Epic wildfires scramble California 2026 political landscape - Washington Examiner

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is on the defensive over her initial, hesitant response to the fires.

The fires have also upended the 2026 open-seat California governor’s race in several different ways, says Ruben Navarrette .

He says it's far too soon to judge Gov. Gavin Newsom's national political prospects because he's leading the emergency response, but it's an open question whether he can make a credible bid for the 2028 presidential nomination.

L.A. Mayor Bass was on a diplomatic trip when the fires broke out.

She left for the nation in West Africa even as weather reports showed record-high winds bearing down on the Los Angeles region.

Bass ’s vanquished 2022 rival, billionaire shopping mall developer Rick Caruso , quickly accused the incumbent of shirking her duties.

Trump 's strong showing in Imperial County reflected in inroads with non-college-educated voters and Hispanic Americans .

Voters have shown some signs of fatigue with Democratic governance in California , under full Democratic control.

Winners of the Los Angeles mayoral and California gubernatorial elections will face a tricky political dance in trying to tap a main source of federal resources.