Yee has deepened those connections as a California Democratic Party official; Bonta has broad support among criminal justice reformers and has telegraphed a focus on housing. But Bonta would need to give up a second term as AG, since he’s up for re-election in 2026. Yee would need to re-introduce herself to voters. Both start with less cash on hand than Kounalakis, particularly Yee. That gap could grow, as could the endorsement count. What happens in 2023 is already determining what will happen in 2026. BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. The California Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments today in Chevron’s challenge to Monterey County’s ban on oil and gas extraction — a 2016 initiative that was supported by Assembly Speaker-elect Robert Rivas when he was a county supervisor. The high court is also expected to rule on a law limiting campaign contributions from players with business before local government. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up at jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.
| | | | A message from Kaiser Permanente: Some health care experiences can be fragmented and impersonal, with the responsibility on the patient to make it work. But at Kaiser Permanente, everything works together to provide care and coverage that support the unique needs of more than 12.6 million members. Our health plan, primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, labs and pharmacies are connected to enable personalized care that delivers high-quality clinical outcomes. See all that health care can be at kp.org/allcarecanbe. | | | WHERE’S GAVIN? In Richmond talking about his clean energy agenda. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We will not hesitate to use the tools we have in our toolbox to prosecute. However, I strongly want to emphasize that the fentanyl crisis can’t be solved solely by prosecution tools, and I certainly want to emphasize that our crisis can’t be solved by the failed war-on-drug policies of the past.” Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton during a legislative hearing on fentanyl. WE’RE HIRING — POLITICO is embarking on an exciting expansion in the Golden State and looking for another journalist to join our growing team as a California Playbook author. More in the job description here.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | — “A's, Nevada leaders reach tentative ballpark agreement,” by The Associated Press’ Gabe Stern: The tentative agreement outlined in a joint statement indicates a funding bill will be introduced in the Nevada Legislature in the coming days, giving lawmakers less than two weeks to consider it before the session ends. The threat of a special legislative session looms if lawmakers can’t agree on the terms by June 5.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Porter campaign privately pitches Dems to look beyond Schiff’s money, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago: Among donors and some Democrats close to Porter, there’s creeping fear that Schiff’s sizable cash advantage and support from the likes of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could quickly harden the narrative with insiders that he’s the prohibitive frontrunner for 2024 — even if early public and private polls don’t actually bear that out. — Musk, Thiel, Sacks and the new techy conservatives DeSantis needs to capture, by POLITICO’s Ben Schreckinger: Ron DeSantis has found a lane. Now he has to find out if it’s wide enough to drive a winning campaign through. With Donald Trump holding a lock on the populist right, and the remnants of the GOP establishment split between several low-polling alternatives, Ron DeSantis is casting in his lot with a third group: very online, anti-“woke” Silicon Valley moguls.
| | | | A message from Kaiser Permanente:   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — California’s health care minimum wage bill gets a haircut, by POLITICO’s Rachel Bluth: In a session that’s been dominated by talks of dire hospital finances and closing facilities, the minimum wage proposal — fiercely fought by hospital interests — always faced an uphill battle from moderate and rural Democrats. Slowing implementation may be what it takes to get it over the finish line. — “Corporate landlord's California buying spree alarms tenants: 'I only earn enough to pay the rent',” by CalMatters’ Alejandro Lazo and Wendy Fry: “Two years ago, Blackstone bought a portfolio of 66 relatively low-rent apartment buildings in San Diego County from a well-known charitable foundation for $1.48 billion. This year, tenants of those 5,800 dwellings say they’re worried about rent increases, maintenance issues and potential evictions.” — “It's time to honor a pioneering California woman badly mistreated in her day,” opines Erwin Chemerinsky in The Sacramento Bee: “It is long overdue to remember and honor Rose Bird, the first woman to serve as a member of a governor’s cabinet and the first woman to serve as chief justice of the California Supreme Court. A resolution now pending in the California legislature, Senate Concurrent Resolution 47, introduced by Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), would do just that by renaming a rose garden plaza outside the State Capitol in Bird’s honor.” — “The luxury shopping oasis emerging in San Francisco’s struggling downtown,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Jim Carlton and Suzanne Kapner: “Full tour buses are rumbling again through Union Square, this city’s most well-known retail area, and business is brisk at high-end luxury stores. But one thing is still largely missing: local residents.” — “Survivors of solitary confinement face the California governor’s veto pen,” by Bolts’ Piper French: “With no movement since lawmakers passed the solitary reforms last year, advocates for ending the practice — including Morris and other survivors of prolonged solitary confinement — are once again urging Newsom to support the Mandela reforms, which have been filed again for this legislative session under Assembly Bill 280.”
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | — “At L.A. City College, student reporters decry censorship at public, on-campus events,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Melissa Gomez. — “‘Not what it used to be’: How downtown Oakland’s recovery compares to San Francisco’s,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sarah Ravani and Roland Li. — “Sacramento County supervisors approve big raises for themselves. Here's how much they make,” by The Sacramento Bee’s Ariane Lange. — “California girls face anti-trans attacks as they head to track championship,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Marisa Ingemi.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — “Kenneth Anger dies: Underground film pioneer influenced Scorsese, Lynch,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Alex Dobuzinskis.
| | | | A message from Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente is a value-based, integrated health care system that delivers equitable, high-quality, affordable care and coverage. Our highly sought-after physicians are solely focused on our members and are empowered to provide innovative, evidence-based care that helps keep people healthy and solves some of the most difficult challenges in medicine.
The result is exceptional value for our members, patients and communities. That’s why Kaiser Permanente is annually recognized among the top hospitals, medical groups and health plans in the nation. See all that health care can be at kp.org/allcarecanbe. | | | CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
