Several California Democratic lawmakers have publicly opposed Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to squash Proposition 36, signaling a break in the ranks of the Democratic Party in the Golden State.
Prop 36 is set up to be one of the most important ballot measures up for a vote this upcoming November.
About Prop 36
Many Republican lawmakers have come out in support of Proposition 36, which is a ballot measure designed to get rid of the reforms seen from the passing of 2014’s Proposition 47.
Now, many known Democratic lawmakers have also come out in support of this controversial Prop — even though Newsom is firmly against it.
Fighting Crime in California
Prop 36 is designed to raise the felony threshold for some crimes, such as crimes related to theft and drugs.
This ballot measure comes during a time when many analysts have criticized the spread of crime seen throughout California. However, data has pointed to a downward trend in crime in various parts of the state.
Newsom Attacks Prop 36
Newsom has been vocally against Prop 36, as he has often stated that it is a “drug policy reform.”
He further insinuated that if this proposition is passed it “increases the size of our prison population by tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, over the next decade at a profound cost to the taxpayers.”
Democrats Go Against Newsom
Even though Newsom has fought against the passing of this proposition, an increasing amount of California Democrats have decided to back it.
This has put many lawmakers throughout the state at odds with Newsom, who is aggressively against the proposition.
Democrats Who Are for the Proposition
Perhaps most notably, State Senator Dave Min of Irvine has come out in support of Prop 36.
Min is currently in a race with Republican Scott Baugh to take the place of Representative Katie Porter in Congress, as she is leaving this position.
A Close Race
Porter left her Representative seat after losing out on her bid to get into the U.S. Senate during a primary in March.
As a result, now Min and Baugh are fighting it out in a close and contested race that is sure to cause headlines.
Other Democrats in Support
Min isn’t alone in his public support for Prop 36. Many other Democratic lawmakers have touted that this proposition is what California needs to pass come November.
State Senators Josh Newman, Susan Rubio, Tom Umberg, and Melissa Hurtado have come out to support Prop 36. Meanwhile, Assemblymembers Jasmeet Bains, Stephanie Nguyen, Blanca Pacheco, and James Ramos have also announced their support.
Protecting Californians
Stephanie Nguyen, a Democratic Assemblymember from Elk Grove, recently opened up about why she’s supporting this proposition.
“I am proud to support Proposition 36. This initiative is crucial for addressing the daily persistent issues that our communities and small businesses face in rising crime and severe drug use,” she explained.
Helping Solve Crime Problems
Nguyen further added that this measure will help solve ongoing crime problems seen in various parts of the state.
She said, “This measure offers a balanced solution to these pressing problems by holding repeat offenders accountable and promoting rehabilitation to help Californians through a compassionate approach.”
Corporations Back Prop 36
Republicans and a few Democrats aren’t the only ones supporting the passing of Prop 36 this November.
Various corporations — such as Target, Home Depot, and Walmart — have backed this ballot measure.
Democrat vs Democrat
Prop 36 has long been discussed, particularly because many large corporations have come out in support of it.
However, now that Democrat has gone against Democrat in support of this proposition, analysts have stated that this ballot measure will be one to watch in November.
