What messages did CA voters send

Politicians and pundits are reading the tea leaves from the sweeping Democratic defeats nationally, as well as the California election results.

To California Republicans, the passage of Proposition 36 — coupled with the recall of Alameda County’s district attorney and the defeat of Los Angeles County’s district attorney — offers clear evidence that voters reject Democratic lawmakers’ approach to crime.

• GOP Senate leader Brian Jones of San Diego, in a social media post: “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.”

But as CalMatters’ Nigel Duara and Joe Garcia explain, a September poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found that an equal number of likely voters supported expanding treatment and rehabilitation as those who favored harsher sentences. And while some Prop. 36 opponents argue it could bring back mass incarceration and the failed “war on drugs” that devastated communities of color, its passage may not be a full rebuke of California’s criminal justice policies.

Read more about why voters passed Prop. 36 in Nigel and Joe’s story.

Democrats and progressives, however, saw a different message in the results. 

Jane Kim, leader of the California Working Families Party, which supported Prop. 32 on raising the minimum wage, told CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang that during her canvassing, voters felt “left behind” economically. To address this disillusionment, Democrats must double down on a strong populist message focused on narrowing inequities, she said.

• 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 result updates: 

• The two bond issues passed: Prop. 2 to let the state borrow $10 billion for K-12 and community college repairs, and Prop. 4 to allow the state to borrow $10 billion for environmental and climate projects. Four of the 10 ballot measures remain up in the air.
• Toss-up congressional districts are still undecided, and because of California’s drawn-out vote count, could decide whether Republicans hit the trifecta, controlling the House, Senate and the presidency.

California’s Democratic leaders are trying to come to terms with Trump’s victory early Wednesday. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom: In a statement right after Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech, Newsom said he will seek to work with Trump, but declared that “we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law.”

There’s renewed speculation that Newsom might run for president himself in 2028. But he faces quite a few hurdles, explains CalMatters politics reporter Alexei Koseff. For one: Do voters really want another California culture warrior?

• Jennifer Jacobs, a Republican consultant: “We just had an entire nation say we don’t want to be like California.”

Attorney General Rob Bonta: California sued the first Trump administration more than 100 times, and battle lines on environmental and health care policies — such as expanding oil production — could be drawn once again, report CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra and Nigel Duara. 

Bonta plans to hold a press conference today to discuss his preparations for a second Trump term. On Wednesday, Bonta also issued a bulletin to law enforcement agencies reminding them of existing state laws protecting abortion.

One contentious issue that might be the subject of the lawsuits are deportations. As CalMatters’ Wendy Fry explains, Trump has pledged to carry out mass deportations and is considering using the military. Immigrant advocates say that this will have life-changing impacts on families in California, where nearly half of all children have at least one immigrant parent.

• Lindsay Toczylowski, CEO and president of Immigrant Defenders Law Center: “We believe Trump when he promises to enact disastrous policies that aim to tear families apart, destabilize communities and weaken our economy.”

From CalMatters politics intern Jenna Peterson: 

At the California Democratic Party election night watch party in Los Angeles, elected officials gave speeches to a crowd that was starting to lose hope that Harris would win the presidency. 

“The election results as of right now don’t look too good,” UC Santa Barbara student James Xie said at around 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 at the JW Marriott hotel at L.A. LIVE, talking with anticipation as a DJ played upbeat pop hits. The highest energy moment of the night came during U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff’s victory speech after easily 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 told the crowd. “I want to make one thing clear, as your senator, I am committed to stand up for every Californian.”

Although many attendees said they were grateful that California has more protections than other states, particularly around abortion rights, some were scared of Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric against 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,” said Paola Santana, a 44-year-old attendee who works in higher education. “Given the proportion of immigrants that are in California, that’s definitely something his presidency can affect.”