Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for 60 years and for The Times since 1974. He has been a Times political writer and editor in Los Angeles, Sacramento bureau chief and White House correspondent. He has written a column on California politics, “Capitol Journal,” since 1993. Skelton is a Santa Barbara native, grew up in Ojai and received a journalism degree at San Jose State.
Latest From This Author
Gov. Gavin Newsom should have learned this four years ago: You don’t try to sell voters on more government spending in a primary election.
March 13, 2024
Joe Biden’s forceful State of the Union speech should quell doubts about his fitness to run for reelection. No one is more happy than California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
March 11, 2024
Rep. Adam B. Schiff’s clever and cynical ploy in California’s Senate primary enabled him to avoid risk in the November runoff. But he subjected himself to another risk.
March 6, 2024
California’s early primary election needs to change. March 5 is too late to influence presidential races -- and way too soon for non-presidential contests.
March 4, 2024
California’s March 5 primary will determine whether voters choose a new U.S. senator now, essentially, or continue the competition until November.
Feb. 26, 2024
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), the front-runner in California’s Senate race based on polling and campaign cash, is going full bore to boost Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey in the March 5 primary election.
Feb. 19, 2024
Proposition 1 on the March 5 primary election ballot basically would shift current mental health funding to prioritize treatment for homeless people with mental illnesses or drug and alcohol addictions.
Feb. 12, 2024
Democratic candidates attacked Steve Garvey during California’s U.S. Senate debate, which will probably help boost GOP voter support for the former Dodger player.
Jan. 25, 2024
Democrat Toni Atkins has made history as a legislative leader but she’s never run in a statewide race before and is largely unknown north of San Diego.
Jan. 22, 2024
Fifty years ago this month, George Skelton walked into the Los Angeles Times as a newly hired state Capitol reporter. A lot has changed since 1974 — at the Capitol, in California politics. Some have been good, some bad.
Jan. 15, 2024