In California, the sequel to a new Trump presidency will have significant implications on how its leaders – from Gov. Gavin Newsom to the legislature to the locals – will govern its constituents. Since last week’s election, Newsom called for a?Special Session?of the California legislature to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of the incoming Trump administration.” On Thursday, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta called a press conference to announce “preparations for a second Trump Administration” his office will take in the coming months.
During President Trump’s first term, the state of California filed 122 lawsuits targeting federal policy changes that conflicted with the state’s priorities, particularly in areas like climate change, immigration protections, and healthcare, including countless legislative proposals aimed at countering Trump’s policies.
At the state level, the Democrats in California’s legislature have held a supermajority since 2012. No one expected that to change with this election cycle – but we anticipated a shift in the makeup of the legislative body and a potential shakeup of the legislature’s “status quo.” For example, there are 12 newly elected state senators and 24 newly elected state assemblymembers. This influx of newly elected officials will have a profound impact on the policies California chooses to prioritize – especially with Trump sitting in the Oval Office.
Additionally, California voted on 10 statewide?propositions?and hundreds of local ballot measures. Interestingly, even as blue as California’s elected leaders are (Democrats hold every statewide office and super-majorities in the both houses of the legislature), it appears the electorate is a little more moderate, having approved or voted down several right-leaning propositions: including a measure that reforms Proposition 47 (2014), which will increase penalties for crimes (like theft or drug possession), or voting down Proposition 32, which would raise the state’s minimum wage. Moreover, two big city district attorneys who are largely seen as leading California’s criminal justice reform movement, George Gascon in Los Angeles County and Pamela Price from Alameda County, lost their prominent positions – Gascon to challenger Nathan Hochman and Price to a recall. And San Francisco’s Mayor London Breed lost her reelection bid to a political outsider and nonprofit executive, Daniel Lurie.
With that being said, below you will find more detailed information highlighting the anticipated results from the 2024 election.
https://lnkd.in/eDkqQZnp
Co-authored by: Ryan J Pierini, Kassidy Heckmann, and Cydney Davis
