President Joe Biden delivers his third State of the Union address with Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (right) behind him at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024. Photo by Shawn Thew, Pool via CNP/INSTARimages.com via ReutersFacing mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to end his reelection bid, President Joe Biden on Sunday made the stunning announcement that he is dropping out of the November race and then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. Biden, in a statement: “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”The president said that he will give more details about his decision — which reportedly surprised members of his staff — to the public later this week. Acknowledging that there are roughly 100 days left until the election, Harris said Biden put “the American people and our country above everything else.”Harris: “My intention is to earn and win this nomination. … I will do everything in my power to unite the Democrat Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”California Democrats celebrated Biden’s presidency, and many explicitly backed Harris.Gov. Gavin Newsom — who showed unwavering loyalty to Biden throughout the campaign despite being floated as a potential replacement — said Biden “will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”Newsom then threw his weight behind Harris, perhaps finally ending speculation that he might run this year: “No one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction” than Harris, he wrote.Assembly leader Robert Rivas of Salinas said Biden is “laying the foundation to beat (Trump) again in 2024.” State Sens. Scott Wiener of San Francisco said Biden “actually gives a damn about our future” by stepping aside and Tom Umberg of Santa Ana said “it is the ultimate demonstration of patriotism.” But Milpitas Assemblymember Alex Lee criticized Biden for not making the decision earlier, before the March primary.Meanwhile, Republicans moved quickly to slam a prospective Harris presidency. Rep. Kevin Kiley of Rocklin said people should visit San Francisco, where Harris served as the city’s district attorney from 2004 to 2011, if they want to know “what America would be like” under her administration. But a similarly powerful set of voices will matter as well: Some of the state’s nearly 500 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August expressed support for Harris, writes CalMatters Capitol reporters Alexei Koseff and Jeanne Kuang.While delegates expressed initial shock over Biden’s announcement, they said they are excited to participate in a historic moment.Sasha Renée Pérez, Alhambra mayor running for state Senate: “She comes from our home state. She’s a Black woman, an Indian woman. We’ve just never had anyone like her be our candidate. We have to get this show on the road and get her elected.”Key Democratic lawmakers in Congress and advocacy groups are also backing Harris for the nomination.Learn more about the delegates’ support in Alexei and Jeanne’s story.Following a poor debate performance against Trump on June 27, demands from high-profile Democrats for Biden to bow out of the race reached a fever pitch. But perhaps one of the most influential calls came from Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker and storied political strategist.As CalMatters’ Ben Christopher explains, despite her “love and gratitude” towards Biden, Pelosi above all seeks to win. Her backroom maneuvering, which helped steer Biden to step aside, may be her most risky and consequential move yet. And though at times she is perceived as a firm ideological warrior for the left, political experts say that a candidate’s electability has always been a priority for her. Read more about Pelosi’s influence in Ben’s story.November election: It’s not too early to get informed. Read up on the 10 ballot measures and the history of propositions in California. Check out our Voter Guide, including the FAQ on how to vote. And keep up with CalMatters coverage.Anniversary drive: As of this month, CalMatters has now provided Californians with unbiased, independent news for 9 years. Please join us today with either a tax-deductible gift or by telling your community why reading our free newsletters (like this one!) has helped you. Every act of support allows us to keep fulfilling our mission. Read more about us from our engagement team.Other Stories You Should KnowFarmworker union loses legal battleMembers and supporters of the United Farm Workers march through Fresno during a march on Aug. 12, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight LocalOnce hailed as a major victory for farmworkers when Newsom approved the law in 2022, a measure that makes it easier for agricultural workers to unionize was dealt a blow last week by a California judge, reports CalMatters’ Jeanne Kuang. The law enables farmworkers to organize when a majority of workers turn in signed cards in support of a union. Since last fall under the new law, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board has certified five farmworker unions. But agricultural giant The Wonderful Company has contested the certification of a union at one of its Kern County nurseries, accusing the United Farm Workers of tricking workers into signing union cards.In response, the union accused the company of manipulating workers into withdrawing support. But a Kern County Superior Court judge ruled that the company had “credibly” argued the union’s certification was made in error. The ruling halts every union-related proceeding at the company, and throws the 2022 law into peril. It also remains unclear whether the state will now pause other farmworker union cases.Read more about the lawsuit in Jeanne’s story.In other legislative happenings: CalMatters Digital Democracy reporter Ryan Sabalow dives into the California Democratic Party, which has become a multimillion-dollar lobbying group at the state Capitol. Despite its main purpose of supporting and electing candidates to state or federal office, the organization regularly weighs in on legislation. This is in contrast to the state’s GOP party, which leaves “the legislating to the legislators,” according to a party spokesperson.So far during the 2023-24 session, the Democratic party has supported 142 bills. But even though it’s one of the most successful lobbying groups in the state, snagging its endorsement doesn’t always guarantee that a bill will pass. Last year, the party backed legislation that would have prevented local governments from punishing public employees for going on sympathy strikes, but Newsom vetoed it.To learn more about how the Democratic Party endorses bills, read Ryan’s story.Will more police boost transit ridership?A Metro security employee helps a passenger as she boards the train at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles on July 16, 2024. Photo by Zaydee Sanchez for CalMattersDespite public transit ridership for California’s five largest transit agencies inching upward each year since the COVID pandemic, ridership numbers have yet to fully recover. This drop has helped contribute to agencies’ revenue declines, leaving them to grapple with a looming “fiscal cliff.”To lure back public transit riders in Los Angeles, the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Metro, is creating its own police force — a move that has garnered criticism from some transportation advocates, writes CalMatters politics intern Jenna Peterson. On average, 956,000 riders use Metro buses and rail cars every week. In the past five years, crime rates on Metro have increased: So far in 2024, there have been 2.18 crimes per 100,000 riders, compared to 1.2 at this time in 2021.Metro aims to improve safety by employing 632 patrolling officers by 2029. The plan is estimated to cost $192.6 million a year, which is less than the $194 million it currently costs to contract with the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and Long Beach Police Department.Read more about Metro’s new public safety department in Jenna’s story.And lastly: Small business lifelineOwner Lina Mills helps a customer as cashier Elva Cardenas packs an order at Creative Ideas Catering in San Francisco on June 11, 2024. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMattersA state-funded assistance program for small businesses faced potential cuts due to California’s budget deficit. CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay and producer Robert Meeks have a video segment on Levi’s story on how the final budget restored the program’s full funding, as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here. SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.California VoicesRather than suppressing wildfires, burning prescribed fires can benefit the ecosystem and mitigate wildfire risk, writes Dave Daley, a commercial cattle producer in Oroville.Other things worth your time:Some stories may require a subscription to read.Millions of Californians live near oil wells that are in the path of wildfires // Los Angeles TimesCA Republicans say they will capitalize on divided Democrats // The Sacramento BeeInside San Quentin: Can CA change prison culture? // Los Angeles TimesThese CA counties saw the longest extreme heat streaks // Los Angeles TimesInside LA sheriff’s secretive investigation into oversight officials // Los Angeles Times SF nonprofits give fentanyl users foil and pipes // San Francisco ChronicleAngry drivers are SF’s newest political force // The San Francisco StandardSan Diego seeks to reverse lasting imprint of segregation // The San Diego Union-TribuneCA trucking company allegedly at center of drug smuggling network // The Mercury NewsFirst published by CalMatters.