Trump probably won't be on California's primary ballot. Here's why.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
California is launching a largely symbolic attack at President Trump.
On Tuesday, the state's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law mandating that presidential candidates release at least five years of tax returns before they can appear on a primary ballot, former Newsom deputy chief of staff Yashar Ali first reported in his newsletter. It's an obvious attack on the record-withholding president, but it probably won't have much of an effect for the GOP incumbent running in an incredibly blue state.
The law Newsom signed would require any candidate for president or California governor to submit at least five years' worth of tax returns to California's secretary of state at least 98 days before a primary, The Associated Press reports. The returns would then be posted online for the public. As Ali puts it, "it's fair to say that Trump will not comply with the disclosure requirement" and won't get on the 2020 primary ballot. But seeing as he has no major challengers from his own party, Trump probably won't need California's help to get the Republican nomination. Every major Democrat running for president, meanwhile, has already complied with the new law.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Former Gov. Jerry Brown (D) declined to sign a similar bill in 2017, suggesting it could lead to a path where birth certificates and other compounding documentation was required to get on a ballot. New York state also recently tackled Trump's tax returns, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signing a law that requires the state to hand over public officials' tax returns if they're requested by one of three congressional committees. New York's law is currently wrapped up in a lawsuit with Trump.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Earth is rapidly approaching a ‘hothouse’ trajectory of warmingThe explainer It may become impossible to fix
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
