Bay Area Council Statement on the November 2024 Election
The Bay Area Council today (Nov. 6) issued the following statement on the results of the 2024 General Election.
“Voters across California and across our nation have spoken loudly that they want change, that they want greater economic security and opportunity, more focus on the issues that affect their daily lives, and stronger accountability for delivering solutions and results,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “And while there may be much uncertainty about what the outcome of this election at the national level means for California there is no uncertainty that California must elevate its leadership and better leverage the incredible well of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and unfettered optimism that has made our state an economic and technology powerhouse. We can’t afford to be defensive, to ignore what voters and the public are telling us and deny that we must find different ways of doing things while holding firm to our values.
“At the state and local level, voters overwhelmingly sounded their strong dissatisfaction with the continuing and frustrating lack of progress in addressing many of our most critical issues, from crime and public safety to housing and homelessness,” Wunderman continued. “The resounding support for Prop 36 and the defeat of Prop 33, among other results, should send a clear and unequivocal message to legislators and policy makers that voters are fed up with half measures, tired rhetoric and ineffectual solutions. Voters are clearly tired of burdensome bureaucracy, never-ending taxes and government that doesn’t work for them. Our policy makers need to refocus on the pocket-book issues that are the top concern for most California families. Re-igniting our engine of economic competitiveness would be a good place to start. “Californians have shown time and again that we know how to harness our power, innovative spirit, and boundless ingenuity to drive real change,” said Kristina Lawson, Chair of the Bay Area Council and Managing Partner of Hanson Bridgett. “As any business leader knows, it takes incredible courage, resilience and perseverance, along with investment and hard work, to succeed. The voters were bold in their vision for our region, state and country, and now it’s time for our leaders to rise with equal courage.”
Of the 14 state and local ballot measures on which the Council took positions, voters agreed with us on 11, although final results are not yet official. And seven of eight local candidates the Council supported through our political action committee were on track to win.
