"The race to win the 2026 elections to save our country from all-out authoritarianism has begun. Last month’s election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor—running on a bold platform of freezing rents for 2.4 million rent-stabilized tenants—shows exactly how Democrats can win. California Democratic leadership, from Assembly leader Robert Rivas to Governor Gavin Newsom, have pledged to address Californian’s kitchen table economics. But they continue to ignore one of the most powerful tools available to provide immediate relief to millions now—rent caps.
The disconnect is staggering. A new report shows California tied with Louisiana for the highest poverty rate in the country, driven by the crushing cost of housing. And yet many of our elected officials remain paralyzed by the myth that capping rents is politically toxic. It’s time to set the record straight: rent caps aren’t just good policy, it’s a winning issue that Democrats can lead on to rebuild trust with working families in 2026."