California district attorney faces recall election in November over high crime rates

A progressively liberal district attorney in California could be recalled by voters this November, because of a high crime rate in Oakland that has not died down within the first half of her term.

Crime has surged in Oakland in recent years, resulting in multiple businesses closing because of a surge in theft, and more relaxed punishments for committing crimes. Under Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, the county's jail population has fallen to its lowest level in at least 20 years, but violent crime was up 22% by October of last year.

The Alameda County board of supervisors decided on Tuesday that Price's recall would take place in November, at the same time as the general election, in order to avoid a separate and more pricey special election, per Politico.

Despite the recall effort, Price expressed confidence in response to the recall on Wednesday, claiming she would defeat the attempt to boot her from office. She also claimed the effort was driven by wealthy tech executives and rich investigators who did not want to see a black district attorney. Price is the county's first black female district attorney.

“The people in this county have the right to elect a district attorney. They did that — we should not have to do it again,” Price said while speaking at an event, according to Mercury News. “But we will — we will do it again.”

California Senate hopeful Rep. Eric Swalwell joined the effort to recall Price last week, claiming she should "tweet less, prosecute more." He also accused her of being soft on crime, and called for a "new rule of law."

"Soft on crime Alameda County prosecutors have given the bad guys a green light to hurt people," Swalwell posted to X last week. "People of the East Bay have never felt as unsafe as they do today and are leaving our community in droves. We need a rule of law."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.