Republican Assembly candidate George Radanovich is criticizing state Democrats for what he describes as their attempts to undermine efforts to reform Proposition 47.

According to Politico, “Democrats in the Legislature plan to fast-track legislation on retail theft and public safety next week and include amendments that would revoke the laws if a ballot measure that would roll back parts of Proposition 47 passes in November, a move aimed at pressuring the measure’s backers to drop it from the ballot.”

Said Radanovich in a news release: “This is nothing more than an attempt to blackmail the public safety community and the public and proof that the far-left progressive Democrats in Sacramento do not care one bit about public safety.”

A bipartisan group led by district attorneys up and down California is trying to amend Prop. 47 in November via the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act ballot initiative.

The act aims to amend 2014’s Prop. 47 by, among other changes, adjusting the felony theft threshold to $950 and reclassifying certain felonies as misdemeanors. Proponents say that the revision would force drug-addicted criminals to choose between state prison or entering rehabilitation programs.

Related Story: A Fix for CA Homelessness? DAs Say Prop 47 Reform Initiative Offers One

Newsom Opposes Prop 47 Revise

Top Democratic state leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have repeatedly shut down calls to repeal Prop. 47. Newsom argues that California already has tools to go after criminals and has urged lawmakers to bolster existing laws and go after motor vehicle thefts and resellers of stolen merchandise.

Lawmakers also have introduced bills aiming to tackle retail theft and online resellers.

Radanovich. a former congressman, was the top vote-getter in the March 5, 2024, primary for the 8th District, which includes all or parts of Fresno, Tuolumne, Madera, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, and Mono counties.

He faces David Tangipa of Clovis in an all-Republican runoff for the seat that will be vacated by the termed-out Jim Patterson.

Related Story: Prop 47 Reformers Send Nearly a Million Signatures to Sacramento