Safe and Trusted Communities
PROGRAM 7: PUBLIC SAFETY
| Why voters want this
• Pew found 52% of voters rate violent crime very important, including 64% of Republican supporters. • Crime is the only issue Republicans rate extremely important far more often than Democrats, 43% to 32% (Gallup). • Credible public safety policy reaches voters the new majority does not yet hold. |
What the program does
1. Focused violence reduction
Concentrate investigative resources on the small number of people and networks behind serious violence, within constitutional limits, and fund community violence intervention with independent evaluation.
2. Solve more serious crimes
Raise clearance rates for shootings and homicides through forensic capacity, faster evidence processing and witness support.
3. Police professional standards
Support recruitment, retention and modern training, with clear use-of-force policies, early-warning systems for misconduct and independent review of serious incidents.
4. Illegal gun trafficking
Strengthen coordination against firearms trafficking while respecting lawful ownership and due process.
5. Prevention and re-entry
Youth mentoring, school-based mental health services, substance use treatment and re-entry employment, prioritizing approaches with proven drops in repeat offending; strong victim services and trauma care.
Avoid presenting short-term swings as proof that one policy worked; report violent crime, property crime, disorder and perceptions of safety separately.
Design options
| Option | What it means | Trade-off |
| Enforcement led | Lead with solving more crimes and supporting officers. | Broad support and strong with Republicans; must be paired with accountability. |
| Prevention led | Lead with violence intervention, mental health and re-entry. | Lasting results; slower and easier to attack as soft. |
| Paired investment (recommended) | Every accountability measure travels with investment in officers and investigations. | Answers both safety and fairness concerns; funding follows local data, since crime differs sharply by place. |
Success metrics
| Measure | Baseline | Target |
| Homicide and violent victimization rates | Baseline in 2027 | Falling, reported consistently |
| Clearance rates for shootings and homicides | Low | Rising |
| Repeat offending among program participants | Baseline in 2027 | Falling |
| Public confidence in fair treatment | Baseline in 2027 | Rising |
Explore the other key actions
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Sources for this page
- Economy Ranks as Top Issue in Midterms for All Voters (Pew Research Center, October 8, 2026)
- The Issues Voters Say Matter Most This Midterm (Gallup, October 29, 2026)
The 2026 Midterms: What Comes Next. Analysis updated November 8, 2026. Figures from election-day and pre-election surveys; projections may change as counting finishes.