Inside Golden State Politics

Elections 2025: A Preview Of The 2026 Midterms

• Nancy Boyarsky

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A look at the upcoming elections in New Jersey, Virginia, New York and  California.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Welcome to another episode of Inside Golden State Politics. I'm Bill Bosky, former city editor and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and with me is our executive producer director, Nancy Bosky.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

And I am Sherry Bebitch, Jeffy political analyst and self-styled medium Maven. Coming to you from binge rewatching every single episode of The West Wing. I say more over to you, bill.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well, Sherry, I'm still tired from watching 18 innings of, baseball in the World Series, but I'm slowly recovering, although not from,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I am not.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

yeah.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I am really annoyed.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

I think Sherry, there's so many interesting things that happened over the past few days, but, one of the things that I think could be a, something to worry about in the future is the battle of the polling places. you've got the Republicans are going to come in there to democratic. Districts and try to intimidate Democrats from voting. And you've got the Democratic volunteers who are going to be out there chasing'em away.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Well, first of all, you know, sort of making an assumption and we all know it's true. But nobody from Trump administration has come out to announce. We're gonna go out there and we're gonna intimidate people. They're coming out to make sure that the, elections are fair and open and transparent, they're doing it. Interestingly, in my two states. New Jersey, my home state, California, which is the state in which I am home now. I mean, it's very blatant what is going on, and I, I just don't know how this is gonna end up. really don't. Who exactly is the administration sending in? Are they going to send in uniformed a law enforcement, uniformed military, or I don't know. I haven't found that out yet, but that will make a very big difference in who shows up. The irony of it is Bill, though in California. About of the voting is done by mail. Every Californian gets a mailman ballot. You don't even have to show up at the voting booth to vote it's ironic, but it, you know, they're not gonna get a whole lot of people playing games under any circumstance, and certainly not when 80% of the votes are done even going to the voting booth.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

well if you have election goons showing up at polling places and, and particularly in states where the primary election is supposed to be close, like a year old home.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

It ain't a primary, it's the general In New Jersey, it's the

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Alright anyway, anyway,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

and New York City.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

anyway. If it's close and the election goons show up, you don't know what's going to happen and the Democratic volunteers show up. there could be hell to pay, there could be, pushing around, there could be intervention by the, Ice and by the border patrol, the two arms, the two arms of Trump enforcement except sometimes in a, in a marvelous show of courage, they interrupted Children's Halloween Parade.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

No, really they

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well, yeah. Yeah.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I, I, I want you to know that I heard yesterday that, The, the ice and whomever else is, is doing this here. left their, their barracks or whatever their organizing place on term terminal island and their masks or Halloween masks,

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

And that's what they're wearing.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

that's what they wore the other day. That's according to, someone that I spoke with. It's just unreal.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

they do it as a gag?

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Who knows? I have a feeling that the people who saw this did not interview them to find out if they did it as a gag, but it was done what ris.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

We're kind of getting into an a lawless election and it sets the stage for something I have. Worried about for a long, long time. And that's Trump President for Life question mark.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Oh, sick.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Some people think that, Oh, that's ridiculous. Trump is just playing games with the electorate. He's trying to, take people's minds off his own, his own troubles, off of Epstein and all of that.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Correct.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Others are taking it quite seriously, and I am taking it seriously because Trump has never expressed any support for the Constitution. And all he would have to do would to become president for life, which would throw out the Constitution. Now, people say to me, oh, that's, that's impossible. How can he do that? I said.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Ignore it.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

it, wide it up into a paper ball and throw it in the garbage can.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I have a feeling archives will not let him near the Constitution.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Aren't you worried about that though?

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Very. I mean, but I, you know, I, I am convinced that. It, the Constitution is not relevant to the way he thinks and acts.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

right.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I mean, I do believe you know It's no longer simply the unitary executive, the, the executive that it has all the power, and there are no not, three coequal branches of government. It is moving and has moved toward. Authoritarianism and authoritarianism doesn't recognize rule of law. It's the rule of the leader.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

That's why I worry about, What Trump will do on, election day especially, he, loses a couple of those races. his surrogates lose a couple of those races, overwhelmingly, and I'm worried about what he's going to do for the midterm elections that come up, next year.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

This is a dress rehearsal my dear. This is a dress rehearsal for how they're gonna operate, come the midterms. I am convinced it's, it is exactly as he did with Los Angeles not so long ago. tried out that game plan of bringing in the military and bringing in the National Guard, putting them in the cities, and then he sort of spread it out all over the country.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Mayor Bass from the beginning said it was a, a dress rehearsal for

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

A test case. Right.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

all over the country. I think she was dead right on that.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I agree. next Tuesday think is basically a dress rehearsal for the way the administration. The Republicans going to approach the midterm elections, I am assuming that the Trump does intend to challenge it. just, why not?

