Phil Willon is the California politics editor based in the Sacramento bureau of the Los Angeles Times and oversees coverage of state politics and the state capital. From regional water boards to the White House, Willon has reported on and written about almost every level of government and politicking imaginable. He previously covered Gov. Gavin Newsom, the 2022 and 2018 governor’s race and the 2016 U.S. Senate race. Before heading north, Willon covered Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and roamed Southern California’s mountains and deserts as the newsroom’s state correspondent in the Inland Empire where, years before, he served as the L.A. Times Inland Empire Edition editor. Prior to joining The Times, Willon served as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the Tampa Tribune. At the Tribune, Willon also covered Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, Hurricane Andrew and the investigation leading to the arrest of serial killer Danny Rolling. He began his newspaper career as the Kent Island correspondent for the Capital in Annapolis, Md. Willon grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from UC San Diego.
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The wide-open race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor has already attracted a large and diverse field of candidates.
On Monday night in San Francisco, the top four candidates in the race squared off in their second debate, spending an hour fielding some pretty cutting questions — including whether they thought President Biden and former President Trump were too old to run.
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s departure provides a rare opportunity for an ambitious California Republican to seek higher office.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom headed to New York this week to talk up his administration’s efforts to combat climate change, and to take a swing or two at Republicans.
DeSantis needed a big night during Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate to revive his sagging campaign — and that didn’t happen. Will debating Newsom provide a jolt?
California remains a very popular destination for a certain class of Americans: politicians seeking campaign cash.