Crime Surge in California Threatens Democratic Candidates

Amid growing concerns about crime, Democrats in California face an uphill battle ahead of the November election, as high-profile incidents involving prominent lawmakers raise questions about the state's "soft-on-crime" policies.

In the wake of a string of high-profile crimes targeting Democratic politicians in California, the issue of public safety has emerged as a major concern for voters ahead of the November election. U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Adam Schiff and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have both been victims of recent robberies and burglaries, prompting concerns that Democrats could be vulnerable to Republican attacks on their crime policies.

"Voters are thinking: You've got to be kidding me," Darry Sragow, a longtime Democratic strategist, told the Los Angeles Times. "Adam Schiff isn't safe, Karen Bass isn't safe — if they're not safe, who is?"

The rising crime rate in California has become a major issue, with strategists warning that it could affect the more vulnerable swing districts in the state. A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that between December 2023 and February, likely voters considering crime as their most important issue rose from 8% to 12%. The growth was more prominent among independent voters, with 17% of them now rating crime as their top issue.

"The thing about crime is, it doesn't take much — it just takes one or two things that people notice and makes them scared," said Mark Baldassare, the survey director of the institute.

Republican strategist Rob Stutzman commented that while some positions, like the open Senate race between Schiff and Republican challenger Steve Garvey, could be safe, some House of Representative seats in swing districts could be affected. He remarked that some Democratic state lawmakers trying to push back against crime show that the issue is "clearly a vulnerability" ahead of the fall.

"The pendulum is swinging, and it's dragging them with it," Stutzman warned.

Since 2020, there has been a statewide rise in property crime and theft, with local critics attributing the increase to "soft-on-crime" policies like Proposition 47 and 57. However, the issue has now caused a divide among Democrats in the legislature. Some are joining forces with Republicans to propose bipartisan bills aimed at curbing petty theft, while progressive lawmakers introduced their own alternative measures – dubbed Smart Solutions – that focus on providing additional services for offenders.

Former L.A. district attorney Steve Cooley pointed out the irony that politicians like Schiff, who have previously enforced soft-on-crime policies, have now been victims of crime. "If the super majority Democrat legislature wants to really have a positive impact on crime, they should reverse some of their previous previously enacted reckless public safety laws that have dramatically negatively impacted public safety," Cooley told Fox News Digital. "I just think it's ironic that Adam Schiff, who endorsed George Gascon, very publicly and very enthusiastically, is a victim of a theft."

Concerns about crime are also prompting some Chinese American voters in San Francisco to turn against Democratic candidates over the issue. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Chinese Americans are increasingly worried about rising crime rates and a lack of safety in their neighborhoods.

"We are tired of living in fear," said Larry Chan, a Chinese American resident of San Francisco. "We need to see our leaders take action to protect our communities."

With the November election approaching, the issue of crime is likely to continue to be a major focus of political debate in California. As voters become more concerned about public safety, Democrats will need to find ways to address their concerns or risk losing ground to Republicans.