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Voters in two of America’s most liberal cities sent a clear message to the Democratic Party on Tuesday: they want their leaders to refocus on the most basic functions of government by ensuring their safety, protecting their quality of life and restoring order. Concentrate.
voters for months San Francisco And angel have expressed their concern that daily life in their cities is spiraling out of control. San Francisco residents are struggling with a rise in burglaries and car thefts, as well as an alarming spate of hate crimes directed against Asian Americans. Los Angeles residents have seen a sharp rise in violent crime while city leaders grapple with a homelessness crisis that has led to the spread of tents and garbage in parks, sidewalks and public spaces, while an untreated mental health emergency litters their streets. has been exposed. ,
On Tuesday, San Francisco voters voiced their dismay Remembering District Attorney Chesa Boudin Amid concerns that he was pursuing progressive policies as a national criminal justice reform advocate at the cost of his own safety. It was a move that signaled just how far the political pendulum has moved since the 2020 election cycle, when many Democratic voters cited police accountability and criminal justice among their top concerns – a debate that has sparked George in Minneapolis. The police killing of Floyd reached a climax. ,
That same night, voters in the highly progressive city of Los Angeles expressed their discomfort with Democrats’ handling of crime and homelessness by upping the ante on billionaire shopping mall magnate Rick Caruso, a former Republican who had turned Democrat earlier this year. indicated. in a runoff To replace term-limited Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Six-term U.S. Representative Karen Bass was once seen as the mayoral frontrunner, but Caruso posed an unexpectedly strong challenger against her, spending $40 million to advance the argument. That the leaders of the city have failed to keep the people safe and have been proved incompetent. Looking for solutions to house the nearly 41,000 people living on the streets.
Democrat Bass, who led House talks on legislation to increase police accountability after Floyd’s death, has promised to make public safety a priority. He pledged to restore his authorized force of 9,700 officers to the Los Angeles Police Department, by hiring more civilians to free up 250 officers to return to street patrol. But that didn’t go down to Caruso, who has promised to hire 1,500 additional officers and bring in some 500 sweepers to clean up the streets – proposals that his critics say the city cannot afford.
For months now, Democrats have been facing a national outcry as they struggle to find an effective message on crime and inflation, evident in the race in California, where Democrats currently hold all statewide offices and in Congress. dominate the delegation.
The new map drawn up by the state’s non-partisan redistribution commission last year turned out to be ten Competitive House Race In California, where Democrats were upbeat about the prospect of a pickup.
But those ambitions have been quelled by the fact that Golden State voters are contesting highest gas prices In the country, troubled by the rise in violent crime and frustrated by the fact that they are seeing no improvement in the homeless, even though billions of dollars are flowing to build housing and shelters. Those issues have all come to the fore in a close race in the state, encouraging Republicans who are pushing the notion that Democratic policies are leading to anarchy.
Low turnout in the assembly elections held on Tuesday california And new jersey It was another sign that Democrats are failing to energize their voters in states that will be critical to their hopes of taking control of Congress.
Despite a series of competitive House races—where the top two vote-getters regardless of party would advance to the general election—only 19% of California ballots were returned as of Tuesday, even though they were sent to nearly 22 million voters the week before. went, according to ballot tracking data From the California-based firm Political Data Intelligence.
Voters also cast their votes Iowa, Mississippi, montana, new Mexico And South Dakota in primary contests on Tuesday, which offered a window into how many voters wanted to blame the party in power for discontent about the state of the economy and the country.
Many California Republican incumbents face their own challenges as various factions of the GOP continue to wrestle for dominance. David Valladao, one of ten GOP members who supported Trump’s 2021 impeachment, faced a challenge over his authority in his Democratic-leaning Central Valley seat – the new 22nd District. Chris Mathis, a former Fresno City Council member, said he decided to run because of Valladao’s impeachment vote, but Trump did not run.
GOP Representative Young Kim faced strong competition from her right in Orange County’s new 40th District from Marine veteran Greg Raths, another Trump loyalist.
Democrats, on the other hand, hope to use GOP Representative Mike Garcia’s ties against Trump in California’s 27th District to further democratize his northern Los Angeles County seat. (Garcia voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election in Arizona and Pennsylvania.) Former state Assemblywoman Christie Smith, a Democrat, would move with Garcia for a runoff in the district, CNN estimated.
Iowa Democrats gave an upset on Tuesday night by dismissing former Representative Abby Finkenauer, a one-time star at the party, in her bid to take on veteran GOP Senator Chuck Grassley in November.
After Fincanauer’s recent mistake—where she nearly failed to qualify for the ballot when a judge found she didn’t meet the signature requirements—as well as two years ago Republican Representative Ashley Hinson, Democrats in the Hawkeye State For their loss went in a different direction. He chose retired Navy Admiral Mike Franken to go against Grassley, the longest-serving Republican in the US Senate, who would win his party’s primary to seek an eighth term, CNN estimated.
Fincanauer served for one term in Congress after winning a district in 2018, which former President Donald Trump did two years earlier. At that time, she was the second youngest woman elected to Congress at the age of 29.
Elsewhere in Iowa, one of the most competitive races is in the third district, where Representative Cindy Axane, the only Democrat in the congressional delegation, hopes to hold her seat in a district where Trump won by less than half a point. Will happen. CNN predicted that State Sen. Zach Nunn, an Air Force veteran, would win the Republican primary in the Des Moines-area district.
The other two competitive house races are scheduled in Iowa. GOP Representative Marienette Miller-Meeks will face Democratic State Representative Christina Bohannan in the new 1st District. In the second district, Hinson will face Democratic State Sen. Liz Mathis, who is also a former local TV news anchor.
There were also several high-profile congressional races in New Jersey. In the state’s Seventh District, a battleground that became more Republican in redistribution, CNN estimated that Democratic Representative Tom Malinowski and Republican Tom Keane Jr., the son of former state Senate minority leader and former New Jersey Gov. – Will be in front. in the general election.
In northern New Jersey’s 8th District, Democrat Rob Menendez Jr., son of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, will win the Democratic primary, CNN projects, as he leads Democratic Rep. Albio Cyres is running for the seat of retirement.
GOP Representative Chris Smith, who voted for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, faced a series of primary challengers in central New Jersey’s Fourth District, including talk show host Mike Crispy. Supported by Trump aides such as Roger Stone and Rudy Giuliani.
In Montana, Trump Backs His Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke — Despite Him history of controversy – as a candidate Trying to return to Congress, The state won the second Congress seat after the results of the 2020 census. Zinke faced four other candidates in the GOP primaries, including former State Sen. Al Olszewski and Pastor Mary Todd, as questions were raised. Zinke’s residence,
In South Dakota, Rep. Dusty Johnson will win the GOP primary for the state’s only congressional seat, CNN estimated. He faced a primary challenge after he voted to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. CNN also estimated that South Dakota GOP Gov. Christy NoemA potential 2024 contender would defeat her primary rival, state Representative Steven Hougaard, who accused her of being insufficiently conservative and spending too much time pursuing her ambitions for a high office as governor.
This story has been updated with additional development.