{"id":2284142,"date":"2024-06-26T16:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-anti-crime-measure-set-to-appear-on-california-ballot-may-affect-who-controls-congress\/"},"modified":"2024-06-26T16:48:24","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:48:24","slug":"new-anti-crime-measure-set-to-appear-on-california-ballot-may-affect-who-controls-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-anti-crime-measure-set-to-appear-on-california-ballot-may-affect-who-controls-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"New Anti-Crime Measure Set to Appear on California Ballot, May Affect Who Controls Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-anti-crime-measure-set-to-appear-on-california-ballot-may-affect-who-controls-congress%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2284142&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A proposed California ballot initiative aiming to reinstate felony charges for repeat shoplifting offenders is\u200b stirring a political battle, with implications for Congressional control. The\u200b measure, supported by law enforcement and retailers, seeks to address rampant retail \u2064theft and drug dealing. While some Democrats argue the \u2062proposal could unfairly target low-income individuals and those with substance use issues, they also fear it could\u200c boost conservative \u2062voter turnout in\u200b the upcoming election.\u200d Republican and Democratic leaders both acknowledge that the outcome in California could sway\u200b the overall balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. \u200bAs\u200c the state grapples with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/they-only-go-after-donald-trump-trump-releases-lengthy-statement-blasting-investigation-against-his-organization\/\" title=\"\u2018They Only Go After Donald Trump\u2019: Trump Releases Lengthy Statement Blasting Investigation Against His Organization\">high crime rates<\/a>, the initiative could attract\u200c voters who are typically less engaged, potentially \u2064impacting tight races in swing districts. Meanwhile, top Democrats are pushing\u2063 for alternative legislation targeting professional \u2062crime rings and urging postponement \u2062of the ballot measure,\u2064 but are facing resistance \u2062from those\u200c who feel \u200cimmediate action is necessary.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>  <\/p>\n<h2>Powerful New Measure on Verge of Appearing on California Ballot May Affect Who Controls Congress<\/h2>\n<p> <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/ap-reports\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/ap-reports\/%20\"><span>The Associated Press<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 26, 2024 at 11:30am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) \u2014 A California initiative to once again make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders is developing into a contest over whether the state\u2019s Democrats are tough enough on crime to hang on to their seats in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>A broad coalition of law enforcement and retailers aims to crack down on retail theft in the state, where videos of large groups of people brazenly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/coordinated-mob-ransacks-entire-california-luxury-store-less-minute\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rushing into stores<\/a> and stealing in plain sight have gone viral. A proposal on the verge of appearing on the November ballot calls for harsher penalties for repeat shoplifters and drug dealers, among other things. The measure is set to be certified by the secretary of state Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Top Democrats are fighting to kill the proposal, citing concerns it would disproportionately incarcerate low-income people and those with substance use issues. But they are also motivated by the political implications of the tough-on-crime initiative bringing Republicans and conservative voters to the polls in droves.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is very clearly intended by Republicans to help drive turnout at the November election,\u201d said Natasha Minsker, an advisor for a social justice coalition that opposes the initiative. \u201cThe Democrats are clear-eyed of the threat here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Leaders in both parties agree the outcome of California\u2019s congressional races could determine which party controls Congress in 2025. The tightest contests are concentrated in Republican-held districts in the Central Valley and Southern California carried by President Joe Biden in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis ballot measure may literally have an impact on who controls the U.S. House of Representatives in the next two years,\u201d Republican consultant Rob Stutzman said. \u201cThe Democrats are concerned, and the Republicans are hopeful, that it will skew turnout to be a little bit more conservative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gavin-newsom-ditches-california-city-moves-daughter-wealthy-area-big-money-private-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California<\/a> voters vexed over crime rates and drug abuse, the ballot measure could also turn out those who aren\u2019t typically interested in voting, said Wesley Hussey, professor of political science at California State University, Sacramento. Some of California\u2019s contested races could be determined by small numbers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of very marginal seats \u2014 seats that one party won by a thousand votes, or 2,000 votes, or 3,000 votes. and that might be enough to swing three, four or five House seats,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to quantify the retail theft issue in California due to the lack of local data. But many point to major store closures and daily products such as toothpaste being locked behind Plexiglass as evidence of a crisis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Would you vote for this proposal?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Crime is shaping up to be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/beto-orourke-wants-you-to-know-hell-take-it-all-day-long-if-you-fck-with-him-on-politics\/\" title=\"Beto O\u2019Rourke Wants You To Know He\u2019ll \u2018Take It All Day Long\u2019 If You \u2018F*ck\u2019 With Him \u2018On Politics\u2019\">major political issue<\/a> in California\u2019s November\u2019s election. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fed-san-francisco-voters-set-implement-drug-testing-welfare-recipients-pendulum-swinging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco Mayor London Breed<\/a> and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gasc\u00f3n are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-nrsc-targets-democratic-energy-hypocrisy-in-devastating-new-swing-state-ad-buy\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: NRSC Targets Democratic \u2018Energy Hypocrisy\u2019 In Devastating New Swing State Ad Buy\">facing tough reelection bids<\/a> against challengers who have criticized their approach to crime and punishment.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign committee representing House Republicans has attacked Democratic candidates in those swing districts, depicting them as indifferent to concerns over smash-and-grab robberies, auto break-ins and safe streets.<\/p>\n<p>Facing tricky political calculus in a swing district north of Los Angeles, Democratic candidate George Whitesides broke with his party\u2019s leadership last week and said he supported the ballot initiative on crime, which not only seeks to address retail theft, but some drug-related crime as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s abundantly clear that we have to get these smash-and-grabs and attacks on our local businesses under control, and do more to keep our communities safe,\u201d said Whitesides, who is attempting to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia.<\/p>\n<p>Top California Democrats are pressuring law enforcement and business groups backing the ballot initiative to withdraw it. They argued that their option, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/california-retail-theft-legislation-5f045e9d346b570a69d395e949207f1f\">a legislative package of 13 bills<\/a> to go after professional online reseller schemes and auto thieves, would have more impact on crime without putting more people behind bars.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear whether the package has enough votes to pass.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s office has tried to persuade business leaders to postpone their ballot proposal until 2026, the coalition said. But proponents said they cannot wait.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcra.com\/article\/calfifornia-newsom-new-crime-initiative-november-ballot\/61218591\">KCRA reported<\/a> earlier this week that Democrats are now also weighing placing their own crime-related initiative on the November ballot to compete with the business groups\u2019 proposal. The deadline is next week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not clear that anything will matter if its voters are already highly mobilized and motivated by a presidential contest,\u201d said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego. \u201cThese could matter at the margins, and elections are won and lost on the margins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014-<\/p>\n<p>Associated Press writer Michael R. Blood contributed to this report from Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-info-44902\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/ap-reports\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44902\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44902\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44902\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44902\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world\u2019s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A California ballot initiative could reclassify repeat shoplifting as a felony, challenging perceptions of Democratic toughness on crime. This measure, nearing a vote, may influence congressional control<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2284143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/de4a4406342f4b35a9f9f894d94e318f-e1719428870742.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32913,32912,4045,4402,5894],"class_list":["post-2284142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-anti-crime","tag-ballot-measure","tag-california","tag-congress","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/de4a4406342f4b35a9f9f894d94e318f-e1719428870742.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2284142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284142\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2284143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2284142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2284142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2284142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}