The political landscape in California is evolving with the establishment of the Close the Gap Caucusa groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering gender parity in the state’s legislature. This development comes at a pivotal moment, as California edges closer to achieving equal representation in its political arena.
On Wednesday, June 19, 2026, at the Close the Gap’s Sacramento Symposium Partners Reception, Executive Director Susannah Delanoalong with Assemblymember Lori Wilson and Senator Sasha Renée Pérezannounced the formation of this new caucus. The group is designed to preserve and advance the progress women have made in California politics over the past decade.
Close the Gap Caucus: A New Era for Women in Politics
The caucus, led by Honorary Chair Assemblymember Wilson and Honorary Vice Chair Senator Pérez, has already garnered support from approximately 40 members. Senator Pérez expressed her enthusiasm for this historic moment, stating, “I’m honored to serve as the Vice Chair of California’s Close the Gap Caucus. Being elected to the State Senate in the first cohort to achieve a majority of female members, I am energized by this historic moment for California. Gender parity creates better policy through diverse perspectives. I am committed to encouraging more women leaders to step forward to offer their valuable experience and wisdom by serving in elected office.”
Delano emphasized the importance of proactive recruitment in maintaining gender parity. “Parity does not take care of itself,” she told Capitol Weekly. “It really requires that year-round proactive targeted recruitment that Close the Gap was set up to do, or else we backslide the minute we stop recruiting.”
Close the Gap has been instrumental in the progress made so far. Women elected with the organization’s support now make up more than 20 percent of the Legislature and nearly half of all women serving in Sacramento. However, the challenge lies in maintaining these gains, especially as nine women legislators are set to term out ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Ballot Measures and Tax Initiatives: What’s Next for California Voters
As the political scene heats up, California voters are preparing for a busy ballot season. Despite a deal between Uber and Consumer Attorneys of California to pull opposing initiatives off the ballot, voters could still be asked to weigh in on 19 ballot measures in November.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, three measures have already qualified and will be on the ballot:
ACA 13 (Ward) on voting thresholds, SCA 1 (Newman) on elections and recall of state officers, and SB 42 (Umberg) on public campaign financing. Additionally, another 14 measures are eligible, including proposals to impose a one-time tax on high-wealth individuals, limit compensation for health care executives, and create a loan program for middle-income first-time home buyers. This figure could drop to 12 if the deal to pull the competing measures is reached by the June 25th deadline.
Four more measures are pending signature verification, including one that would require the UC system to provide down payment home loans to specified staff.
The Billionaire Tax Now Coalition has also made a public pitch to Governor Gavin Newsom, urging him to endorse a modified 2 percent version of their original 5 percent tax proposal. The coalition argues that the revised version reflects the urgency of the moment and the need to secure funding quickly to protect patients and preserve healthcare access.
The Public’s Perspective on Taxes and Services
A newly-released Public Policy of California poll reveals that a majority of Californians want to pay lower taxes even if it means the government will provide fewer services. When asked how the state should address future budget shortfalls, nearly half of those surveyed favor a mix of spending cuts and tax increases.
This poll highlights the complex balancing act facing California’s policymakers as they navigate the state’s fiscal challenges. The formation of the Close the Gap Caucus and the upcoming ballot measures are just a few of the critical issues shaping the state’s political future.
