Los californianos podrán solicitar la eliminación de datos personales a través de la plataforma DROP. --Californians will be able to request the deletion of personal data through the DROP platform.
by Xochitl T. Canela
California residents will soon have a new tool to protect their privacy and reduce unwanted calls and messages. During a May 20 Zoom press conference, the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) introduced the Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform, known as DROP.
Ana Cubas, a representative of the program, explained that beginning Aug. 1, Californians will be able to request the removal of their personal information from databases maintained by data brokers and telemarketers.
“Many people are tired of receiving spam calls and messages every day. This tool was created so residents can regain control over their personal information,” Cubas said.
The platform was developed by the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) following passage of California’s DELETE Act in 2023. The legislation was introduced by state Sen. Josh Becker and directed the agency to create a simple process for residents to limit the collection and sale of personal information.
According to program officials, data brokers collect and sell information such as names, phone numbers and email addresses, often without consumers being fully aware of how their information is being used. The practice has raised concerns about fraud, identity theft and privacy violations.
Cubas said that beginning Aug. 1, data brokers will be legally required to delete the information of individuals who submit requests through DROP.
Registering for the program is free and requires only three steps: verifying California residency, creating a profile on the state privacy platform and submitting a request asking data brokers to delete and stop selling personal information.
Officials said the outreach campaign is designed to reach communities throughout California. Program representatives have already visited Sacramento, Oakland and Los Angeles to educate residents about their privacy rights and encourage participation.
More than 300 people have already registered through the platform, and outreach efforts will continue throughout June.
One participant, Simón Quiroz, shared his experience after enrolling in the program.
“I used to receive many spam calls and messages every day,” Quiroz said. “When I learned about the program, I decided to sign up and request that my personal information no longer be used to contact me.”
Quiroz described the process as quick and simple, saying registration takes less than a minute.
Officials said the platform represents an important step toward strengthening digital privacy and giving Californians greater control over their personal information.
For more information, visit: privacy.ca.gov/drop
Source: Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, California Privacy Protection Agency, and conference participants.
Suzanne Cortez, bajista veterana de San Francisco. - Suzanne Cortez veteran bassist from San Francisco.
Mission District musician overcame addiction, broke barriers for women in Latin music, and continues leading Orquesta Adelante despite feeling overlooked
by Marvin Ramírez
For decades, Suzanne Cortez has carried the rhythm of San Francisco’s Mission District through her bass guitar, her resilience and her determination to keep Latin music alive in the Bay Area.
Edgar Montenegro (Q.E.P.D.) y Suzanne Cortez tocando en 1979 en los estudios del Canal 9, en el programa «Spotlight on Youth». Edgar Montenegro (r.i.p.) and Suzanne Cortez playing in 1979 at Channel 9 studios program “Spotlight on youth.”
Known to many musicians as Susana, Cortez is recognized as one of the first female salsa bassists in California, helping open doors for women in a music scene traditionally dominated by men. Through her longtime group, Orquesta Adelante, she has performed salsa, Latin jazz, Latin rock, reggae, R&B and oldies while sharing stages with respected musicians connected to bands such as Santana, Malo and the Fania All Stars.
But behind the music is a story of survival, struggle and redemption.
Growing up in the Mission
Cortez said music became part of her life almost as soon as she could remember.
“I always loved music,” she said. “When I was little we listened to the radio all the time. I would hear Santana, Malo, Azteca, El Chicano and Top 40 music.”
As a child growing up in San Francisco’s Mission District, she improvised instruments using whatever she could find.
“I would take a rubber-band box and pretend I was playing guitar,” she recalled. “Then I would get boxes and hit them like I was playing drums.”
Her mother recognized her love for music and tried to help her pursue it despite difficult circumstances. Cortez said her mother, originally from Santa Ana, El Salvador, raised three children largely on her own after becoming disabled following childbirth complications.
“She had a heart of gold,” Cortez said. “She was the sweetest lady from the Mission with love.”
Her father, meanwhile, became known locally as the famous Rice-A-Roni cable car gripman featured in the iconic San Francisco television commercial before later joining the San Francisco Fire Department.
Despite the family’s struggles, music remained an escape and eventually became a lifeline.
Discovering the bass
Suzanne Cortez tocando el bajo durante la recepción de su boda en 1977 con su esposo, Frank Cortez. – Suzanne Cortez playing the bass during the reception of her wedding in 1977 to her husband, Frank Cortez. She’s celebraating 30 years of marriage next year.
