Crime, homelessness and the economy: CA GOP leader discusses impact on Kern County and 2024 election

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – For the Republican Party, crime and the economy are two winning issues heading into the 2024 elections.

With Democrats and Republicans alike eyeing key congressional districts — including Kern County — the question could be how each party’s campaigning on specific issues could affect who dominates the vote.

Jessica Millan Patterson, chairwoman of the California Republican Party, was not afraid to call out Democrats for their handling of crime, homelessness and the economy.

“If you want something different, you have to vote differently,” said Chairwoman Patterson, criticizing Democrats for their handling of crime.

“It’s the guidelines [in California]… [Democrats] They have failed Californians, they have sided with criminals every time, and they have failed victims in California.”

According to the FBI’s “Crime in the Nation Statistics 2022,” national violent crime decreased by approximately 1.7% between 2021 and 2022.

“Where you go? Right here in California,” the chairwoman said, a point confirmed by the FBI report.

Violent crime has increased here in the Golden State since 2020.

17 News has tracked at least 66 homicides in the county so far this year.

While blaming Democrats for crime in California, Chairwoman Patterson mentioned some California crime policies.

• AB 109 – The Supreme Court has established a threshold that California state prisons cannot exceed. Instead, the Supreme Court gave county jails more responsibility.
• Proposition 47 – This ballot measure increased the monetary value required for theft to be charged as a felony (from $400 to $950). Any amount less than that would instead be considered a misdemeanor.
• Proposition 57 – This ballot measure emphasized rehabilitation of convicts and was intended to prevent federal courts from releasing prisoners.

17 News rejected Patterson’s response, noting that the above actions were not a partisan decision, but rather the use of voter input. Additionally, AB 109 was a mandate given to California by the United States Supreme Court.

KGET’s Jenny Huh asked Patterson, “So this was a Supreme Court order?” How does that translate to partisanship for you?”

Patterson responded: “There are several ways to find a solution to this problem. Many would say that the solution is not to put violent criminals on the streets, but we see time and time again that…California Republicans have tried to find solutions that end up on the side of the people [and victims].”

Patterson said while she wasn’t sure there was anything on the ballot related to crime, repealing Prop 47 would be a good first step.

She pointed to a bill from Kern County Sen. Shannon Grove that passed the state Senate with unanimous bipartisan support that would take tougher action against human traffickers.

“Kern County is a good example of how they are trying to stand with the citizens of Kern County,” the chairwoman said.

In Kern, homelessness is considered part of the concern for public safety.

Millan pointed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s track record in regulating the issue, such as his 2004 promise to get San Francisco’s chronically homeless people off the streets within 10 years.

The chairwoman called Newsom’s “10-year plan” a failure.

“Housing is one of the problems, the mental health problems are another, but also the decriminalization of everything, we see the drug problem, that is also a problem that leads to homelessness.”

And of Newsom’s trip to China in October, which focused on climate change and renewable energy, Patterson noted that the entire visit was “incredibly tone-deaf.”

I asked the chair: “So his climate priorities are not necessarily the voters’ priorities, do you think?”

To which she replied: “I think his climate targets are certainly not the priorities of California voters. “If they were the priorities of California voters, you wouldn’t need a mandate.”

The chairwoman also said Newsom is running a “shadow presidential race” and hopes to be nominated in 2024.

“Whether it’s the high crime rate, whether it’s our failing education system, or the high cost of living here in California, or the homeless crisis, [Democrats] We continue to throw money out with no results,” Patterson said. “Californians are getting fed up.”

“And it has become so unaffordable to live here when we have all these natural resources.”