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 will of the electorate through budget inaction. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who has made Prop 36 enforcement a centerpiece of his newly announced 2026 gubernatorial campaign, is calling out Sacramento directly: "Budgets are a reflection of our values." The standoff puts California's initiative process itself on trial—if lawmakers can simply starve voter-approved measures of funding, the ballot box means nothing.
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.