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

The media, the mainstream media shares our concern? are they being too reserved about this?

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

It's a good question. What do you think?

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

I think they're handicapped by, customs of the past, where, they're afraid of, being seen as, too, unfavorable, too critical, too heavy on Trump, too pro-democratic. Now the reason, that. We should really worry about, this is what's happened to the once great network CBS,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Oh

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

which

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

is

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

thinking of

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

how many are they laying off? A huge number

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Like a thousand to start.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

right?

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

And, quite a few of them. Guess what are CBS news reporters, anchors. And as you were I was just thinking that it looks like that the field of network news, which is almost invisible now, is even, is going to be even more dramatically winnowed. That will be in the next year or so before the midterms. That's not, you know, cable addresses the people who go to the cable network, they want to hear the most. So it's meaningless what basically you're, you're preaching to the choir if you say, oh, he is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or, oh my God, he's going to take over the world. Nobody. I'm nobody that's, I'm just being dramatic. I'm sorry. but there, you can't that message across one way or

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

we're growing our own, Murdoch family. The Murdoch family, owns the, mirror and couple very big, British newspapers and Fox News and, and Rupert Murdoch, a dedicated conservative and his oldest son, who's the heir to the, fortune, are making sure that that network continues on its conservative path. Now, the Ellison family, the owners of Oracle, Probably richer than the Murdochs. They're the owners. And I won't explain the complexities of the how this ownership works, but the Allison family who would like very much to be the Murdochs of the United States controls CBS news and, that is going to shape

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

A month.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

and paramount and that'll shape their news product. I mean, you.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Already is.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Yeah.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

It already is. mean, in the argument is, are we move, or the question is, are we moving toward state media with all of these, media joining together in big media? And I don't know. I mean, it appears to me news has begun to be reshaped. some of its finer anchors and reporters are leaving. I don't know where NBC goes from here, but the mainstream media's news, the network news is almost irrelevant right now. Like everything else in this country. Where we get our news is. Absolutely polarized it. There isn't anything called objectivity anymore on any side in networks, news and cable networks talking heads, and the network news is having very little visible impact.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well, I think it's because they're afraid of getting fired.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I think you probably are very right about that. It's one of the major reasons

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

You can go to all the journalism, seminars you want to, but, in the final analysis, it's the fear of a producers and the fear of anchors of, of getting fired or being forced to quit. Like, somebody of really great talent. John Dickerson, who, quit CBS, the other day.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Yeah, but there is something else that is occurring, which is very interesting. those reporters who have mainstream media or who were fired one reason or another from Main Street, Mia, are turning to. Social media, YouTube, substack, and they are building their own little talk program. You don't have to be the guy or the gal who does NBC or CBS or a BC network News. In fact, probably if we took a look at it, we'd find that at least for some of them, their audiences are as large now, if not larger than they were when they were on mainstream media. It is, I mean, it's fascinating to watch

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

and I guess in person. and, he has a good sense of what's troubling people. And, what's troubling people are the things that we have been talking about for a long time. These are the pocketbook issues. I mean, these are.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Definitely.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

are the issues when the groceries come in, when you go pick up the groceries, it, they're just too expensive. And he, you know, he's very simple about, that's his program. Rent, price of groceries,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Transportation,

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

And

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

cost of hou, cost of living. I'm seeing that. Yeah. I mean, I'm seeing that, across the board many, many elections, that it is the cost of living, how hard it is, it is make it work today's America. And it's, it's gonna be a powerful, is a powerful issue and. Each of the elections that will be held next week.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

You know, this is something, that he Montgomery talks about is healthcare, the high cost of healthcare,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Hmm.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

and, it's going to be rising as Obamacare continues to be crippled, I think that's going to be a major issue for the Democrats.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

They think so too, apparently. I mean, that's what they're betting everything on with regard to the, the, the shutdown of, the government. Democrats are holding tight they want an extension. healthcare benefits of Obamacare, they're using it at basically, this point anyway, as their fulcrum for the campaign.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

They're using it and it's because people need it,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Yeah. Well, when did that ever

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

this isn't well,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Sherry.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

you know, there are issues and issues like you can get a, a room full of people all upset because, of, something they teach in the classroom or, whoever, is on a team and people get upset about, these, sort of moral issues and all of that. People get upset about their healthcare because they have to pay it every, every week, every time they go to the doctor and the Republicans are trying to take it away.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

