Poll Shows Republican Leading for Governor – Don’t be misled by headlines declaring a Republican is leading the California gubernatorial race. There are two Republicans and five Democrats in a recent poll from Emerson College, skewing the results in what will be a two-way race in November. Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco leads the poll with 13%. Democrat Eric Swalwell and Republican Steve Hilton are tied with 12%. The poll was conducted from 1,000 active voters reflecting the state’s voter registration numbers. 

So, Who All is Running for Governor? – We’re glad you asked. CalMatters, an online journal that dives into California politics, ran a story on December 2 that not only asks that question but also answers it with a brief description of each candidate. The bottom line as illustrated by the poll and the CalMatters piece is that the field is absolutely wide open and there is no apparent frontrunner.

ARTBA & U.S. DOT DBE Program FAQ Updates – SCCA’s federal partner, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), released a December 5 notice about the United States Department of Transportation “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) document intending to clarify its new Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Caltrans also released a document on the same topic. You can view the U.S. DOT DBE updated FAQ by clicking this link.

DIR: Minimum Wage to Increase – The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced the minimum wage will increase from $16.40 to $16.90 on January 1, 2026. The DIR also explained that exempt employees, those who are salaried and do not receive overtime pay, must earn at least $70,304 per year to qualify as exempt. The law governing minimum wage ties the rate to the Consumer Price Index. The law was implemented by SB 3 which was passed in 2016 by then-Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).

ASCE: CA Infrastructure Gets C- Grade – The American Society of Civil Engineers released a very comprehensive report card on California’s aging infrastructure. It breaks down 17 different sectors of infrastructure, from Aviation to Wastewater and everything in between. The report includes four recommendations to increase the grade: promote legislation that provides consistent and reliable long-term funding, encourage collaborative leadership, raise public awareness of the connection between infrastructure conditions and quality of life, and implement efficient infrastructure delivery through improved policies and regulations. SFGate ran this story on the report.

Bay Bridge Nears 90 Years Old – Speaking of aging infrastructure, Caltrans has completed an inspection of the western span of the Bay Bridge, connecting Treasure Island and San Francisco via Interstate 80. Details of the report are expected early next year. The inspection included accessing 17,000 individual wires that make up the main suspension cables. Expect a hefty price tag if major repairs are needed. 

OCTA Forges Ahead with $500 million SR 55 Upgrade – Keeping with the individual infrastructure theme, the Orange County Transportation Agency (OCTA) continues the upgrades to SR 55 between Interstates 5 and the 405. The Construction Digest states that section of SR 55 is one of the busiest in the nation with more than 260,000 vehicles using it every day. SCCA member Security Paving was awarded the project in 2022.

HuntOrtmann on New Laws – SCCA member Hunt Ortmann released a December 5 announcement that the world of private works construction projects “will be fundamentally changed” on January 1, 2026. Two new laws regarding prompt payment rules and retention are the source of the announcement. SCCA supported both bipartisan measures. HuntOrtmann characterized the prompt payment law, which sets up a process for payments related to change orders, as “an enormous shift in the balance of power regarding payments to contractors and subcontractors."