In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

Even when President Donald Trump won the Electoral College and the popular vote in 2024, Kamala Harris still won California by nearly 3.2 million people, or nearly 1% of the nation’s whole population. The Golden State remained the fifth-bluest in the country, and thanks to its economy — if California were its own country, its GDP would rank as the fourth-largest in the world — its current governor is seen as the Democratic Party’s 2028 front-runner.