Political Watch

• Awaiting consideration from the House of Representatives and Senate, the proposed Water Resources Development Act of 2026 would allocate $66 million in new federal funds for multiple Central Coast-based water projects, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced on July 14. “As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m proud […]

• Having passed the state Senate Public Safety Committee and state Senate Local Government Committee, Assembly Bill 2257—authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara)—will advance to the Senate floor in August. Focused on county jail accountability, the bill would give boards of supervisors throughout California the option to exercise confirmation authority over a sheriff’s top […]

•Authored by State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Senate Bill 963 passed the California Legislature on July 2, which advanced the proposed legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration. If signed, SB 963 will require the California Coastal Commission to provide permit applicants with a complete list of any additional information needed within 30 […]

•U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) recently secured $375,000 and $1 million in federal investments for the city of Lompoc and the city of Atascadero, respectively. Both investments support local emergency preparedness projects designed to protect against the threat of wildfires and prepare for other natural disasters. While the Lompoc funds will go toward the installation […]

• In response to the California Senate’s passage of the 2026-27 budget, Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement on June 15. “The California State Senate remains committed to our communities, which is why this budget prioritizes the needs of Californians. This Senate vote brings us one step closer to protecting health care, child […]

• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) reintroduced the Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act with fellow U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), according to a June 10 press release. The bill would create a new federal program encouraging commercial shipping companies operating off the Pacific coast to reduce their vessel speeds to […]

• With about a month left to officially certify the June 2 primary election results, state and federal incumbents led the races to represent northern Santa Barbara County. In the 24th Congressional District, which covers Santa Barbara County and parts of Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, longtime liberal U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal led with […]

• U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) spearheaded a joint letter—signed by several legislators—to Sable Offshore Corporation CEO and Chairman Jim Flores on May 27, demanding that the oil producer preserve all internal communications records between the company and Trump administration officials related to the restart of the Santa […]

•On May 20, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced new federal funding—approximately $2.2 million—for the San Luis Obispo County Airport to improve the baggage screening system. The airport’s current system is too undersized and outdated, Carbajal’s office stated, to adequately meet current operational demand. The new grant will fund a complete system replacement to […]

•On May 11, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal conducted an oversight visit to the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility to meet with detainees, three of whom are Central Coast residents. The detained constituents are from Santa Maria, Goleta, and Ojai, according to Carbajal’s office. “The stories shared by these Central Coast residents reflect […]

• On May 8, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California), U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), and Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) joined Environmental Defense Center Chief Counsel Linda Krop and other local environmental leaders to rally against the Trump administration’s restart of offshore oil platforms owned by Sable Offshore Corporation along the Gaviota coastline. During […]

• Following the Trump administration’s announcement that Morro Bay’s Golden State Wind project will recover $120 million in taxpayer dollars as part of its cancellation arrangement, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement on April 28. “I am outraged by this backwards decision to sabotage the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area. In Congress, […]