What are the top California state worker stories of 2026?

"Significant changes are coming to the Golden State in 2026 - and some of those shifts will likely have major impacts on California's more than 240,000 state workers. Voters will elect a new governor in November who will oversee the vast majority of state departments that employ public employees. How will the new administration approach future labor negotiations with the unions representing those workers?"

"Gov. Gavin Newsom will again try to roll out his return-to-office order that faced significant pushback from his employees. Will unions be able to successfully negotiate a better telework deal for their members? Newsom's final year in office will be shaped, in part, by how his administration deals with California's growing budget problem. How could California's deficit affect salary negotiation with the largest representative of state workers set to begin this year?"

"The Sacramento Bee will be following these state worker stories and more in the coming year. Read more below about what to expect from 2026. Who will be state workers' next boss? At least 10 Democrats and Republicans have already jumped into the race to replace Newsom. Several high-profile California politicians, including Senator Alex Padilla and former Vice President Kamala Harris, said they don't plan to run, which has left the race without a clear favorite."

California will elect a new governor in November 2026 who will oversee most state departments that employ more than 240,000 public employees. At least ten candidates from both parties have entered the race, and several high-profile potential contenders declined to run, leaving no clear favorite. The incoming administration's approach to labor negotiations could change collective bargaining dynamics with public employee unions. Gov. Gavin Newsom's attempt to enforce a return-to-office order and questions over telework remain central bargaining issues. California's growing budget deficit could constrain salary increases and affect negotiations for the largest state employee union contract beginning this year.

Read at Sacramento Bee