California's legislature is refusing to fund Prop 36 after voters passed the criminal sentencing reform measure by a wide margin in November 2024, effectively nullifying the results at the ballot box. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan — who just entered the 2026 governor's race — is calling out Sacramento directly, arguing that starving voter-approved measures of funding is a betrayal of democracy. The standoff is shaping up as a defining fault line in California politics, with Mahan's record on public safety and homelessness in San Jose fueling his case that the state needs leadership willing to actually implement what voters demand.
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.