PolitiFact | California

The Poynter Institute

Stand up for facts and support PolitiFact.

Now is your chance to go on the record as supporting trusted, factual information by joining PolitiFact’s Truth Squad. Contributions or gifts to PolitiFact, which is part of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Poynter Institute, are tax deductible.

I would like to contribute

PolitiFact California is a partnership of Capital Public Radio and PolitiFact to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from Capital Public Radio examine statements by California elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance. We research their statements and then rate their accuracy on our Truth-O-Meter.

In Partnership With

Captial Public Radio

True

0%

Mostly True

24%

Half True

0%

Mostly False

0%

False

0%

Pants on Fire

0%

All Fact-checks for California

stated on April 8, 2020 in a Facebook post

Says a California surfer was “alone, in the ocean,” when he was arrested for violating the state’s stay-at-home order.

true

mostly-true

stated on March 30, 2020 in a Facebook post

Says certain states are banning the sale of alcohol.

true

false

stated on March 13, 2020 in a blog post

“ICE arrests LA mayor for harboring fugitives through sanctuary city.”

true

pants-fire

stated on March 4, 2020 in a news conference

"If you look at California, if you look at people of color in general, African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, we won that big time. Big time. Not even close.”

true

half-true

stated on February 19, 2020 in a State of the State Address

"Back in 2005, when we did that first point-in-time count, there were over 188,000 thousand people that were deemed homeless in the state of California. … That’s 35,000 more than we have today.”

true

half-true

stated on December 31, 2019 in social media posts

"California's Attorney General, Xavier Becerra is putting together plans to raise property tax revenue by eliminating the only thing keeping some people's property tax from sky rocketing, Prop 13."

true

false

stated on December 20, 2019 in an interview with MSNBC

Says the California congressional district he represents "has a higher GDP than Russia."

true

false

stated on December 12, 2019 in a campaign ad

California firefighters decided "to speak out" against President Trump because his tweet about the state’s wildfires "contained so much misinformation."

true

true

Arnold Schwarzenegger

stated on December 1, 2019 in an interview on "Meet the Press"

"In Bakersfield, where there’s a lot of oil drilling going on, there’s more solar jobs now in Bakersfield and around that area than there are oil jobs."

true

false

stated on November 17, 2019 in an interview on "Face the Nation"

President Trump "hasn’t built any new (border) wall" during his time in office.

true

mostly-true

Darrell Steinberg

stated on October 24, 2019 in an interview with Capital Public Radio

"90,000 Californians are unsheltered and homeless."

true

true

stated on October 15, 2019 in a Democratic presidential debate

"People haven't had a raise -- 90 percent of Americans have not had a raise for 40 years."

true

half-true

stated on August 26, 2019 in a news conference

"Every time we go to court," against the Trump administration, "for the most part, we win."

true

mostly-true

stated on September 4, 2019 in a CNN climate town hall

Says she "sued Exxon Mobil" as California attorney general.

true

false

stated on August 22, 2019 in a campaign speech

"Some 200,000 people are in jail for the crime of being poor and not being able to afford bail."

true

half-true

stated on August 12, 2019 in a CNN interview

It "is estimated that as many as 300,000 auto workers may be out of a job before the end of the year."

true

false

stated on June 23, 2019 in an interview on "Axios on HBO"

"The vast majority" of San Francisco’s homeless people "also come in from — and we know this — from Texas. Just (an) interesting fact."

true

pants-fire

California Republican Party

stated on August 6, 2019 in a fundraising pitch

President Trump was "kicked off" the California ballot

true

pants-fire

Dianne Feinstein

stated on August 3, 2019 in a tweet

There are "more gun deaths by far" in the United States than any other country in the world.

true

false

stated on June 27, 2019 in her exchange on busing during the Democratic presidential debate

Says "I was part of the second class to integrate Berkeley, California, public schools."

true

mostly-true

Explaining National Guard’s Role In California During Coronavirus (It’s Not Enforcing Martial Law)

