Democrats in California have turned down a Republican-led initiative to impose stricter penalties on individuals who solicit or purchase sex from 16- and 17-year-old minors. The proposal, aiming to label such acts as felonies, was presented on the legislative floor after having been removed from a bill by a committee earlier in the week. The debate has highlighted a growing division within the Democratic party regarding the best approach to tackle crime related to sex trafficking, prompting intervention from Governor Gavin Newsom.
During the session, Republican minority leader James Gallagher emphasized the moral duty to protect older teens in the same manner as younger minors in cases of prostitution. Several moderate Democrats sided with this perspective, advocating for harsher penalties. However, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas pointed out California’s strong existing trafficking laws and expressed a commitment to adopting robust protections for older teenage victims. “Protecting children, standing up for trafficking victims, and stopping crimes are among my top priorities as Speaker,” Rivas stated following the vote.
This decision marks another indication of the fracture among Democrats over crime policy, with some members advocating for tougher sanctions and others concerned about potential misuse of the law in personal matters, such as interracial or LGBTQ+ relationships. Although Newsom often refrains from commenting on pending legislation, his office released a statement underscoring the importance of consistent treatment of sex predators, regardless of the victim’s age.
Assemblymember Maggy Krell, with a background in prosecution, aspired to expand a law Newsom enacted last year, which currently makes solicitation a felony if the victim is under 16, to include older teenagers. Proponents of the measure argue that the current statute leaves older teens vulnerable. Yet, the provision was not included in the bill advanced by the Assembly public safety committee, and Krell’s name was subsequently removed from the legislation. Krell stated, “I don’t care whether my name is on the bill, but I’m happy to support it if it includes the protection for 16- and 17-year-olds.”
Last year, Senate Democrats also dismissed a similar proposal to increase penalties for soliciting older teens. Republicans recognized this moment as an opportunity to criticize Democrats’ policies, with Assemblymember Carl DeMaio expressing his disapproval, suggesting that the vote signals a lack of protection for minors aged 16 and 17 in California from sex traffickers.
The proposal has gathered support from First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, and Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who took to social media to endorse the measure. Christine Pelosi, speaking as a mother, conveyed her belief that purchasing a 16-year-old for sex should categorically be a felony, challenging Democratic lawmakers by stating, “In what world do you think voters will trust a party that considers buying a 16-year-old to be ‘only’ a misdemeanor?”
Nick Schultz, Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, clarified that current California law already criminalizes contacting minors for sex as a felony. He acknowledged that the proposed changes would give law enforcement additional resources to impose harsher sentences. Committed to seeking a resolution, Schultz announced plans to revisit the topic for further discussion among lawmakers, with the intent to introduce a solution soon. “We will have a solution,” Schultz stated. “That’s my commitment.”