Mark Z. Barabak

Your morning catch up: The Republican opening for California governor, a virus with no treatment is hitting California and more big stories

President Trump set off a partisan battle over the congressional map for November’s election. The result has been sound and fury in more than a dozen states, starting with Texas and California.

The Democrats rose together through San Francisco politics, sharing donors and, for a time, campaign strategists. A fight for their party’s nomination would bring their private jostling into the open.

Appearing before the Democratic faithful at the state party convention in San Francisco, hopefuls offered the whys and wherefore of their candidacies. There was a great deal of Trump bashing.

In Texas, in particular, candidates have fastened on a growing Muslim population as they seek a new political scapegoat. The state’s top elected officials have led the charge.

Voters in a prime congressional battleground are sharply divided over Trump. Beyond that, they can’t fathom how others can possibly believe what they believe or see the president the way they do.

The state’s elections are on the up and up, but you wouldn’t know it from Republicans like Mike Johnson, who keeps perpetuating falsehoods. The House speaker knows better. Or should.

Columnists Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria agree the California race for governor isn’t raising any roofs. But someone’s going to win. Should they focus on the state’s needs or battling Trump?

Her appearance at an FBI raid on a Georgia election center had nothing to do with her job overseeing American intelligence and everything to do with worming her way into President Trump’s good graces.

Andy Beshear says voters want a healer in 2028, not someone who’ll match President Trump insult for insult. His focus on nuts and bolts makes him a popular blue governor in a very red state.