Cortez said to El Reportero she first discovered bass while attending junior high school.
“I wanted to learn violin, but the teacher said nobody picked bass,” she said. “Three girls picked bass. I was one of them. The other two dropped out.”
She stayed with it.
“Turns out I had the rhythm,” she said.
Years later, after she began struggling with drugs and what she described as “going down the wrong road,” her mother bought her a bass guitar from a pawn shop near Mission and 19th streets.
That purchase changed her life.
Soon afterward, Cortez joined a band contest promoted on Channel 9 television. Her group won and appeared on TV, helping launch her musical career.
She later studied through salsa programs connected to the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and began performing with salsa groups throughout the Bay Area.
Music, faith and returning “adelante”
At age 21, Cortez said she stepped away from salsa bands while battling addiction and instead devoted herself to gospel music in church for nearly three decades.
“I played gospel in church for 28 years,” she said.
Eventually she returned to Latin music, regrouping Orquesta Adelante in 2009 and later performing both Christian salsa and secular music.
Her band has since become known for musical versatility, performing everything from salsa and Latin jazz to reggae and rock depending on the event and musicians involved.
Over the years, Orquesta Adelante has performed alongside or with musicians connected to legendary artists including Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, Michael Carabello, Mongo Santamaría and Joe Bataan.
The group has also performed at community-oriented events and causes throughout the Bay Area, including the Cesar Chavez Festival, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, anti-violence and women’s advocacy events, the Fillmore Salsa Festival and San Francisco Carnaval.
Feeling overlooked
El cantante y flautista Ramón García, el pianista y fundador y expropietario del club Cesar Latin Palace, César Ascarrunz, el cantante de coro Luis Tijiboy y Suzanne Cortez. – Singer and flutist Ramon Garcia, pianist and former Cesar Latin Palace club owner founder César Ascarrunz, chorus singer Luis Tijiboy, and Suzanne Cortez.
Despite her accomplishments and decades of contributions to Bay Area Latin music, Cortez said she sometimes feels underappreciated within the local music community.
“I feel underrated and unappreciated in the community,” she said. “There’s a lot of politics and egos.”
Last year, she publicly expressed disappointment after her band was reportedly not invited to participate in Carnaval festivities as it had in previous years.
Still, she continues moving forward with the same determination reflected in her band’s name.
“I’m trying to go adelante,” she said. “Hanging on.”
Today, Cortez continues performing while also teaching weekly music classes at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, helping mentor younger generations of musicians and keeping alive a tradition deeply rooted in the Mission District’s cultural history.
For Cortez, music became more than performance. It became survival, purpose and identity.
And after decades of struggle, setbacks and perseverance, she is still playing bass for the community she calls home.
Una familia latina explora los beneficios educativos a través del programa de becas CalKIDS de California, financiado por el estado. El Reportero/IA--Latino family explores educational benefits through California’s state-funded CalKIDS scholarship program. -El Reportero/AI
by Xochitl T. Canela
Latino families in California have a new opportunity to secure financial support for their children’s education through the state’s CalKIDS program, which offers scholarships that can be used for university studies, community colleges and technical programs until beneficiaries reach age 26.
The information was presented during a virtual forum organized by the OCPSC, held via Zoom and lasting one hour, where participants also discussed personal data protection through the DROP program.
During the conference, Cecilia Arteaga, a representative of CalKIDS, explained that children born in California on or after June 1, 2022 automatically receive a state scholarship ranging from $175 to $1,500.
She said the amount can accumulate over time and remain available until the student turns 26, allowing the funds to be used for higher education at eligible institutions throughout California.
Arteaga emphasized that parents’ immigration status does not affect students’ eligibility to receive the benefit.
“The main requirement is having the student’s SSID,” she explained, referring to the state student identification number that can be found on report cards or requested directly from schools.
She also encouraged families to contact California school counselor associations, many of which are actively helping students and parents learn how to claim available funds.
Families interested in the program can verify eligibility through the official CalKIDS portal, which also provides information in Spanish. Arteaga also shared the email address cecilia@vizadpr.com to answer questions related to the process.
In Merced County, Isai Garnica Palma, assistant director of Valley Onward, explained that his organization has worked closely with school counselors to help families activate CalKIDS accounts.
“We have spoken with nearly 5,000 students in Merced County and activated more than 2,000 accounts, equivalent to nearly one million dollars in financial assistance for children,” he said.
