California Democrats have launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to oppose a Republican-backed voter identification measure set for the November ballot. The initiative, known as Proposition 39, would introduce new voter ID requirements, including a mandate for in-person voters to present government-issued identification and for mail-in voters to provide the last four digits of a driver's license, Social Security number, or another form of government-issued ID. The measure also calls for the state to issue voter ID cards upon request, increase citizenship verification efforts, and implement additional election audits.

Gubernatorial front-runner Xavier Becerra and California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas have taken leading roles in the opposition campaign, serving as honorary co-chairs of a new committee titled “No on 39 – Block Trump’s Election Rigging.” The campaign has secured support from labor union SEIU California and Planned Parenthood, marking the most concerted effort by Democrats to block the proposal.

Becerra tied the initiative directly to former President Donald Trump, asserting that Proposition 39 reflects Trump’s efforts to suppress voter turnout. “As attorney general, I took Trump to court — and won — when he tried to intimidate voters and suppress the vote,” Becerra said. “Prop 39 is his playbook coming to California.” The move signals a strategic pivot, with Becerra emerging as a prominent voice against the former president within the state, while Governor Gavin Newsom, traditionally a key opponent of Trump, prepares to announce endorsements ahead of the general election. Newsom is widely expected to launch a presidential bid in 2028, and his political action committees have already begun activities targeting federal races.

Proposition 39 is backed by Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio of San Diego and Reform California, having qualified for the ballot after supporters submitted sufficient signatures earlier this year. Proponents argue that the measure will safeguard election integrity by ensuring voters provide proof of identity, echoing national debates such as the SAVE Act in Congress, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register in federal elections. Critics caution, however, that such requirements could disproportionately burden minority voters and individuals facing difficulties obtaining government-issued identification.

A poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies this spring found initial support for Proposition 39 at 56 percent among likely voters after reading a neutral description of the measure. Support declined as respondents heard arguments from both supporters and opponents. The opposition campaign launched with over $2 million but trails significantly behind backers of the proposition, who have raised more than $12 million to promote the measure.

The campaign against Proposition 39 also reflects broader Democratic concerns over voter rights and turnout, even as some within the party, including strategist James Carville, have recently advised shifting the focus away from opposing voter ID laws to regain public trust on issues related to election security.