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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 1d

Whenever I talk about history, I always think of former Assemblyman Bruce Young. At the point I knew him, he clearly saw death approaching (it was) and wanted to spend his remaining time explaining his life so that it could be understood. I think we'd all want that if we could see the end clearly.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 1d

Taking folks on tours of the State Library is easy. Explaining California history always feels like a heavy responsibility because I'm not just speaking for myself or my employer... I'm trying to share an understanding that is accurate but sympathetic.
pro.stateaffairs.com/ca/environme...

Garter Snake and Manzanita Join California's List of State Symbols

California's giant garter snake and bigberry manzanita are now state symbols, emphasizing their ecological significance and conservation needs.

pro.stateaffairs.com

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 2d

What a time to be a political reporter in California.
Aug-Sept: End of Session
Sept-Oct: Bill Signings
Oct-Nov: Statewide Special Election
Nov-Dec: Post Election Jockeying of candidates (incl. some big new statewide candidates)
January: New Bills & 2026 Election gets into gear

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 3d

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻

In the 1940s, there was no lobbyist as influential as Arthur H. Samish. Artie, as he was known, primarily represented the interests of the liquor industry...

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 7d

Experience #CALeg staffers talking to the new kids about the post-bill signing period.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 8d

Rolling into the weekend like

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 11d

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻

As of California’s latest Report of Registration from the Secretary of State, there were just a little less than 27 million citizens in California who are eligible to vote.

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 11d

You can always trust the library spokesperson. We are super rational, insightful, AND at least a bit humorous if you ask the right questions.

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 12d

Fun Fact: No California state legislation in the past quarter century has used the phrase "honorable means" which you can find in this 1860 resolution attempting to secure weekly mail between Sonora, CA and Monoville, Utah.

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 18d

That's true. Life will wait for you and show up when it's most inconvenient.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 18d

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: "𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵"

Of the hundreds who have served in the Legislature during the past century, there have been fewer than 50 Assembly members who voluntarily left the #CALeg after a single term. Stan Ellis is the latest.

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 20d

Probably 4000ish? Way small!

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 20d

On this date 88 years ago... Shortly after declaring his candidacy for Lt. Governor, State Senator Jerrold Seawell of Roseville responds to a message of support in one of the most elegantly written letters I've ever seen on state* letterhead.

* Not allowed to do that anymore!

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 22d

Couch says he's running for Assembly as Ellis says he won't seek reelection
www.tehachapinews.com/news/couch-s...

Couch says he's running for Assembly as Ellis says he won't seek reelection

After less than a year as a state lawmaker, Assemblyman Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, said Friday he won't seek reelection in 2026, endorsing Kern County Supervisor David Couch as his successor,

www.tehachapinews.com

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 22d

2026 Candidate List Updated to reflect Assemblymember Stan Ellis announcing that he will not seek re-election (AD-32).

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

2027-28 California State Legislature

docs.google.com

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 25d

He was always a sweetie for doing things like that. I loved his story about hearing about the story behind the passage of Brown Act and how it led him to write the Public Records Act AND the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · 25d

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆? 𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝘁, 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.

Bills are still being reviewed and signed even as the TV lights have dimmed on the Senate and Assembly floors. The end of a legislative session can be hard because while the start of the year is focused on bold ideas and aspirations...

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 19

I finished the weekly survey of California political campaigns. New additions this week:
+ 1 new Congressional candidate
+ 1 new State Senate candidate
+ 4 candidates for constitutional office
+ 6 new Assembly candidates
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

2027-28 California State Legislature

docs.google.com

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 17

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀

There's a joke that has been circulating through the Capitol for the past few years that asks “What's the scariest thing at the State Capitol?” The punchline, which varies with each telling, is "@zavalaa.bsky.social in new running shoes.”

Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 13

PREVIEW: All of those first-year #CALeg staffers waking up on Saturday morning after three hours of sleep, before heading back into the office to wrap things up.

thanos says this day extracts a heavy toll in front of a monster

ALT: thanos says this day extracts a heavy toll in front of a monster

media.tenor.com

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 12

For a comprehensive list, @mrhansp.bsky.social is who I would ask. However, I remember a floor debate in about 2010 on the topic of quagga mussles that noted some feature of their "pseudo-feces" and somebody said that sounds pseudo-poopy.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 12

One quick thought for legislators and staff on the final day of session. #CALeg

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 12

It's the last day (and a half) of session for the California State Legislature.
#CALeg staff, it will be a long day but it's days like this that you are here for.
Give it your best... today is a day when history will be written.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 10

𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 : 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿

Even the casual observer can tell that end of the legislative session is a time of intrigue, building and failing alliances, and high passion.

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Alex Vassar 📚 @alexvassar.bsky.social · Sep 10

Last thought for the evening: One of my favorite California fun-facts was that it's the only state to an element named for it... Californium (discovered in 1950). However, it's not true anymore... Tennessine was named in 2017.

a woman says i 'm here and i 'm in my element in front of a cbs news background

ALT: a woman says i 'm here and i 'm in my element in front of a cbs news background

media.tenor.com

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