California’s 8th District House Race 2026

A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge rejected Chino Valley Unified School District's bid to dissolve an injunction blocking its policy requiring staff to notify parents when students identify as transgender or request different names or pronouns. Judge Michael Sachs upheld his earlier ruling against the 2023 policy, which he had previously called "discriminatory on its face."

The district argued the U.S. Supreme Court's emergency ruling in Mirabelli v. Bonta affirmed parents' right to be informed about their children, but Sachs distinguished the cases, noting Mirabelli involved staff being told to withhold information when parents directly asked, whereas Chino Valley's policy compelled proactive disclosure. Sachs said parents retain the right to inquire directly with the district, triggering a response obligation, but staff cannot be forced to voluntarily disclose gender-identity information. Board President Sonja Shaw criticized the ruling and said the district would continue notifying parents; the ACLU said the decision correctly upholds California law limiting mandatory disclosure policies. The district said it was too early to decide on an appeal.

A federal jury awarded $51.8 million to the mother of Antonio Garza Jr., a mentally ill man killed by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies in 2023, in what attorneys call the largest police-shooting verdict in California history. Deputies Nicholas Kridner and Bill Abernathy fired on Garza after a 35-minute chase from Yucca Valley into Palm Springs; an autopsy showed he was shot 14 times, including after he had fallen. Jurors found the department liable for excessive force, civil rights violations and wrongful death. Testimony detailed the family's failed efforts to secure mental health care and a conservatorship for Garza before the shooting, and the county has not yet commented.

Voters in California's 14th congressional district head to the polls Tuesday to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid sexual assault allegations he denies. State Sen. Aisha Wahab, a progressive who has called for ending U.S. military aid to Israel, faces Melissa Hernandez, a moderate Democrat and Bay Area Rapid Transit Board president. With two Democrats on the ballot, the seat will stay in Democratic hands. Wahab led the June 16 primary by more than 20 points and remains the favorite, though Hernandez has more than doubled her in fundraising.

The race has drawn heavy outside spending tied to AIPAC's influence in Democratic primaries. AIPAC's United Democracy Project and allied group Bold America have together spent roughly $3.7 million opposing Wahab and backing Hernandez, part of about $4.1 million in total outside spending on the race. Wahab has drawn counter-support from pro-Palestinian PAC American Priorities and J Street Action Fund, which accused AIPAC of trying to "buy a Democratic primary." Wahab has emphasized affordability and civil rights, while Hernandez has focused on public safety and cost of living.