Recent articles
October 11, 2026
Barabak: Is there a doctor in the House? Backlash to Trump, RFK Jr. may boost their political ranks
Anti-vaxxers and attacks on the nation's public health system have spurred hundreds of doctors and scientists to seek office. In Sacramento, congressional hopeful Richard Pan is part of that wave.
www.latimes.com
October 4, 2026
Barabak: What's going to happen in the midterm election? Find out here. (Maybe)
Two of the country's top political prognosticators see Democrats likely seizing the House and possibly the Senate. The guardrails Republicans were counting on to stem their losses don't seem to be ...
www.latimes.com
October 1, 2026
'Blowout': Here's who won the Hilton-Becerra debate for California governor
Three Times columnists weigh in on the only scheduled face-to-face debate in the race for California governor.
www.latimes.com
September 27, 2026
Barabak: War games and draft lawsuits: Democrats work to Trump-proof November election
Stepping in for a complacent Congress, Democratic attorneys general are ready to fight efforts to undermine or overturn the Nov. 3 election. "We need to stay vigilant," says Colorado's Phil Weiser.
www.latimes.com
September 20, 2026
Barabak: The worst, most vile candidate in Texas isn't who you might think
The bigoted Bo French is running for railroad commissioner. His racist social media post drew scathing condemnation, though not from Gov. Greg Abbott or the ethically bankrupt Senate nominee Ken Pa...
www.latimes.com
September 13, 2026
Commentary: Gavin Newsom is a lame duck. Can his presidential hopes still take flight?
Gavin Newsom leaves office in a few months, allowing him to devote all of his time to a 2028 presidential run. The question is whether he can sell a progressive agenda outside the comfortable confi...
www.latimes.com
September 6, 2026
Barabak: Integrity on the ballot: Election deniers target secretary of state races in key states
Trump's attempts to undermine democracy has elevated the importance of election oversight. Election deniers are on the ballot in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin and could cause mischief in 2028.
www.latimes.com
August 30, 2026
Barabak: Don't look now, but suddenly the U.S. Senate is in play
The four-seat gain Democrats need to win control once seemed all but out of reach. Odds are looking up, though the party still faces a tough path, with toss-up races in a half dozen (mostly red) st...
www.latimes.com
August 23, 2026
Barabak: Ripple or blue wave? This race will test Democratic strength in November
The contest in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District should be a shoo-in for Republicans. But a problematic candidate, inflation and Trump's unpopularity give Democrats not far-fetched hopes for a ma...
www.latimes.com
August 2, 2026
Barabak: Democrats are at each other's throats — this time over the 2028 calendar
The choice of which state begins the presidential balloting turned into a needlessly divisive conflict over race and ethnicity. Nevada didn't take South Carolina's selection well.
www.latimes.com
July 26, 2026
Barabak: His nickname was 'Satan.' His political influence was immense
Clint Reilly helped elect a who's who of California Democrats and trained generations of political consultants. He was a genius in the business of campaigns.
www.latimes.com