In, in the governor's races this year. Healthcare doesn't seem to be the major issue, but it again, it's aspect of cost of living. Ironically, in the New Jersey Governor's election, all of a sudden the high cost of energy. Has become an incredibly, if not the most important issue, one of the most important one, one of the most powerful issues in the race. there's a skyrocketing of en of energy costs in the state the Republican, whose name I can't pronounce, but, has taken that and, and is pointing to that it's getting people really angry The fault of the incumbent Democratic governor Murphy and is locking Sherrill, the Democratic candidate for governor the hip. Of Phil Murphy, he calls her Phil Murphy 2.0 and believe me, it is having an impact. I just saw, the latest today has the race basically tied, Mikey Cheryl, the Democratic at 49% and Chi, the Republican

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Sherry.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

48%. and that is not what was supposed to happen.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

He and interestingly, and I think importantly, has been endorsed by Donald Trump, and Cheryl has based almost her entire campaign on he's Trump. I'm not this, could I, I have a feeling that, the media and the. All of the media and the talking heads are gonna have an absolute, really funny games with whatever the result of that election is.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well, if Mikey Cheryl wins

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Yeah.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

to the polls, if she wins, it, it'll be pretty easy to explain. I mean,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Tell me

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

I'll say. She won. Trump loses.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Without

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

it's just like the race in California over Proposition 50, which is, you know, yes, on 50 is no on Trump. That's it. There's, that's all you have to know about it.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

That's exactly right. And finally the yes side figured that out. The no side has sort of, slipped out their tail between their legs. They gave up on 50. I saw one poll result that had 60% of Californians favor 50. And I will tell you, there is no example of the total polarization. Of our electorate than that result because Republicans, almost 90% were against it. yes side is Democrats and to some extent independents. It is, I mean, I am so nervous about what I see happening to what used to be. One nation, how quaint? I don't see anything moving anywhere. I think the best example we have of that right now what's going on in Washington with regard to the, the, shutdown. Nothing's moving,

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Yeah, I'm thinking that, Democrats are, beating this horse too much,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Which

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

that they're beating the shutdown horse too much and they, you know, they're gonna end up with a dead horse. I agree that going after Trump is smart politics and a lot of people agree with that, but, slowing down the government, that may bea bridge too far as they say. Maybe.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Well, wait a minute. I think it's interesting, bill Ky, that you have just now. Now in my years anyway, the Democrats for the shutdown. That's dangerous. I mean, that's

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well, you know, when you get into a bloody battle and. Somebody's gonna win or lose. if that happens and the Democrats start losing seats, start losing seatsthen you have to blame them for the shutdown. The shutdown is going to become a major issue. You know, at first it wasn't. Now, now it's really starting to hurt.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Even in governor's races. Even in the mayor's race, that's so important in New York City. What we're looking come Wednesday. What's

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

when you're,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Be looking at the tea leaves

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

when you're talking about issues like that though, the New York, local issues are tremendously important. Whether they're gonna build that tunnel from New Jersey to toManhattan. that's really more important in the New York..

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Of course, that's the gateway

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Right.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

and Mikey Cheryl is nailing her Republican opponent on that because he will not buck. Donald Trump has endorsed him on that issue. mean, Donald Trump pulled the funding for the Gateway tunnel that would connect New Jersey with New York City. Why? Well, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, is from Brooklyn, hake Jeffries, Democratic leader in the house. Is from Brooklyn New York City and New Jersey, although I would argue less so our Democratic basis. And we'll see if it works because Cheryl is trying to nail gateway tunnel to her opponent, her Republican opponent. Will it stick? We'll find out.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Boy, this, this thing is, really, muddled and f full of what ifs. I mean, what if people, really hate Obamacare? What if people wanna go to their private doctors and pay exorbitant fees? We don't know, and we'll have to find

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Oh, we do know, sweetheart, but the question is, is that enough?

