California’s political landscape saw a significant transformation in the 2024 election, as voters signaled dissatisfaction with progressive policies. Former Silicon Valley Democratic donor Allison Huynh voiced her support for this shift, criticizing her former party for failing to address the state’s critical issues.
“Liberal Elites Are Out of Touch”
Huynh, who previously raised millions for Democratic causes, expressed disillusionment with the party’s approach to governance, particularly in San Francisco.
“Well, I think liberals have just been too leftist, and they’re just out of touch with reality. And I’ve talked about that before, and it sounds really nice and fine and really warm and fuzzy. The socialist dogma in San Francisco is we help everyone… And the reality is that when you help everyone, you help no one. And so, the liberal elites are out of touch with reality and living in a bubble with their rich Democratic donors,” Huynh said.
She argued that prioritizing everyone equally has diluted the resources available for local citizens.
“But the truth of the matter is that there are limited resources, and we cannot help everyone,” Huynh continued.
“We need to put Americans first. We need to put the citizen, taxpaying, legal citizens in San Francisco first. Just like on a plane in an emergency. The pilot says you need to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Americans first before helping anyone else. And Democrats just don’t understand us.”
Voters Demand Accountability
Huynh celebrated the repeal of Proposition 47, which had softened penalties for drug and theft crimes, as a step in the right direction.
“I think the voters made their decision. And the truth is that we all know that crime is a big problem. Illegal immigration is a big problem. And it all feeds into the addiction and homeless problem,” she remarked.
This political shift also brought a surprising result in San Francisco’s mayoral race. Progressive incumbent London Breed was unseated by Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie, who campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform.
Rejecting Progressive Politicians
Huynh criticized prominent local and state politicians, citing their failure to prioritize citizen concerns.
“It’s a very low bar. Consider the politicians such as Kamala Harris, Chesa Boudin, London Breed, also the Oakland politicians Pamela Price and Mayor Sheng Thao, how they forget the citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area. They’re very out of touch with the realities. And we need to focus on cleaning up the streets, making the streets safer. So I think people just wanted change with Daniel Lurie. And he has the name and he was seen, you know, kind of talking and walking the streets. And so that’s a good sign,” Huynh said.
The Broader Shift Toward Red
The red shift in California isn’t confined to major cities. According to Huynh, rural areas and suburbs are leaning more conservative, supporting Donald Trump in significant numbers.
“At the end of the day, we have to vote for our families. There’s high crime, there’s high taxes, high immigration issues, a cost of living, high homeless rates,” she explained.
Her decision to switch parties earlier this year reflects her growing frustration. In June, she told “Fox & Friends First” that she had decided to support Trump’s campaign, even attending a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.
A “Science Experiment Gone Awry”
Huynh painted a stark picture of San Francisco’s decline under progressive policies.
“San Francisco has been the science experiment that’s gone awry,” she said. “I wake up in the morning, there’s no grocery stores to go to, there’s no malls to take my teenage girls shopping to. The streets are not safe, there are more fentanyl users and dealers than high school students in our once great city.”
California’s shift toward more conservative policies marks a significant moment in the state’s political evolution. For former Democratic donors like Allison Huynh, it reflects a broader demand for accountability, safety, and a focus on putting Americans first.