Garnica Palma noted that one of the most successful models was implemented in the Los Baños school district, where student assemblies were organized to inform young people directly about the program and guide them through the account activation process.
During one of those sessions, 161 students successfully activated their accounts in just 37 minutes.
For her part, Lilia Ocampo, an activist with Centro CHA in Long Beach and Catalina Island, said that health fairs and community events have been essential for reaching Latino families and answering questions about the program.
Ocampo emphasized that there is no risk for families with irregular immigration status and said her organization provides assistance through Zoom appointments to help families claim scholarships and transfer funds to the appropriate educational institutions.
During the same forum, speakers also discussed the importance of protecting California residents’ personal information amid the growing number of spam calls and unwanted emails.
Ana Cubas explained that beginning Aug. 1, residents will legally be able to request the removal of their personal information from commercial databases through the DROP program.
The initiative is part of the DELETE Act, introduced in 2023 by Josh Becker, and seeks to limit the commercialization of private information by data brokers.
There are currently more than 500 companies dedicated to collecting and selling personal information in California, which contributes to unwanted marketing calls and spam emails.
To request the deletion of personal data, residents can visit the DROP California Privacy Protection Agency portal, enter their name and submit a request.
Finally, Simón Quiroz shared his experience using DROP and said telemarketing calls decreased considerably after completing the process.
María Margarita López - 1925 - 2026 q.e.p.d. r.i.p.
by Marvin Ramírez
The life of María Margarita López was one of those quiet lives that leave deep marks on dozens of people without the need for wealth, titles or public recognition. Born in Managua on January 4, 1925, to parents originally from León, her arrival in the capital happened “by accident,” but her heart always belonged to the city of León, where she built her story, her family and the affection of entire generations.
Mrs. María Margarita passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026, surrounded by the love and memories of those who shared her life. As part of her family’s Catholic tradition, her loved ones began a novena in her memory on Sunday, May 24 — nine days of prayer and reflection that will conclude on Monday, June 1, at 6 p.m. at her home, located one block east and 25 varas north from Banpro in Sutiava, León, Nicaragua.
She was the mother of two daughters, Melania de los Ángeles and Marlene, but those who knew her say her motherhood went far beyond blood ties. “She became a mother by conviction to many people,” recalls her grandson, attorney Juan Francisco Centeno, a well-known lawyer in Nicaragua who also dedicates part of his work to helping low-income people. Among them, he especially mentions Magda Azucena Ordóñez Dávila, who stood by her side for nearly five decades, providing care, attention and unconditional affection. “A pillar of encouragement and devotion… credit where credit is due,” he expressed with gratitude.
Mrs. María Margarita was known for her strong character, her fighting spirit and her calm advice. For many, she was guidance, refuge and comfort during difficult times. She always found words to ease worries and help those who came seeking support. Her home became an open place for the community, especially for children.
For many years, a small multigrade school operated in her house, where dozens of children received affection, attention and care. Those who remember her speak of a woman always attentive to every child, observant, aware and protective. “There was always a hug for every child,” recall those who grew up around her.
Despite the passing of the years, she maintained clarity, sensitivity and attention toward those around her. Her presence brought peace. Children found tenderness and listening in her; adults found advice and understanding.
She also left her mark in the homes where she worked as a domestic assistant. According to her family, there was never a lack of hot coffee or a piece of bread for anyone who came to visit. Many times she paid for it from her own pocket, from her small savings, never expecting anything in return. Elderly people still remember those simple but deeply human gestures.
“Poor woman of strength and struggle,” says her grandson emotionally, using words that summarize a life marked by sacrifice, humility and service to others.
More than a grandmother, she became a symbol of family and community protection. Although she had biological grandchildren, in reality she gained dozens of grandchildren at heart among neighbors, students, relatives and friends who found genuine affection in her.
Today, her passing leaves sadness, but also a profound legacy of kindness, dedication and selfless love. Her memory lives on in every piece of advice she shared, in every child she embraced and in every person who received one of her gestures during difficult times.
María Margarita López rests in peace, surrounded by the gratitude of those who had the privilege of knowing her and receiving part of the immense generosity that characterized her throughout her 101 years of life.
The staff of El Reportero extends its deepest condolences to the grieving family for the passing of Mrs. María Margarita López. May she rest in peace.
