Unlocking California Politics

In the newest episode of the Unlocking California Politics podcast, C.A.R. Senior Vice
President Sanjay Wagle sits down with Republican Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick
and David Tangipa for a “Meet the Freshmen” conversation about their first term in the
Legislature, what they’ve learned, and how they hope to move forward in 2026.

To listen or watch this episode, go to on.car.org/politicspodcast, YouTube, iTunes, or
Spotify. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to hear the latest episodes from
experts who will give you their take on California politics, housing news and policies, and
other top industry matters

In the latest episode of the Unlocking California Politics podcast, C.A.R. Senior Vice President Sanjay Wagle sits down with former Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Robert Hertzberg to discuss his proposed statewide ballot initiative aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities for middle-income Californians. The 2026 measure, known as the Middle-Class Homeownership and Family Home Construction Act, seeks to address the growing barriers facing the next generation of would-be homeowners.

To listen or watch this episode, go to on.car.org/politicspodcast, YouTube, iTunes, or Spotify. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to hear the latest episodes from experts who will give you their take on California politics, housing news and policies, and other top industry matters.

In the newest episode of the Unlocking California Politics podcast, C.A.R.’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Sanjay Wagle, sits down with Political Data Inc. Vice President Paul Mitchell and Swing Strategies President and CEO Tom Ross for an in-depth discussion on Proposition 50. Together, they unpack the factors driving what has become one of the fastest-moving elections in California history.

In a special live recording of Episode 26 of the Unlocking California Politics podcast, C.A.R. Senior Vice President Sanjay Wagle sat down with C.A.R.’s Legislative Advocate Jennifer Svec at C.A.R.’s 2025 Legislative Day in Sacramento. In this episode, Jennifer and Sanjay break down the behind-the-scenes work of C.A.R.’s advocacy team, explaining how it all works, how they defend the real estate industry from harmful state legislation, and how they promote policies that support homeownership in California.

Jennifer and Sanjay discuss real-life examples of how C.A.R.’s advocacy team works to pass critical legislation, like the decades-long fight for ADUs. They also explain how the team pushes back on harmful bills and is always guided by the policies set by C.A.R. members to protect homeownership and support REALTORS® across the state.

“You are the ones that drive the policies that your advocacy team works on. We are just the soldiers and your voice in that building, but we do not actually dictate what your policy is. We take those instructions and go forward. We know inherently by being your advocacy team what is the priority and is going to cause the most detriment to your industry and your business.” – Jennifer Svec, C.A.R.’s Legislative Advocate.

In this episode, C.A.R. Senior Vice President Sanjay Wagle sits down with Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine to discuss California’s 2025 housing forecast. They explore what’s ahead for buyers, sellers, and the broader market—and why housing remains central to both personal financial growth and the state’s economic outlook.

The conversation covers the impact of shifting inventory levels on sales activity, the challenges of a persistently undersupplied market, and why trying to “time the market” may not pay off. With thoughtful analysis and practical takeaways, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what to expect in the months ahead.

“California’s chronically undersupplied, meaning that outside of wild cards and curve balls in the economy, prices have only ever gone one way over the long term. You can always take advantage of lower rates if they go down in the future, but you can never jump in the time machine and go back and pay the cheaper price.” – Jordan Levine, C.A.R.’s Vice President and Chief Economist.