As Californians head to the ballot box in 2026 to elect a new governor, the stakes have never felt higher. California has found itself in the crosshairs of a federal government that attacks anyone who gets in the way of its war on immigrants and working people. Our tight budget is forcing us to make hard choices. There are no simple answers, but now more than ever Californians deserve an honest conversation about safety—based on the facts and strategies that work.
Along with our partners at the Ella Baker Center Action Fund, the Vera Action team presents eight big ideas grounded in evidence and polling for what the next governor should do to deliver more safety, accountability, and justice.
This platform presents concrete solutions for safety in eight areas:
- Safekeeping our streets and quality of life
- Tackling gun violence
- Supporting strong mental health and de-escalating crisis
- Delivering accountable law enforcement
- Creating housing opportunities for everyone
- Strengthening support for crime survivors
- Ending the overdose epidemic and treating addiction
- Ensuring a fairer, more accountable justice system
Our goal is to broaden the debate in this election to reflect what California voters want and deserve: a comprehensive approach to preventing crime, responding to crisis, and stopping violence before it happens, instead of going back to failed, expensive “tough-on-crime” policies.
Click to access: Eight Big Ideas To Build A Safe California.