Protesters and miners march in Bolivia during growing demonstrations over the economic crisis. Manifestantes y mineros marchan en Bolivia durante crecientes protestas por la crisis económica.
by the El Reportero staff
Bolivia is experiencing growing political unrest as protests, strikes and road blockades spread across several regions of the country amid worsening economic conditions and increasing dissatisfaction with President Rodrigo Paz’s government.
Over the past several days, labor groups, miners, transportation workers and rural organizations have participated in demonstrations demanding solutions to fuel shortages, rising prices and unemployment. In some areas, protesters clashed with police, while major highways were temporarily blocked, affecting transportation and commerce nationwide.
The protests intensified after shortages of gasoline and diesel caused long lines at service stations and disrupted agricultural and mining activities. Bolivia, once praised for economic stability fueled by natural gas exports, has struggled in recent years with declining foreign currency reserves, inflationary pressures and slower economic growth.
Government officials accuse opposition groups of attempting to destabilize the country politically, while critics say the administration has failed to address the economic crisis before it reached a critical point. Authorities deployed additional security forces to maintain order and reopen blocked routes.
Social media videos and political commentators have described the demonstrations as a “popular rebellion” led by workers and peasants united against the government. However, analysts caution that some of those descriptions may exaggerate the level of national unity behind the protests.
Although many sectors are clearly dissatisfied, Bolivia remains politically divided. Some demonstrations are driven by unions and leftist organizations, while others involve independent transport workers, civic groups or regional movements with different demands and priorities. Several observers note that presenting the unrest as a completely unified workers’ uprising reflects more ideological interpretation than fully verified facts on the ground.
Political tensions in Bolivia have remained high since the turbulent years following the resignation of former President Evo Morales in 2019. Deep divisions between conservative, socialist and indigenous political movements continue shaping the country’s political landscape.
As protests continue, many Bolivians are watching closely to see whether the government can stabilize the economy and calm public frustration before the crisis deepens further.
With reports from Reuters and international media sources.
Ilustración colonial muestra el encuentro entre españoles y líderes tlaxcaltecas durante la conquista de México. Colonial illustration shows the meeting between Spaniards and Tlaxcalan leaders during the conquest of Mexico.
by the El Reportero staff
Before the fall of Tenochtitlan and the rise of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico, one of the fiercest confrontations of the conquest took place in the lands of Tlaxcala. Known today as the Battle of Tlaxcala, the conflict became a turning point in Mesoamerican history because it transformed enemies into strategic allies and changed the course of the Spanish campaign in the Americas.
In September 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his small force entered the territory of the Tlaxcaltecas, an Indigenous confederation that had long resisted domination by the powerful Mexica Empire. The Tlaxcaltecas viewed the newcomers with suspicion and initially refused peace offers from the Spaniards. Instead, thousands of Indigenous warriors attacked Cortés and his men in a series of brutal battles across the valleys and hills surrounding Tlaxcala.
Historical accounts describe the battles as intense and chaotic. Tlaxcalteca warriors, led in part by the young commander Xicoténcatl, nearly overwhelmed the Spanish forces on several occasions. Although the Spaniards possessed horses, cannons and firearms unfamiliar to Indigenous armies, the Tlaxcaltecas relied on their knowledge of the terrain, numerical superiority and disciplined combat formations. Spanish troops suffered injuries, the loss of horses and growing exhaustion after days of continuous fighting.
Some historians believe the Spanish expedition could have been destroyed during these clashes if divisions had not emerged among Tlaxcalteca leaders. Internal disagreements weakened military coordination and opened the door for negotiations. As the battles dragged on, both sides began to recognize they shared a common enemy: the Mexica Empire centered in Tenochtitlan.
The eventual alliance between the Tlaxcaltecas and Cortés became one of the most decisive political agreements in the conquest of Mexico. Thousands of Tlaxcalteca warriors later joined the Spanish-led campaign against the Mexicas, helping guide the invaders through unfamiliar territory and participating in key battles that led to the collapse of Tenochtitlan in 1521. Modern historians increasingly argue that Indigenous allies, not just the Spaniards, played a central role in shaping the conquest.
For centuries, the Tlaxcaltecas were portrayed by some narratives as traitors to Indigenous resistance. Today, scholars and cultural institutions in Mexico are revisiting that interpretation, arguing the alliance reflected survival, regional politics and long-standing rivalries rather than simple betrayal. Researchers note that no unified Mexican nation existed at the time, and many Indigenous groups saw the conflict through local political interests.
