Schiff Says Voters Frustrated With Democrats Over Crime and Cost of Living Concerns

Continuing his story on Bill Maher’s show, Senator Adam Schiff recalled that the Target cashier offered an unfiltered opinion that underscored the growing disconnect between some California voters and Democratic leadership.

“And she asked me what happened. And I told her and she basically said in not so many words that Democrats are aoles,” Schiff said. He added, “And I thought, you know, if the cashier in South San Francisco at 10 o’clock at night believes that Democrats are aoles because the shampoo is locked up and my stuff got stolen out of the trunk, we’ve got a major problem that we have to address.”

His remarks come at a time when concerns about retail theft, homelessness, and rising living costs are increasingly shaping California’s political climate. In recent years, both state and local leaders have faced public pressure to revise criminal justice and public safety policies after a series of high-profile incidents of property crime.

Earlier this month, Schiff also addressed broader frustrations within the Democratic Party. During an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, he criticized what he called the party’s lack of coordinated messaging in response to former President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address.

“I think the lack of a coordinated response in the State of the Union was a mistake,” Schiff said. “It took the focus off of where it should have been, which is on the fact that the president spoke for an hour and 40 minutes and had nothing to say about what he would do to bring down costs for American families.”

He added that voters remain concerned about affordability, including housing, health care, and child care, and warned that Democrats must prioritize economic issues to maintain voter trust.

Schiff also responded to remarks from Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who had recently described the party’s communication strategy as “a sad cavalcade of self-owns and unhinged petulance.” Schiff concluded, “They’re destroying the economy, and they’re making it harder and harder for Americans to afford things. That’s where we need to keep the focus.”

The senator’s comments signal an acknowledgment that, even in traditionally Democratic states like California, voter frustration over safety and affordability could reshape the political landscape in upcoming elections.