Why Chesa Boudin was recalled as the San Francisco District Attorney

Chesa Boudin, the District Attorney of San Francisco, was recalled on Tuesday after at least 60% of voters decided to drive out the Democrat from office. The famously liberal city voted with issues like increasing crime, public safety and police reforms in mind.

Boudin, 41, has headed the San Francisco District Attorney’s office since November 2019. He was part of a national wave of progressive prosecutors who promised change in policing and an end to the war on drugs.

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Proponents vs Opponents

Those in support of the recall vote said that Boudin used to often side with criminals and made decisions that were partial in nature. He was also accused of having a flexible ideology.

Recall opponents, on the other hand, said the recall was a Republican power grab meant to undermine public safety reforms in the city of San Francisco.

What Chesa Boudin is saying

In a speech on Tuesday, Boudin retained his defiant stance. He said that “right-wing billionaires” and powerful Republicans had outspent him in the electoral battle. 

He said voters were understandably frustrated by the pandemic and a city government that has failed to deliver on safety, housing and equity, according to AP reports.

What the recall organisers are saying

Recall proponents cheered the news at a victory party on Tuesday, which was attended by Mary Jung, a chair of the recall campaign.

A statement released by Jung on Tuesday read, “This election does not mean that San Francisco has drifted to the far right on our approach to criminal justice.”

“In fact, San Francisco has been a national beacon for progressive criminal justice reform for decades and will continue to do so with new leadership”, she added.

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Has this happened before?

The recall campaign against Boudin was backed by many of the same people who successfully ousted three liberal members of the San Francisco school board in February.

Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, was stuck in a similar recall election last year. However, he managed to survive it. He also won the Democratic primary for the governor’s office on Tuesday.