The Battle of Tlaxcala remains one of the most dramatic and debated moments of early colonial history — a conflict where Indigenous resistance, diplomacy and military strategy reshaped the future of an entire continent.
– With reports and historical references fromMéxico Desconocidoand other historical sources.
Niña estadounidense de 12 años acompañó a sus padres deportados a México tras recuperarse de un tumor cerebral. A 12-year-old U.S. citizen accompanied her deported parents to Mexico after recovering from a brain tumor. Courtesy Texas Civil Rights Project
Advocates say humanitarian concerns are being overshadowed by immigration enforcement policies
by the El Reportero staff
A Texas family’s deportation case has drawn nationwide attention after a 10-year-old U.S. citizen recovering from brain cancer was forced to leave the country with her undocumented parents and siblings, highlighting the growing controversy surrounding immigration enforcement and its impact on American-born children.
The family, who had been living in the Rio Grande Valley for years, was reportedly traveling to Houston so the child could receive specialized medical care connected to her recovery from a rare brain tumor. According to attorneys and immigrant rights organizations involved in the case, the family was stopped at an immigration checkpoint in South Texas, where federal agents detained the parents after discovering they lacked legal immigration status.
Advocates say the child had previously undergone brain surgery in the United States and required continuous neurological monitoring, medications, and follow-up appointments with specialists. Family supporters argue that interrupting that medical care could place the girl’s health at risk.
“This is a child who needs ongoing medical treatment and stability,” one immigration advocate told reporters following the family’s removal from the United States. Attorneys assisting the family said the parents faced what they described as an impossible decision between family separation and deportation together.
After the detention, immigration authorities reportedly gave the parents a difficult choice: leave the children behind in the United States or remain together as a family and return to Mexico. The parents decided not to separate from their children and departed together.
The case has generated strong reactions from immigrant advocates, medical professionals, and civil rights organizations that say mixed-status families are increasingly facing impossible decisions under stricter immigration enforcement policies.
Supporters of the family later requested humanitarian parole, a temporary legal permission that can allow individuals to enter or remain in the United States because of urgent humanitarian circumstances. Attorneys argued that the child’s medical condition, combined with her U.S. citizenship, justified allowing the family to return temporarily so she could continue treatment.
“The denial of humanitarian parole in a case involving a child recovering from cancer is deeply troubling,” an immigrant rights attorney involved in the effort reportedly said after the request was rejected.
Immigrant rights organizations also point out that many children affected by deportation policies are American citizens by birth. According to various studies and federal estimates, millions of U.S.-born children live in households with at least one undocumented parent, creating situations where immigration enforcement can separate families or pressure them into leaving the country together.
Federal immigration officials have defended enforcement procedures by stating that parents ultimately decide whether their children accompany them after deportation proceedings. Authorities also maintain that immigration checkpoints and enforcement operations are part of national border security responsibilities.
The case comes amid a broader national debate over immigration policy, humanitarian parole, and the treatment of families with mixed legal status. Advocacy groups across Texas and other states continue urging federal authorities to reconsider the case, arguing that humanitarian concerns involving children should receive greater attention regardless of immigration status.
– With reports from NBC News, immigrant advocacy organizations, and national media sources.
Danilo y su Orquesta Universal. Danilo and his Universal Orchestra.
by the El Reportero staff
Mission Varrio Project performs at Carnaval San Francisco
Bay Area Latin fusion ensemble Mission Varrio Project will perform live during this year’s Carnaval San Francisco celebration as part of the Main Stage entertainment lineup. Known for blending Latin percussion, dance rhythms and multicultural influences, the group promises an energetic performance at one of the city’s largest annual street festivals.
The appearance will also coincide with the filming of a music video for the group’s upcoming single “Carnavalera,” inviting the public to participate in the festive atmosphere and community celebration. Sunday, May 24, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Main Stage, 22nd Street and Harrison Street, San Francisco. Free admission.
Danilo y Universal perform Carnaval after-party at El Rio
Bay Area salsa group Danilo y Universal will headline a Carnaval San Francisco after-party celebration at El Rio in San Francisco’s Mission District. The event is expected to feature salsa, merengue, cumbia and Latin dance music following the city’s annual Carnaval festivities.
Organizers say DJs Malcriada and Earth Angel will keep the music going between live sets during the afternoon and evening gathering. Sunday, May 24, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., El Rio, San Francisco.
