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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Political Science > Conservatives > Northern California Political Status
Conservatives - Northern California Political Status
Expert: Dennis - 9/27/2008
Question
What is northern california's political majority, specifically trends towards conservative versus Liberal; by northern california, i mean Redding and Eureka?
Answer
As strange as it may seem, geography and history plays a role in a State's political beliefs. Those beliefs start to change when there is a demographic change (such as immigration) to that State's native population.
It is not an accident that the Northeast, upper midwest, and West Coast are Liberal bastions, while the South and midwest are Conservative strongholds. The people who settled in those areas were either Liberal or Conservative in their beliefs and those ideals were handed down to the next generations.
If you look at where changes may be taking place, it is in States where the native population is being impacted by "outlanders." Virginia is becoming more Liberal because of population change. It has become the #3 retirement spot in the U.S. (after AZ and FLA.) people moving there come from the NE and are generally Liberal. Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico have been impacted by a large Hispanic influx, and although Hispanics are culturally conservative, they are fiscally and politically Liberal. Michigan has seen many of its Union jobs leave (and population) and it is edging toward more of a Conservative bent. I wish I could explain Iowa, but I know nothing about its political make-up. I do know though, that like Minnesota, Iowa has had a very strong Leftist Farmers union/organizations from the period of the Great Depression, and this may explain their recent shifts.
Specifically for California, the San Francisco Bay area has always had a strong 'Liberal' slant. There has always been an entrepreneurial spirit of innovators and pioneers in Silicon Valley.
The Univ. of CA at Berkeley has been a hotbed of revolt for decades. Demographics also plays a role in the bay area; with many of the original settlers coming from the Northeastern seaboard and Europe, where liberalism thrives - the newcomers brought this progressive thought with them. The Bay area has lost none of its progressive vigor. Because of shifting populations Marin and Sonoma county have also become very Democratic. Sort of like what has happened in Chicago. As the population moved into the suburbs, they took their politics with them, and the suburbs became more Democratic.
The Central Valley in CA has largely been a conservative GOP stronghold - and again demographics play a role. Many of the original settlers came from the lower great plains- which traditionally has a 'Bible Belt' conservative background.
Orange county has many former 'Okies' as well, and for years has been a conservative bastion. However in recent years Latino immigrants have tilted the county less Republican.
L.A County remains largely a Democratic stronghold, perhaps less slightly so then the bay area. The central coast is a tossup, leaning more to the Democrats of late.
San Diego tilts to the right, perhaps because of its past strong military presence.
So to answer your question, Northern California is Liberal as is Oregon and Washington because that is where the Liberals settled.
As for Eureka, Bush received 23,014 votes and John Kerry received 34,270 votes. So it follows the Northern CA/ Liberal slant. I don't know anything about Redding, but Bush received 45,392 votes and John Kerry received 20,980 votes. So apparently there is something about that town that has a more Conservative base. Perhaps they have a military base or Boeing factory or something. Hope this helps.
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