Californians have delivered a seismic rejection of progressive criminal justice reforms and their champions, driven by deep frustration with the state’s rising crime rates. Election Day saw voters overwhelmingly roll back key portions of Proposition 47, a measure many criticized as being too lenient on crime. Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón and San Francisco Mayor London Breed both faced defeats in the face of a public safety-focused backlash.
“You look at just what’s going on the streets, there’s been serious acts of violence… People have been slashed, stabbed, murdered,” said Soledad Ursua, a Venice Neighborhood Council Board Member. “I think that Californians are very hopeful because crime is finally illegal again.”
At the federal level, Bay Area native Kamala Harris suffered significant voter loss, signaling a major shift even in the state’s Democratic stronghold.
A Turning Point: Proposition 47 Faces Rejection
Proposition 47, initially passed in 2014, downgraded drug possession and theft of items worth less than $950 from felonies to misdemeanors. Critics have long argued the measure gave shoplifters and addicts a free pass, leading to an alarming rise in thefts and open-air drug markets.
“I think people are angry. People are upset,” said Tom Wolf, a recovering addict-turned-activist.
Within two years of Prop 47’s enactment, thefts rose by 9%, with retail theft surging even higher during the pandemic. The Public Policy Institute of California reported a 28% increase in shoplifting since 2019. The new Proposition 36, passed overwhelmingly on Election Day, reverses parts of Prop 47 by reclassifying thefts under $950 as felonies for repeat offenders and creating treatment-mandated felonies for drug-related crimes.
“Accountability is a cornerstone of recovery,” Wolf explained. “I think we have to start giving people harder choices.”
Crime Dominates Local Elections
Homelessness and rampant drug use were key issues for voters. In San Francisco, political newcomer Daniel Lurie unseated Mayor London Breed after campaigning on a promise to prioritize public safety and tackle the city’s homelessness crisis.
“There was a group of people in 2020 who I think have been looking at trying to take over the Democratic Party, and they did,” said Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. He added, “Now we’re in 2024, and I think most individuals have now said that that was not a good experiment,” Hatami said. “That was dangerous.”
Prop 36 passed with nearly 69% of the vote, despite opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, who criticized the measure earlier this year.
“Prop. 36 takes us back to the 1980s, mass incarceration, it promotes a promise that can’t be delivered,” Newsom argued.
However, Hatami countered, “We want laws that actually make sure everyone is safe,” he said. “You shouldn’t have laws that only help criminals.”
Wider Political Implications
California’s election results reflected broader dissatisfaction with progressive policies. George Gascón and Alameda County DA Pamela Price both lost reelection, signaling a shift even in liberal bastions. The focus on crime and public safety also created ripple effects at the national level. While Kamala Harris secured California, her support dropped from the numbers seen during Biden’s campaign.
“There is a growing red wave in California,” said Darren Stallcup, a conservative activist based in San Francisco.
Harris won just 58.7% of the vote, a noticeable drop from Biden’s 63.5% in 2020. Analysts attributed the shift to Asian and less-educated voters, alongside frustration over inflation, immigration, and cultural issues like transgender participation in sports.
“It’s supposed to be the party of the working family,” Wolf said. “And right now, it looks like the party of people with two degrees that are rich, live up on a hill and talk down to everyone else.”
A Pragmatic Path Forward
Wolf urged Democrats to “drive the far left wing” out of the party, calling for a more balanced approach to social and economic policies. “If they want to die on those hills, go for it,” he said. “But just be prepared to be out of power for the next 12 years in the White House.”
In Venice Beach, Ursua expressed cautious optimism. “I hope that people are waking up,” she said. “But I guess people are not tired of this yet.”
