In normal times, liberal Democrats, despondent over the results of the presidential and congressional elections, might look to California as a source of hope. Not this time. Preliminary results show the backlash against progressive policies extended well into the Golden State. In many ways, California was ground zero for the rejection of Democratic policy prescriptions.
Proposition 5, which would have lowered the threshold for many local bond measures to pass, appears to have been defeated.
Proposition 32, which would have raised the state’s minimum wage, also appears to have failed.
Proposition 33, which would have made it easier for cities to enact rent control, was rejected by a comfortable margin. This is the third time in six years that California voters have said no to rent control.
California’s big anti-crime initiative, Proposition 36, passed by a colossal margin. This measure will overhaul ten-year-old Proposition 47, which downgraded many felonies to misdemeanors. The new law will stiffen penalties for repeat thefts and some drug crimes.
Proposition 36 was opposed by the Democratic Party, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democratic lawmakers, and progressive district attorneys — two of whom also lost their seats on Tuesday. Yet results have support for the measure at over 70%.
“It’s a new day in California,” Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said in a social media post. “The shift is beginning.”
Looking for bright spots, some Democrats pointed to the passage of Proposition 4, a $10-billion bond for clean energy and other green projects. But overall, the message was clear, particularly on matters of public safety. California voters have made some significant breaks with the Democratic Party.
Update: A previous version of this article included a reference to the passage of Proposition 6, which bans involuntary servitude among prison inmates. The reference has been removed, as updated results show Proposition 6 failing.