The Politics of Crime: Safer Streets, Sharper Divides
Byline: Olson Strategies Staff
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Dustin Olson, Managing Partner at Olson Strategies and pollster with American Pulse, joined Newsmax’s Wake up America to discuss the political impact of crime policies in Washington, D.C. and beyond.
Crime and Leadership
Olson pointed out that public safety remains a concern for voters—especially in cities struggling with violent crime. Reflecting on D.C.’s recent decline in violence, he noted:
"[DC had] a murder-free week, it's been about 12 days, I think, since the last murder—that's pretty amazing. And you have a city like Chicago that has a murder a day. Other cities would like to have [safety]."
He added that these improvements stand in stark contrast to places like New York City, where "85% of New Yorkers say that crime is a problem. Nearly 50% say it's a serious problem." According to Olson, voters are tired of policies that fail to make their communities safer.
Cashless Bail and Cuomo’s Problem
Olson highlighted how policies that encourage crime have directly hurt Democratic leaders in the eyes of voters. He cited new American Pulse polling showing that "54% of New Yorkers actually are less likely to vote for Cuomo because of his cashless bail policies."
The Wrong Side of Everything
Olson explained that Democrats have boxed themselves into a losing position by reflexively opposing policies tied to Donald Trump—even when those policies are popular.
"We used to have polarized issues where 50% of the country is on one side, 50% were on the other side… but now today, we have 80/20 issues. And Donald Trump can easily just polarize it by adding his name to a popular issue, and Democrats reflexively will go to the other side of it."
He argued this dynamic leaves Democrats "on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of this issue," leading to historically low approval ratings and a difficult midterm cycle ahead.
DC’s Crime Crackdown in Context
Since the federal government’s intervention in Washington, D.C., the results speak for themselves: robbery is down 46%, carjacking down 83%, and violent crime down 22%. Residents are experiencing a murder-free week for the first time in a while.
As Olson emphasized, these results are more than numbers—they represent real families spared from tragedy: "For the people who were murdered earlier this summer in DC, this could have happened a lot sooner, and maybe they'd still be alive."
While Democrats have dismissed the federal crackdown, for many families worried about loved ones walking the streets, it’s a long-overdue relief.
📊 For more polling, visit: PollingClub.com