California voters passed Prop 36 by a landslide in November 2024, but Sacramento is refusing to fund it — effectively nullifying the result. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who has made Prop 36 implementation a centerpiece of his newly launched 2026 gubernatorial campaign, is calling out the legislature directly: "Budgets are a reflection of our values." The fight over whether California's elected leaders will honor what voters demanded is now shaping up as a defining issue in the governor's race.
San Jose's mayor reduced homelessness by a quarter while Sacramento fumbled. Now he's bringing receipts to the governor's race.
Californians voted for public safety. The state legislature decided their votes don't count.