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

it. It is a combination of things like,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

exactly.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Like let's say Obamacare, and, some, Tremendously important local issue, and, something we should never forget, which is the personality of the candidates. I mean, we, I mean,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

gonna do it.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

If the candidate's a lemon, there's not much you can do about that to chop it up.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Well, you know,

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Go ahead.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

yeah, go ahead you hadn't finished, I don't

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Well, I'm saying that that's, that's important. So I'd say that what's important are the quality of the candidates, the importance of the issues, especially issues that deal with the pocketbook, the unpopularity of Trump, if that exists, and,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

And money.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

and,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

forget

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

and, and money. and at this point, We don't know. We don't know how any of those things are gonna turn out.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Well, we know that they have happened. The question is whether or not they have made difference. And I find it very interesting that we really haven't touched on the other major gubernatorial, the only other MA gubernatorial election on the ballot on Tuesday, the Virginia Governor's race. where, Representative Stanberger is, Stanberger is ahead by a nice margin in the, I guess, the high single digits against another woman, the Lieutenant Governor the State of Virginia. election will see the first ever, whoever wins female governor. The state, state of Virginia, and it looks like the Democrat can sort of breathe a whole lot easier in Virginia than the Democrat in New Jersey can breathe. And I think part of the reason for that is there are so many workers and others who have been furloughed who no longer go to work because of the shutdown. An incredible number of federal employees live. Virginia. and I don't know, I do we assume that Oh yeah. if the Democrat wins, we gotta look at how much, by how much she wins. If she only wins by a little, that doesn't mean anything. Is that true?

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

I think if she wins, she wins and it's a. It's a victory for the, Democrats. And, and that's, you know, that's the thing about politics. It's the final score. And if she beats the Republican, Lieutenant Governor, then she's the winner. What about, what about our governor? He's, marching, up and down the state via television commercials, in support of, proposition 50.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Oh

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Vote yes. Vote yes on 50 vote for 50 is a vote against.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

To Trump. It's the, I mean, that was Tom Steyer, who I think$12 million of his own money into his own. Yes. On 50 campaign, it appears to me he's testing the waters for a run for governor. You, he ran for president the last time around for about a minute and a half, so why not? But, what I find absolutely, if not astonishing, pretty neat in the tent in the sense that this is politics and the streetcar theory of politics of a sudden. Gavin Newsom is like in the polls first or second in the polling for the Democratic presidential nomination ahead. Mind you of fellow Californian Harris,, he has hit it right on the nose. Remember? Do you remember the, the, streetcar

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

yeah. Yeah,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

This is a quiz. Tell me about it.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

the street cars coming down the block, and if you don't get on it, you've missed.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

If you don't have the right fair you're not at the right, if you're not on the right corner, if are, if the streetcar is going in the wrong direction. Ah, but if you've got the right fare, you happen to be on the right corner. The streetcar happens to be going in the right direction, you can win. And that's where Gavin Newsom is now, I'm not saying he will win, but he has a far better chance now of getting the nomination than he did

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

There's a couple of things, the points I was making about the quality of a candidate. Newsom has always been, a attractive candidate. You know, he looks good. He speaks well. he's got a good life story. he's, kind of in the center of the Democratic Party. he's an appealing guy. He has had all of those things going and then. He took a big chance, I think, by getting all out in favor of Proposition 50. He took a chance. I mean, at that time when, when, when he was,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

I don't know. I don't think in terms of the nomination, it was that great a

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

well, he took a chance on his future. He, he rolled the dice on his fu future. Now it looks like that may be working. It suddenly it's raised Newsome into the public consciousness. People are talking about him. he is a winning type of candidate, where he, where.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

the candidate pushing against governor Pritzker of Illinois, but I mean he, for Democrats, two Democrats and possible, candidates for president who are, are at least fighting back are Pritzker and Newsom.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Mm-hmm. Right. Fighting back in a pointed, strong way that.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Mm-hmm.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

will listen to. I mean, and they both make it simple. Well, look at Sherry. We've, we've, worked our way through this long list.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

And don't forget, the next time we meet, we'll be talking about the results

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Don't miss us.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

and I don't know, we'll see where it goes. We'll see how it goes. I just, I mean it by rights. The good news for Democrats will be. If, Virginia New Jersey elect Democratic Governors, I don't know what New York will mean. I think what New York is showing, and it will probably maintain this, is, this is an excellent example of the split, that that within the Democratic party man, Donny, the progressive wing. And Cuomo, the old school establishment Democrat.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

the governor of New York?

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Well, she's not up this year, is

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

No, because

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Is she up

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

he's out there. Out there. Well,

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

Well, she's sort of endorsed,

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

yeah.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

named Donny, you know. Hello? Oh, yeah. He's a Democratic nominee. I'll endorse him. Ooh, she had to. And we'll see how that

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Okay.

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

And some of it will depend on how Manami does.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Okay. Talk to you next week, huh?

squadcaster-j319_2_10-30-2025_151722:

cheers.

host-4ha0_2_10-30-2025_151723:

Cheers