Newsletter: Essential Politics: And the Bern goes on ...

I’m Christina Bellantoni. This is Essential Politics. Let’s get started.

As the results of the Oregon Democratic primary were being tallied, Sen. Bernie Sanders was telling a crowd of thousands in Carson, Calif., that he plans to fight until the Democratic convention in July.

“We are in till the last ballot is cast,” he said. He went on to win Oregon by more than 7 points.

Hillary Clinton, who prevailed in Kentucky by fewer than 2,000 votes, continued to keep her focus on Donald Trump, and the need for Democrats to unify.

But unity seemed an elusive ideal Tuesday as tension from a Democratic event in Nevada spilled onto the national stage.

Sanders clashed with Democratic party leaders over violence that had erupted over the weekend at the Nevada Democratic convention, which officials blamed on a disgruntled group of Sanders supporters. There were thrown chairs. Sanders fans tried to shout down Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). They vandalized buildings and made death threats against the state party chairwoman after Clinton won more pledged delegates than the Vermont senator.

Sanders said he does not support harassment, but mostly pinned the problems on Nevada Democratic officials. “If the Democratic Party is to be successful in November, it is imperative that all state parties treat our campaign supporters with fairness and the respect that they have earned,” he said.

We covered the Sanders rally live on Trail Guide. He’ll be in the Bay Area today.

You can track the delegate race in real time and see for yourself, or read Mark Z. Barabak explaining how Clinton is still winning even as she keeps losing.

CHIANG IS IN

State Treasurer John Chiang ended months of speculation on Tuesday by officially jumping into California’s 2018 governor’s race. He joins fellow Democrat, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the only other top contender to announce a bid. But both should be expecting a lot of company over the next year.

Chiang already has laid claim to the underdog mantle saying in an interview with Phil Willon that he expects a tough fight, but he is confident that his financial expertise should give him an edge in these still-uncertain economic times.

IT’S FROGGY TIME

The 42nd Annual Capitol Frog Jump is hopping off Wednesday with state lawmakers, staffers and other Sacramento luminaries set to see who can make their frog jump the highest. The event is in honor of the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee.

Already, some of the best frogs in California are lining up for their chance, including Ann Phibian, Toad Cruz and Save-Hop-13.

Follow along Wednesday morning on Snapchat at latimespolitics and via our Essential Politics news feed.

TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

— The biggest political fight of early 2016 in Sacramento is now officially history. On Tuesday, federal officials approved the state’s new tax on healthcare plans, securing more than $1 billion for the Medi-Cal program and services for the disabled.

— More than 4 million Americans could get pay hikes under new federal regulations that will double the salary level under which workers must be paid overtime, the White House said Tuesday.

— Sen. Dianne Feinstein made the case for her bill to address California’s water crisis before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources’ Water and Power Subcommittee Tuesday. Congress hasn’t been able to pass legislation to address drought in the West, and eight Bay Area House Democrats opposed Feinstein’s measure.

— Michael Finnegan has the play-by-play of the Trump-Megyn Kelly interview.

— The Trump tax fight continued Tuesday, with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee saying he had earned about $557 million and estimating his net worth at $10 billion and Clinton calling on him again to release his tax returns. She announced that she earned more than $5 million in royalties from her 2014 memoir.

— Brown proposed to change the name of the state Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation after its acronym, BMMR, became a joke in and out of state government.

— Elections officials are holding firm to their interpretation of existing state law: no ballot selfies on June 7. As John Myers reports, the secretary of state’s office told local elections officers on Tuesday that the law still stands, even as one legislator is trying to lift that ban.

— The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office likes Brown’s affordable housing plan, but says it can go further to spur housing growth.

— What do you think of Trump? Readers can weigh in with our quick survey.

LOGISTICS

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