The State of California

Opinion: California's existential issues scare off top candidates for governor California's Governorship Crisis Signals End of an Era The Epoch Times Staff January 30, 2026 TL;DR California's 2026 gubernatorial race has become a political wasteland as top candidates from both parties decline to run. Democrats including Kamala Harris, Rob Bonta, and Alex Padilla have passed. Republicans;lacking a credible moderate after Kevin Faulconer stayed out;field only pro-Trump candidates with no realistic path to victory. The bipartisan retreat reflects California's transformation from national political trendsetter to cautionary tale, burdened by intractable crises in housing, homelessness, education, and fiscal stability. Governor Newsom leads 2028 presidential polls but faces the paradox that California's visible dysfunction undermines his central credential. The state that once gained six congressional seats per decade lost one in 2020 and may lose four more by 2030;a stun...

How Business Exodus, Retail Collapse, and Fiscal Crisis Feed a Self-Reinforcing Doom Loop BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) California faces a multi-front economic crisis where retail closures, business departures, and fiscal deficits create a self-reinforcing doom loop. Major retailers have abandoned urban centers at historic rates—Amazon closed all 58 Fresh stores nationwide, while 17 major chains shuttered hundreds of California locations in 2025. Behind this retail apocalypse lies a deeper crisis: California lost 600,000 residents over three years as major employers relocated to lower-cost states, removing hundreds of millions in annual tax revenue. The state now faces $12-18 billion in budget deficits while cities like San Francisco (projecting $1.36 billion deficit by 2027) and Oakland ($87 million shortfall) cannot provide basic services. Meanwhile, crime statistics diverge sharply—official data shows shoplifting stable or declining, while retailers report $5.23 billion in Californi...