Vera Action

Fighting to end mass incarceration, protect immigrants’ rights, restore dignity to people behind bars, and build safe and thriving communities.

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

Interested in learning more about the politics of crime and safety? Subscribe to our Vera Action Substack: https://t.co/2ndPSOZ4NS

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

The 2026 midterms demonstrated that voters prefer candidates offering concrete safety solutions—like accountable policing, access to mental health and drug treatment, community programs, and investments in jobs, housing, and education—over embracing a "tough-on-crime" rhetoric.

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

In our first Substack post, we examine five key takeaways from the midterms and how a strong safety and justice policy agenda defeated political fearmongering: https://t.co/IIA6WoF8a3

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

📽️ Ellen sat down for @verainstitute’s "Ask the Expert" series to discuss how a "serious about safety" approach that centers evidence-based solutions to create safe communities and break the cycle of crime is not just good policy—it’s good politics. https://t.co/5kbMcY0BVw

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

Vera Action Director Ellen Flenniken spoke on our 40+ rounds of polling that show how the conventional political wisdom on crime is out of sync with what voters want.

In poll after poll, a majority of voters favor a "serious about safety" approach over a "tough-on-crime" one.

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

Bringing together findings from our extensive polling with the wider body of evidence on public safety, we have developed a "serious about safety" approach that incorporates popular, proven policies to deliver safety, accountability, and justice. https://t.co/b5Tb3FPgAN

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

Since we began asking the question in 2022, a majority of voters have consistently favored a "serious about safety" approach that champions evidence-based solutions to address the root causes of crime over a "tough on crime" approach.

Learn more: https://t.co/b5Tb3FPgAN

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

If Democrats choose, this can be an election about violence and lawlessness vs. safety and justice. It is their best opportunity to win on an issue that has eluded them for decades.

Understand more about how crime is playing a role in the 2026 elections: https://t.co/j2Xb2fgKcy

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

If Democrats choose, this can be an election about violence and lawlessness vs. safety and justice. It is their best opportunity to win on an issue that has eluded them for decades.

Understand more about how crime is playing a role in the 2026 elections: https://t.co/j2Xb2fgKcy

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

Voters want fighters, not folders.

Winning candidates showed an ability to confront Trump—especially on threats posed by his abusive immigration agenda—while offering an affirmative safety agenda to counter it.

Making meaning of the role crime played in the 2026 primaries. 🧵

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

If Democrats don’t own the historic declines in crime, Trump will.

The mayors and governors who helped drive crime declines didn’t look to Trump for inspiration or emulate his messaging—they focused on investments made to address the root causes of crime. https://t.co/4b71fm04vc

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

"An issue that [Republicans] had in previous elections is now working to their disadvantage." -Matthew Grossman, political scientist at @michiganstateu

Here's an opportunity for candidates who are serious about safety, accountability, and justice to offer voters an alternative.

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

📊 POLL: 80% of independent voters believe ICE has used too much force in its nationwide operations.

The Trump administration's ICE-led mass deportation campaign has become a major political liability for Republicans, per our July polling with @YouGov. https://t.co/GC8tdxJWtd

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

CORCA would dramatically expand the role of DHS and ICE. Plain and simple.

To show they’re serious about delivering real safety and justice, we call on Senator Durbin and other Democrats to reject this bill and continue the fight to rein in ICE.

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

"We must rein in ICE abuses before another life is lost." -Senator @DickDurbin

Voters agree. That’s why Senator Durbin must reject CORCA, a bill which would grant additional enforcement and surveillance powers to DHS and ICE under the guise of fighting organized retail theft.

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

We have the data: this bill is not popular.

70% of voters, including 62% of independents and 57% of Republicans, want local law enforcement to be most responsible for curbing organized retail theft. Not DHS. https://t.co/Oy6IxBMpAe

[Vera Action @veraactionorg]

Vera Action president Insha Rahman joined the Jeff-alytics Podcast to discuss:

🎙️ The state of criminal justice reform
🎙️ Public perceptions of crime vs. reality
🎙️ How polling shows broad support for reform

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