While Vice President Kamala Harris walked away with California’s electoral votes on Tuesday, voters throughout the Golden State took a shift to the right, making the November election a statement on public safety.
California voters resoundingly passed Proposition 36 to increase penalties for thieves and drug traffickers, as well as voting out two progressive district attorneys.
The big picture: According to the latest results available Thursday morning, Proposition 36 was passing with over 70% support.
- Proposition 36 rolls back parts of Proposition 47, which was passed by voters a decade ago and made theft and drug offenses worth under $950 a misdemeanor.
- Voters now have approved felony sentences for crimes valued at under $950 if a defendant has already been convicted twice before.
Voted out: Los Angeles County voters clearly have had enough of progressive District Attorney George Gascón, who was elected four years ago on the back of the Black Lives Matter protests, joining a group of progressive district attorneys who took office in 2020.
- As of Thursday, attorney Nathan Hochman – who ran for California Attorney General in 2022 as a Republican – was beating Gascón by over 20 points.
- Looking up north in the Bay Area, Alameda County voters have chosen to recall District Attorney Pamela Price by nearly 30 points, per the latest results Thursday morning.
- Price took office after winning the November 2022 election on a slim majority. During her tenure, California Gov. Gavain Newsom greatly boosted California Highway Patrol activity in the county to counter rampant crime in Oakland and the entire region.
What they’re saying: “The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking. Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever and our commitment will not waver,” Gascón said in a statement.
- “I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform,” he added.
- Hochman, who was optimistic on election night, celebrated his victory on Wednesday.
- “The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascon’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future,” Hochman posted on X. “As D.A., I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not, since their safety will be my responsibility.”
- Price has not been quick to accept defeat, saying in a statement Wednesday that there are still more votes to count.
- “This presidential election, which has been a pivotal moment for our country as well as our state, witnessed significant voter participation, resulting in a large number of ballots in Alameda County,” Price said in a statement Wednesday. “There are still so many more ballots to be counted, and in areas that I know we did well in getting our message out. I am optimistic that when all the votes are counted, we will be able to continue the hard work of transforming our criminal justice system.”
