A vast majority of Californians support higher penalties for certain drug and theft crimes.
According to the September Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Statewide Survey, 71% of all likely voters support Proposition 36, the public safety measure that would roll back parts of Proposition 47.
The big picture: Even a large majority of Democrats would like to see harsher penalties enacted for certain crimes, according to the survey.
- The PPIC reported that 63% of Democrats support Proposition 63. Republicans came in at 85% support, with independents at 73%.
- Proposition 36 would make property crimes worth $950 or less a felony if someone has two or more past convictions for certain theft crimes. Such a crime is currently a misdemeanor under Proposition 47.
- Proposition 36 would also lengthen some felony sentences and add fentanyl to the list of drugs that would bring a felony charge.
What they’re saying: “I was wondering what state I was living in,” Newsom said on Thursday regarding the survey. “I know people are frustrated. I know people are angry. I am too, but this is not the way of solving it.”
Major races: Rep. Adam Schiff (D–Burbank) appears to be well on his way to winning the Senate Seat.
- The survey has Schiff with 63% of support, with former Major League Baseball star and Republican Steve Garvey coming in at 35%.
- Vice President Kamala Harris, the former California Senator, holds a vast lead over former President Donald Trump in the presidential race at 60% to 29%, respectively.
Down the ballot: A majority of all likely voters (68%) support Proposition 3, according to the PPIC, which would enshrine gay marriage rights in the California Constitution.
- Two $10 billion bonds for school facilities and safe drinking water – Proposition 2 and Proposition 4, respectively – both have majority support.
- Proposition 5, which would allow local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure, is split about 50-50.
- Proposition 6, which would eliminate the Constitutional provision allowing involuntary servitude for incarcerated persons, is at a 50-46% split.
- Proposition 32, which would gradually raise minimum wage to $18 per hour, is split about 50-50.
- Proposition 33, which would give local governments more power to enact rent control, is split at 51-46%.
- A slim majority of likely voters (53%) support Proposition 34, which essentially targets AIDS Healthcare Foundation founder Michael Weinstein from pushing his own personal political agenda by limiting how healthcare providers spend revenue from a federal drug prescription program.
- A solid majority of likely voters (63%) support Proposition 35, which would make the MCO tax, which taxes healthcare providers, permanent to boost Medi-Cal funding.
