Newsom Sidesteps Heavy Campaigning on Proposition 36, Urges Caution for Voters

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the media on Thursday, maintaining a neutral stance regarding Proposition 36, an anti-crime initiative that could significantly reshape California’s approach to theft and drug offenses. This proposition, which is on the November ballot, has created a rift within the Democratic party.

Speaking in San Francisco’s Mission district, Newsom acknowledged his packed schedule leading up to Election Day, stating, “I fear I can’t do everything.” He highlighted his commitment to supporting Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign while urging voters to carefully consider the implications of Proposition 36.

The measure seeks to impose harsher penalties on repeat offenders of retail theft, irrespective of the stolen item’s value. Additionally, it proposes that individuals guilty of specific drug offenses receive mandatory treatment instead of incarceration. This initiative aims to amend parts of Proposition 47, which gained significant approval from voters in 2014.

Recent polling indicates a strong divide in voter sentiment. While a poll released on Thursday shows that 71% of likely voters back Proposition 36, an earlier survey from August by the University of California, Berkeley, found only 56% of voters supportive of the measure.

Reacting to the polling data, Newsom expressed concern, remarking, “I was wondering what state I was living in.” He echoed the frustrations of many Californians but cautioned against the proposition as a viable solution to prevailing issues. Throughout his tenure, he has raised alarms about the potential adverse effects this measure could have on Black and Latino communities, deeming it an “unfunded mandate” lacking financial planning. Legislative analysts warn the implementation could burden the state with hundreds of millions of dollars in costs each year.