California Democrats Distance Themselves from Non-Citizen Voting Measure

Even in Los Angeles, a traditionally Democratic city, internal divisions are emerging. Many Democrats are staying on the sidelines of a controversial proposal. The initiative would allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. It would also include school board elections in the city.

This signal reflects how tense electoral issues have become. The Trump era has complicated the debate over immigration and voting rights. The Los Angeles City Council will vote on an amendment to the city charter. This measure would lay the groundwork to create such a program.

The proposal would first require approval from Mayor Karen Bass. It would then go to a public vote next November. It has already received cautious responses from prominent California Democrats. Among them are Bass and her rival, Nithya Raman.

Criticism and Concerns Among Democrats

Critics have warned of several significant risks of the measure. It could provoke the Trump administration directly. It would also expose immigrants to greater deportation risk. Additionally, it would go further than other California cities on this issue.

These concerns intensify amid a tense electoral contest. The mayoral race already faces intense federal scrutiny. Trump ordered federal prosecutors to investigate allegations of electoral fraud. This is occurring in California’s gubernatorial race.

Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa expressed reservations about the current timing. «Right now is not the best moment for all that,» he said. He supports non-citizen parents voting on school boards. However, he worries that raids will discourage civic participation.

City Council Approves, But Key Figures Are Hesitant

The City Council voted 10-5 in favor of Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez’s measure. Despite this approval, key figures in local government remain evasive. A Bass spokesman referred to statements made during an NBC debate. There he was asked directly whether she supported non-citizen voting.

Her response was simply: «It depends.» Bass explained that this doesn’t necessarily mean undocumented people. They could have permanent residency or be completely legal residents. «We need to see what the councilman proposes,» the mayor added.

Raman expressed a similar stance during that same debate. Subsequently, she said she was «very much in favor of exploring» the proposal. She reiterated this sentiment in a later statement. She highlighted that many residents pay taxes and raise families in the city.

Precedents in San Francisco and Oakland

Similar legislation already exists in other California cities. San Francisco approved its program in 2016 through a popular vote. Oakland did the same in 2022 with a similar scheme. Both measures allow non-citizen parents to vote on school boards.

However, Los Angeles would represent a more ambitious step. It would be the first city to seek voting rights in municipal elections. The current proposal contains few specific details on eligibility. Instead, it would give the council «discretion» to draft the ordinance.

State Senator Scott Wiener emphasized his support for San Francisco’s policy. However, he avoided commenting on Los Angeles’s specific initiative. «It was about parents having a voice on the school board,» he explained. He considered that message convincing to many voters.

San Francisco’s Centrist Shift

David Campos, vice president of the state Democratic Party, recalled the origin of the measure. It emerged in 2016, during an intense political moment. Voters then sought to promote immigrant rights. This occurred amid the inflammatory rhetoric of Trump’s first campaign.

Since then, San Francisco’s politics have shifted course. Voters now support more moderate and centrist candidates. They prioritize issues like public safety and homelessness. Campos acknowledged that the current federal environment influences this trend.

«I’m not sure what would happen with something like that in today’s San Francisco,» he admitted. Not all Democrats share this caution, however. Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez defended the need to be bold. He argued that the measure represents fundamental Democratic Party principles.

The Risk of Creating a Vulnerable List

Some liberal Democrats fear how Republicans might use this measure. They have already begun leveraging it on social media. The initiative has been amplified by influential conservative sectors. Political consultant Michael Trujillo identified the greatest risk of the proposal.

According to Trujillo, a registry of non-citizen voters could be created. This list would be unprotected and accessible to ICE. He cited San Francisco’s website as a cautionary example. The portal warns that information can be obtained by immigration authorities.

«This is not a protected list,» Trujillo warned with concern. He asserted that Trump and ICE could use it whenever they want. In Oakland, the measure has not been fully implemented either. Nearly four years have passed since its initial approval by voters.

Two Paths Facing the Trump Era

Soto-Martínez acknowledged concerns about data privacy. For that reason, the measure would not establish the program immediately. First, it would study how to implement it.