California Democrats have launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to oppose Proposition 39, a Republican-backed ballot initiative that would establish new voter identification requirements. The effort is being spearheaded by gubernatorial frontrunner Xavier Becerra, who is serving as an honorary co-chair for the newly formed "No on 39 – Block Trump’s Election Rigging" committee.
Becerra, alongside California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, is leading the charge against the measure, which aims to require voters to present government-issued identification when voting in person or provide specific identification numbers when voting by mail. The campaign explicitly links Proposition 39 to former President Donald Trump, a strategy designed to frame the election as a referendum on the former president.
"Donald Trump’s election rigging has no place in California," Becerra stated. "As attorney general, I took Trump to court — and won — when he tried to intimidate voters and suppress the vote. Prop. 39 is his playbook coming to California."
The opposition campaign argues that voter ID requirements would disproportionately affect minority voters and other groups who face barriers to obtaining government-issued identification. Rivas echoed this sentiment, stating, "Trump can’t handle the fact that he lost California by 20 points. He’s trying to rig the system and make it harder for you to exercise your constitutional rights."
Proposition 39, supported by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and Reform California, qualified for the November ballot after proponents submitted sufficient signatures. The measure also proposes that the state issue voter identification cards upon request, increase citizenship verification efforts, and mandate additional election audits.
The fight over Proposition 39 also involves a dispute over its official ballot title and summary. Attorney General Rob Bonta's office rewrote the language, which supporters of the measure claimed was biased. The revised language described the initiative as one that would "prohibit" citizens from voting without government-issued identification and "invalidate" mail ballots that fail to comply. Bonta's office maintained that the revisions were made to provide greater clarity for voters, as is standard practice for citizen-backed initiatives.
Initial polling indicates potential shifts in public opinion. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found that while 56% of likely voters initially supported the proposal, support decreased after respondents heard arguments from both sides. The "No on 39" committee launched with over $2 million, but this is significantly less than the more than $12 million raised by supporters of Proposition 39.
The new committee's formation and Becerra's prominent role suggest a strategic shift, potentially positioning him as a key counter to Trump in California, a role traditionally filled by Gov. Gavin Newsom. This development occurs as Becerra is a leading candidate in the race for California governor.