Politicians and pundits are studying the tea leaves from the sweeping Democratic defeats nationally, in addition to the California election outcomes.
To California Republicans, the passage of Proposition 36 — coupled with the recall of Alameda County’s district lawyer and the defeat of Los Angeles County’s district lawyer — presents clear proof that voters reject Democratic lawmakers’ strategy to crime.
- GOP Senate chief Brian Jones of San Diego, in a social media put up: “Prop. 36 passed by a landslide in California, ushering in a new era where crime is illegal and criminals are held accountable. … These overwhelming results should serve as a stark wake up call in dealing with the skyrocketing crime crisis and the needs for stronger, more effective leadership.”
However as CalMatters’ Nigel Duara and Joe Garcia clarify, a September ballot by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Research discovered that an equal variety of seemingly voters supported increasing therapy and rehabilitation as those that favored harsher sentences. And whereas some Prop. 36 opponents argue it may carry again mass incarceration and the failed “war on drugs” that devastated communities of shade, its passage will not be a full rebuke of California’s prison justice insurance policies.
Learn extra about why voters handed Prop. 36 in Nigel and Joe’s story.
Democrats and progressives, nonetheless, noticed a special message within the outcomes.
Jane Kim, chief of the California Working Households Occasion, which supported Prop. 32 on elevating the minimal wage, advised CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang that in her canvassing, voters felt “left behind” economically. To deal with this disillusionment, Democrats should double down on a robust populist message targeted on narrowing inequities, she stated.
- Kim: “We will have that opportunity because now we’ll have Republicans and (former President Donald) Trump in power. They’re not going to solve inequality and economic woes.”
Election end result updates:
VotingMatters: If you happen to’re watching election returns and wish to make amends for data, we’ve added methods to entry the Voter Information, together with totally translated variations in Chinese language and in Koreanin addition to in Spanish. Study concerning the propositions on TikTok and Instagram. And sustain with CalMatters protection by signing up for 2024 election emails.
CalMatters occasions: The subsequent ones are each Nov. 13, in Lengthy Seaside on psychological well being (register right here) and in Los Angeles with CalMatters columnist Jim Newton interviewing Mayor Karen Bass (RSVP right here).
Different Tales You Ought to Know
The Trump impact
California’s Democratic leaders try to come back to phrases with Trump’s victory early Wednesday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom: In an announcement proper after Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech, Newsom stated he’ll search to work with Trump, however declared that “we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law.”
There’s renewed hypothesis that Newsom may run for president himself in 2028. However he faces fairly a number of hurdlesexplains CalMatters politics reporter Alexei Koseff. For one: Do voters actually need one other California tradition warrior?
- Jennifer Jacobsa Republican advisor: “We just had an entire nation say we don’t want to be like California.”
Legal professional Basic Rob Bonta: California sued the primary Trump administration greater than 100 occasionsand battle traces on environmental and well being care insurance policies — akin to increasing oil manufacturing — might be drawn as soon as once more, report CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra and Nigel Duara.
Bonta plans to carry a press convention at this time to debate his preparations for a second Trump time period. On Wednesday, Bonta additionally issued a bulletin to legislation enforcement businesses reminding them of present state legal guidelines defending abortion.
One contentious subject that is perhaps the topic of the lawsuits are deportations. As CalMatters’ Wendy Fry explains, Trump has pledged to perform mass deportations and is contemplating utilizing the army. Immigrant advocates say that this can have life-changing impacts on households in California, the place almost half of all kids have a minimum of one immigrant mum or dad.
- Lindsay ToczylowskiCEO and president of Immigrant Defenders Legislation Middle: “We believe Trump when he promises to enact disastrous policies that aim to tear families apart, destabilize communities and weaken our economy.”
Dispatch from Democrats’ occasion
From CalMatters politics intern Jenna Peterson:
On the California Democratic Occasion election night time watch celebration in Los Angeles, elected officers gave speeches to a crowd that was beginning to lose hope that Harris would win the presidency.
“The election results as of right now don’t look too good,” UC Santa Barbara scholar James Xie stated at round 9 p.m. Tuesday. “A lot of the swing states are going to the former president. We still need hope, but it’s just that statistically speaking it’s not looking good at the moment.”
About 200 California Democrats gathered at a ballroom on the JW Marriott lodge at L.A. LIVE, speaking with anticipation as a DJ performed upbeat pop hits. The very best power second of the night time got here throughout U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff’s victory speech after simply beating Republican Steve Garvey for U.S. Senate.
“Whatever the result of the presidential race, we know there will be serious challenges facing the state of California and the country, regardless of the outcome, regardless of the way people may have voted,” Schiff advised the group. “I want to make one thing clear, as your senator, I am committed to stand up for every Californian.”
Though many attendees stated they had been grateful that California has extra protections than different states, significantly round abortion rights, some had been frightened of Trump’s immigration insurance policies and rhetoric in opposition to racial minorities.
“As a Latina woman, I do worry about some of his stance on immigration and some of the things he would do to target immigrants,” stated Paola Santana, a 44-year-old attendee who works in increased training. “Given the proportion of immigrants that are in California, that’s definitely something his presidency can affect.”
Different issues price your time:
Trump victory places CA local weather and air pollution targets in danger // Los Angeles Occasions
Gasoline worth hikes, biofuel debate assessments key CA local weather coverage // The Sacramento Bee
What a second Trump presidency may imply for Huge Tech // Los Angeles Occasions
Belmont council member focused by oil business headed to defeat // KQED
PG&E shuts off energy to hundreds due to hearth hazard // CBS Sacramento
Evacuations ordered in Ventura as Mountain Fireplace expenses towards the ocean // LAist
CA finalizes $122M opioid settlement with Kroger // Los Angeles Occasions
Daniel Lurie is main SF mayor’s race in early returns // San Francisco Chronicle