Explaining National Guard’s Role In California During Coronavirus (It’s Not Enforcing Martial Law)

By Chris Nichols • March 26, 2020

Gov. Newsom Leaves Out Key Context In Claim 56% Of Californians Will Get Infected With Coronavirus

Gov. Newsom Leaves Out Key Context In Claim 56% Of Californians Will Get Infected With Coronavirus

By Chris Nichols • March 20, 2020

The Controversy Over GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy’s ‘Chinese Coronavirus’ Tweet, Explained

The Controversy Over GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy’s ‘Chinese Coronavirus’ Tweet, Explained

By Chris Nichols • March 12, 2020

Fact or Fiction? A Look At Claims About SB 50, One Of California’s Most Controversial Housing Bills

Fact or Fiction? A Look At Claims About SB 50, One Of California’s Most Controversial Housing Bills

By Chris Nichols • January 21, 2020

One year in, Gov. Gavin Newsom shows bold action, but California’s homelessness crisis deepens

One year in, Gov. Gavin Newsom shows bold action, but California’s homelessness crisis deepens

By Chris Nichols • January 13, 2020

What Do You Want To Know About California Politics? Ask PolitiFact California!

What Do You Want To Know About California Politics? Ask PolitiFact California!

By Chris Nichols • December 10, 2019

‘The California price’: Why it costs so much to build a home in the Golden State

‘The California price’: Why it costs so much to build a home in the Golden State

By Chris Nichols • November 19, 2019

Candidate for California governor employs fake ads to protest Facebook policy

Candidate for California governor employs fake ads to protest Facebook policy

By Chris Nichols • November 5, 2019

Boosters say Sacramento’s MLS stadium will be an economic game-changer. Economists aren’t so sure.

Boosters say Sacramento’s MLS stadium will be an economic game-changer. Economists aren’t so sure.

By Chris Nichols • October 23, 2019

Is Stockton really home to ‘second highest rent increases’ in the nation? There’s no simple answer.

Is Stockton really home to ‘second highest rent increases’ in the nation? There’s no simple answer.

By Chris Nichols • October 10, 2019

Gavin Newsom promised to expand homeless services. What has he done?

Gavin Newsom promised to expand homeless services. What has he done?

By Chris Nichols • October 4, 2019

Kamala Harris claims she ‘took on Big Oil’ as California AG. How far did she go?

Kamala Harris claims she ‘took on Big Oil’ as California AG. How far did she go?

By Chris Nichols • September 11, 2019

Were Tulsi Gabbard’s attacks on Kamala Harris’ record as a California prosecutor on target?

Were Tulsi Gabbard’s attacks on Kamala Harris’ record as a California prosecutor on target?

By Chris Nichols • August 1, 2019

Fact-checking claims on California’s unsheltered homeless population

Fact-checking claims on California’s unsheltered homeless population

By Chris Nichols • July 25, 2019

Who is Tom Steyer? A bio of the Democratic presidential candidate

Who is Tom Steyer? A bio of the Democratic presidential candidate

By Chris Nichols • July 9, 2019

Kamala Harris made forceful claims on civil rights and immigration. Did she get them right?

Kamala Harris made forceful claims on civil rights and immigration. Did she get them right?

By Chris Nichols • June 27, 2019

Harris, Swalwell, Williamson: A quick look at the Californians on tonight’s debate stage

Harris, Swalwell, Williamson: A quick look at the Californians on tonight’s debate stage

By Chris Nichols • June 27, 2019

Who is Kamala Harris? A bio of the Democratic presidential candidate

Who is Kamala Harris? A bio of the Democratic presidential candidate

By Louis Jacobson • June 14, 2019

An honest question: Where does truthfulness rank as Democrats select a 2020 candidate?

An honest question: Where does truthfulness rank as Democrats select a 2020 candidate?

By Chris Nichols • June 6, 2019

Fact-checking 2020 candidates at the California Democratic Convention

Fact-checking 2020 candidates at the California Democratic Convention

By Chris Nichols • June 1, 2019