Rather, the amended bill used broader wording about safeguarding sex trafficking victims, which infuriated politicians and advocates from both parties.
Republicans in the state Senate blasted the action, saying it sent the wrong message to traffickers and criminals and undermined protections for children.
Using recordings of adolescent girls accusing Democratic lawmakers of obstructing legislation that would have protected them, the California GOP began a targeted advertising campaign.
Rhodesia Ransom (Stockton), Esmeralda Soria (Merced), Pilar Schiavo (Santa Clarita), Jacqui Irwin (Thousand Oaks), Mark González (Los Angeles), Corey Jackson (Moreno Valley), Sharon Quirk-Silva (La Palma), and
No more hiding.
Green = voted to protect predators.
Red = voted to protect kids.
This is who stood with traffickers in #caleg #ab379 (Krell) pic.twitter.com/opaSNu8kQY
— California Assembly Republicans (@AsmRepublicans) May 1, 2025
Darshana Patel (San Diego) were among the eight members of the Democratic Assembly named in the advertisements. Many of those legislators are from competitive or swing districts.
The advertisements, which were extensively shared on social media after being originally published by KCRA 3, were perceived as a direct reaction to the Democratic amendments to AB 379.