La Gente SF closes Carnaval San Francisco
San Francisco Latin fusion group La Gente SF will return to Carnaval San Francisco for a featured closing performance on the festival’s Main Stage at 22nd and Harrison streets. The Mission District-rooted band is known for mixing reggae, cumbia, salsa, hip hop and world music influences into high-energy live performances.
Festival organizers say La Gente SF will perform the final live set of the evening, bringing dance music and celebration to one of San Francisco’s best-known cultural events. Sunday, May 24, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Carnaval San Francisco Main Stage, 22nd Street and Harrison Street, San Francisco. Free admission.
Tony Lindsay & Friends
Tony Lindsay & Friends perform at EPACENTER
Award-winning vocalist Tony Lindsay, widely recognized for his longtime performances with Santana, will headline a special concert with an all-star lineup of Bay Area musicians at EPACENTER in East Palo Alto. The show is expected to feature soul, funk, jazz, Latin and rhythm-and-blues performances by veteran musicians including David K. Mathews, Karl Perazzo, Billy Johnson, Myron Dove and Cedricke Dennis.
Organizers say the concert celebrates the Bay Area’s multicultural music traditions while supporting community arts programming at EPACENTER. Saturday, June 6, 2026. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concert begins at 6:30 p.m. EPACENTER, East Palo Alto. Tickets: $25 for East Palo Alto residents, $75 general admission, $125 VIP.
De izquierda a derecha, los candidatos Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan y Antonio Villaraigosa en el escenario para el debate para gobernador en el campus de Pomona College en Claremont el 28 de abril de 2026. From left, candidates Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa on stage for the gubernatorial debate on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont on April 28, 2026.
Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters.
by Maya C. Miller – CalMatters
As California’s June primary approaches, anxiety inside Democratic circles is reshaping how some voters plan to cast their ballots in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. Rather than voting early, some Democratic activists and strategists are encouraging voters to hold onto their ballots until the final days before Election Day in hopes of preventing a rare Republican sweep into the November runoff.
California’s “top-two” primary system allows the two candidates receiving the most votes — regardless of party — to advance to the general election. With a crowded Democratic field splitting liberal voters and only a handful of major Republican contenders consolidating conservative support, some Democrats fear the possibility that two Republicans could finish first and second in June.
The concern has intensified after months of polling showed Republicans Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco remaining competitive while Democratic candidates divided support among several prominent names, including former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Political organizers promoting the delayed-voting strategy argue that waiting until the final stretch could give Democratic voters a clearer picture of which candidate has the strongest chance of advancing. By monitoring polling trends, endorsements and campaign momentum, voters could theoretically rally around one Democrat and avoid fragmenting the vote.
Election officials, however, warn that such tactics could further slow California’s already lengthy ballot-counting process. The state’s elections system permits mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive several days later and still be counted. Large numbers of last-minute ballots often prolong final results for days or even weeks after elections conclude.
Some county election administrators say encouraging voters to wait until the final moment could create an additional wave of late-arriving ballots that would complicate reporting timelines and intensify public frustration about delayed election outcomes. California has frequently faced criticism from national political observers over how long it takes to finalize close races.
The Democratic panic partly reflects the unusual shape of the 2026 governor’s contest. Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited, leaving the office open for the first time since 2018. At the same time, Democrats have struggled to unite behind a single dominant successor despite California’s strong Democratic voter registration advantage.
Earlier in the race, many Democrats briefly rallied around former Rep. Eric Swalwell, hoping he could emerge as the consensus candidate. But his campaign collapsed after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, forcing Democratic strategists back into uncertainty.
That collapse helped elevate Becerra into a leading position among Democrats, although his candidacy has also faced scrutiny tied to his tenure in the Biden administration and criticism over immigration-related controversies. Rivals have repeatedly targeted him during televised debates.
Meanwhile, Republicans see a potential opening in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger won reelection in 2006. Conservative candidates have emphasized voter frustrations over homelessness, housing costs, crime and California’s high cost of living.
Hilton, a former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron and later a Fox News host, has attempted to position himself as an outsider capable of challenging Sacramento’s political establishment. Bianco has appealed to conservative voters through aggressive criticism of state regulations and immigration policies.
Despite Democratic fears, several political analysts believe an all-Republican November ballot remains unlikely because Democrats still significantly outnumber Republicans statewide. But analysts also acknowledge that California’s top-two system can produce unpredictable results when one party’s vote becomes badly fragmented.
