Senator Adam Schiff revealed that two years ago, while in South San Francisco, his luggage was stolen from his car. Afterward, when he went to a nearby Target store late at night to buy toiletries, he encountered a cashier who, without saying it directly, implied that "Democrats are a-holes." This blunt remark came in the context of the store locking up items like shampoo due to theft concerns, which frustrated the cashier. Schiff used this personal experience to highlight a larger issue within the Democratic Party, warning that if even a cashier in San Francisco at 10 PM holds such a negative view of Democrats because of crime and security measures, then the party has a "major problem" that must be addressed. He emphasized the need for Democrats to change how they operate in California and to seriously tackle citizens' valid concerns about crime

. Schiff also expressed hope in San Francisco's new Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie, who he believes is leading a reinvention in how Democrats govern. However, Schiff's story serves as a stark warning that the party risks losing touch with everyday voters, especially working-class individuals who feel neglected amid rising crime, homelessness, and economic struggles in major cities like San Francisco