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Dakota Smith
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Dakota Smith

@dakotacdsmith7.0K followers

LA Times reporter in Sacramento. Tips: dakota.smith@latimes.com

Front-Page Stories2Last 30 Days
Lead Stories1Last 30 Days
Papers Covered1Last 30 Days
Last Front PageMAY 30, 2026Latest appearance

Featured Story

Featured Lead Story

Candidates in homestretch of governor’s race

Front-runners Becerra, Hilton and Steyer woo voters in friendly political territory.

View Front PageLos Angeles Times • MAY 30, 2026

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Los Angeles Times front page

Candidates in homestretch of governor’s race

Front-runners Becerra, Hilton and Steyer woo voters in friendly political territory.

With:Seema Mehta,Nicole Nixon
LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 30, 2026•Lead Story
The report focuses on the final tactical maneuvers of the leading candidates, emphasizing their attempts to solidify support within their respective ideological bases ahead of the primary.
Los Angeles Times front page

Becerra takes heat over crimes of aide

Prosecutors call him a victim in the case, but rivals talk up risk of allegations widening.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 13, 2026
Reports on the political fallout for a key official after a trusted advisor pleaded guilty to stealing campaign funds.
Los Angeles Times front page

Voter ID measure qualifies for state ballot

If California passes it, identification would be required, aligning with a GOP-led drive.

With:Jenny Jarvie
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 26, 2026
Reports factually on a partisan-led ballot initiative advancing in a heavily Democratic state, noting its alignment with broader GOP efforts.
Los Angeles Times front page

Power players who supported Swalwell now face questions

One labor leader says she confronted him weeks ago about rumors and he lied.

With:Nicole Nixon
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 17, 2026
Examines political fallout and accountability within the state's Democratic establishment.
Los Angeles Times front page

Exit scrambles governor’s race as Democrats fret

With:Seema Mehta,Nicole Nixon,Melody Gutierrez
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 14, 2026
Analyses the immediate electoral fallout and party anxiety within California following the lead story's resignation.
Los Angeles Times front page

Pressure grows for Swalwell to exit the race

His gubernatorial campaign collapses with abuse claims, new criminal inquiry.

With:Seema Mehta,Nicole Nixon,Melody Gutierrez
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 12, 2026•Lead Story
The paper frames regional demographic shifts as a structural vulnerability, treating the population decline analytically while emphasising the long-term economic and social risks.
Los Angeles Times front page

Swalwell is accused of sexual assaults

Misconduct is also alleged with 3 other women. Gubernatorial candidate denies wrongdoing.

With:Seema Mehta,Nicole Nixon
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 11, 2026•Lead Story
The paper reports the allegations with prominent placement but standard, factual journalistic detachment, carefully pairing the severe accusations with the candidate's denial in the subheadline.
Los Angeles Times front page

Officials sound alarm on mail-in ballots

A significant number arrived too late to be counted during special election for Prop. 50.

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 4, 2026
Highlights administrative concerns over postal delays affecting a recent local special election.

About this page

Paperboy tracks bylines on the front pages of major US and UK broadsheets. This page shows every front-page story attributed to Dakota Smith in our archive, based on bylines extracted from front-page images by AI. It covers only front-page stories — not the full output of this journalist. Data begins April 2026.