The debate over strategic voting has created tension among some Democratic organizers, with critics arguing that encouraging voters to delay participation could undermine public confidence in elections or create confusion among casual voters. Others counter that the strategy reflects political reality in an unusually volatile contest.
California voters began receiving mail ballots in early May, and voting centers across the state are already opening for early in-person participation ahead of the June 2 primary.
For now, Democratic leaders continue urging voters to participate while campaigns intensify their final push to consolidate support in what has become one of California’s most unpredictable governor’s races in years.
The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 remains one of the most debated events in modern Catholic history. More than a decade later, controversy continues among some traditionalist Catholics who question whether Benedict validly resigned the papacy and whether Pope Francis legitimately occupied the Chair of St. Peter.
The debate resurfaced recently after a new opinion article published by LifeSiteNews revisited arguments surrounding Benedict’s Latin “Declaratio,” the statement announcing his resignation on Feb. 11, 2013.
Supporters of the theory claim Benedict resigned only the “ministry” of the papacy and not the office itself. They argue the distinction between ministerium and munus in canon law raises unresolved questions about whether the resignation fulfilled the legal requirements established by Church law.
Canon 332 §2 of the Code of Canon Law states that a pope must freely resign his office for the resignation to be valid. Critics of Francis’ legitimacy argue Benedict’s wording created ambiguity because he renounced the exercise of ministry rather than explicitly renouncing the papal office itself.
Most Vatican officials, canon lawyers and Catholic scholars reject those claims. The Vatican has consistently maintained that Benedict validly resigned and that the conclave that elected Pope Francis in March 2013 was legitimate and canonically sound.
Still, the issue has persisted in some Catholic circles, especially among traditionalist groups critical of Francis’ reforms and doctrinal positions.
The recent commentary from LifeSiteNews argued that Benedict’s declaration continues to cast doubt because of alleged grammatical inconsistencies and questions surrounding the intent behind the resignation text. The article also suggested Benedict may have faced internal pressures during his pontificate, although it acknowledged there is no definitive proof supporting claims of coercion.
The controversy intensified after Pope Benedict XVI chose to retain the white cassock and the title “Pope Emeritus” following his resignation, an unprecedented situation in modern Church history. Some critics interpreted those decisions as evidence Benedict still viewed himself as spiritually connected to the papacy.
Others, however, say those arguments misunderstand both theology and canon law.
Mainstream Catholic scholars emphasize that Benedict repeatedly recognized Francis publicly as pope until Benedict’s death in 2022. Benedict pledged obedience to Francis, appeared alongside him during public events, and never issued any formal challenge to Francis’ authority.
Even so, skepticism has remained alive among fringe movements that believe Francis’ pontificate represented a break from Catholic tradition.
Some critics of Francis have accused him of doctrinal confusion on issues including Communion for divorced Catholics, restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass, relations with China, and pastoral outreach toward LGBTQ Catholics. Those disputes helped fuel broader resistance movements inside parts of the global Church.
In 2024, a group of Catholic academics and activists released a public statement urging bishops and cardinals to consider whether Francis should resign or be declared to have lost office because of alleged heresy.
The Vatican has never formally responded to many of the fringe theories regarding Benedict’s resignation, likely viewing them as lacking canonical credibility.
Pope Francis himself occasionally dismissed the controversy indirectly, stating multiple times that there is “one pope” and treating Benedict with public respect while exercising full papal authority.
The debate has taken on renewed attention following Francis’ death earlier this year and the election of Pope Leo XIV. Some traditionalist commentators hoped a new pontificate might revisit unresolved questions from the Benedict era, although no indication has emerged from the Vatican that such a review is planned.
For many Catholics, the controversy reflects deeper divisions within the Church over theology, liturgy and the direction of modern Catholicism.
Supporters of Francis argue the theories questioning his legitimacy risk undermining Church unity and promoting confusion among the faithful. Critics counter that difficult questions regarding canon law and papal authority deserve serious examination rather than dismissal.
Despite years of debate, the overwhelming majority of the world’s Catholic hierarchy recognized Francis as pope throughout his pontificate. No formal Church authority ever declared his election invalid.
Still, the persistence of the controversy demonstrates how Benedict’s historic resignation continues to cast a long shadow over the Catholic Church and remains a symbolic focal point in broader ideological battles shaping Catholicism today.
