Episode Details

What are the biggest issues shaping California's November 3, 2026 election? On this episode of The Game, Mark Simon and Bob Marks welcome Julie Lind of the Central Labor Council, former Belmont Mayor Charles Stone, and incoming county superintendent of schools Héctor Camacho for a wide-ranging discussion of statewide ballot measures, local races, and the issues affecting voters across San Mateo County and beyond.

The conversation tackles California's proposed billionaire tax and the debate over wealth inequality, school parcel taxes and teacher salaries, Proposition 3 and education funding, Proposition 37 and housing affordability, Proposition 45 and CEQA reform, and the regional transit funding measure affecting BART, Caltrain, and SamTrans.

The guests also examine campaign finance, California's proposition system, the challenges facing local school districts, and the competitive races for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and city councils. The discussion concludes with a look at national Senate races, campaign spending, voter turnout, and the stakes of the 2026 midterms.

Plus, Mark and Bob preview their upcoming live election-night coverage, featuring guests and analysis as results come in.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction: The November 2026 Election
• (01:43) - Voter Mood and Election Outreach
• (04:59) - Affordability, Gas Prices, and Local Issues
• (06:45) - Will Voters Support Local Tax Measures?
• (09:25) - School Parcel Taxes and the Two-Thirds Threshold
• (12:19) - Teacher Salaries and School Funding
• (13:07) - Proposition 43 and Tax Measure Restrictions
• (14:57) - Proposition 3 and Education Funding
• (16:21) - Proposition 40: California's Billionaires Tax
• (20:35) - Billionaires, Wealth Inequality, and Taxpayer Messaging
• (22:22) - Who Should Pay More in Taxes?
• (23:17) - Education Funding and the Billionaires Tax
• (24:21) - Is California's Proposition System Broken?
• (29:48) - Should Wealth Taxes Be National Rather Than Statewide?
• (32:42) - Public Campaign Financing and Proposition 4
• (34:53) - Proposition 37 and Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance
• (37:50) - Proposition 45, CEQA Reform, and Development
• (42:11) - Regional Transit Funding and Proposition Debate
• (42:37) - BART Accountability and Bay Area Transit Finances
• (47:07) - The Stakes for Public Transportation
• (51:55) - The San Mateo County Supervisors Race
• (56:07) - School Board Elections, AP Classes, and STEM Education
• (58:16) - Local City Council Races to Watch
• (59:52) - Daly City Elections and School Board Candidates
• (01:00:30) - Why Local Elections Matter
• (01:01:26) - Final Thoughts on the Billionaires Tax
• (01:03:31) - National Politics and the Wealth Tax Debate
• (01:03:56) - U.S. Senate Races and the 2026 Midterms
• (01:05:05) - Campaign Spending and the Power of Advertising
• (01:06:20) - Turnout, New Voters, and the Midterm Outlook
• (01:07:37) - Join Us for Live Election Night Coverage
• (01:08:14) - Closing Remarks

The Game is hosted by Mark Simon and Bob Marks and produced by Frank Bravo, BravoITC.com and YourTechMakeover.com. Watch or listen to every episode at TheGamePeninsula.com.