Legitimacy Matters: The Case for Public Financing in Prosecutor Elections

Money matters. Given the empirical data presented in this Article, it is fair to draw the assumption that a progressive prosecutor candidate’s viability depends much more on whether one or two billionaires support the candidate, especially George Soros. The Soros effect is undeniable for progressive DA candidates running in Democratic primaries, where it seems to be almost determinative for either victory or defeat. For criminal justice reformers interested in “progressive prosecution” as a way to end mass incarceration, it is crucial that this is acknowledged rather than suppressed. The better option is moving toward a model of public financing for prosecutorial elections. This would ensure that non-wealthy individual voters’ voices matter, and that progressive prosecutors who are elected do not chafe their communities to the point of impeding long-term criminal justice reform progress