Texas-Cali Feud Over Crime Rates Pits Dallas Against Los Angeles

A political clash has emerged in the public eye, centering on a dispute between California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office and officials from Dallas. The feud apparently sparked by a social media post that drew comparisons between crime rates in Los Angeles and Dallas.

The exchange was sparked over the weekend by Newsom’s press team, which unleashed a series of posts targeting Republican-led states and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in response to the approval of new congressional maps that benefit the GOP. 

In a recent post, the California governor's office asserted that the murder rate in Dallas is nearly twice that of Los Angeles.

“I find it fascinating to observe how crime statistics are utilized,” remarked Timothy Bray, a criminologist at the University of Texas at Dallas.

According to data released by Newsom’s office, 2024 police reports reveal that Dallas has a homicide rate of 14 per 100,000 residents, while Los Angeles stands at 7.1 per 100,000.

Bray confirmed the accuracy of those figures but emphasized that such comparisons fail to capture the complete picture of safety in both cities. “Although that information might hold some truth, I believe it fails to provide a precise evaluation of which city poses a greater danger for residents,” he stated. “As individuals reflect on their quality of life, the concerns extend beyond violent crime to fundamental questions like: ‘Am I able to step outside and feel secure?’”

Bray highlighted that the 2024 data reveal Los Angeles experiencing elevated rates of robbery, aggravated assault, and criminal sexual assault compared to Dallas.

On Monday, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux took to X to share his perspective, presenting what he characterized as a fact check in response to recent discussions.

Relatedly, Dallas has recorded 49 fewer murders in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, resulting in a rate of 6.29 murders per 100,000 residents. ”Dallas's rate of 6.29 murders per 100,000 residents falls short of Los Angeles's 6.95,” Comeaux stated.

Los Angeles boasts a population of 3.8 million, making it nearly three times the size of Dallas. Authorities caution that relying solely on homicide rates, or any singular metric, presents a misguided approach to evaluating public safety in large urban areas.

“Selecting a single statistic for comparison may seem straightforward, but such an approach fails to capture the intricate reality of quality-of-life neighborhoods,” Bray stated.

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