Cracks in the California Blue
Although California maintains a reputation of being a staunchly blue state — as shown by its tendency to go blue in the presidential elections since Bill Clinton’s first campaign in 1992. However, as shown in the past election, California has proven to be less of a Democratic stronghold than previously thought. While Joe Biden and Kamala Harris handidly swept up the state’s 55 electoral votes in November 2020, a closer look at the lower level offices and statewide propositions indicate that our state is not as solid blue as it once was.
In contrast to the so-called 2018 “Blue wave” that swept both California and the nation as a whole, largely seen as a response to the Trump administration, the 2020 election saw Republicans take back four congressional seats as well as the passage of various propositions that pushed against rent control and organized labor in favor of big corporations, among other things. It comes as part of a larger trend that sees the Democratic party’s hold on California loosening. But why? Some suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic posed obstacles, especially to a party where many campaign successes are built off of canvassing and real conversations with constituents. The New York Times indicates that the Republican party’s sublime ability to twist and spin narratives were factors, whether that be attacks on Gov. Gavin Newsom and his handling of the pandemic, or exaggerations that the Democrats were the party of “Radical Leftists”. California GOP leaders point towards the Black Lives Matters protests from summer 2020 as a point that drew concerns from moderate/conservative Californians.
Propositions on the ballot pose even more questions to California Democrats. The passage of Prop 22 was seen as a victory for big technological corporations and a hard loss for organized labor. The proposition allows ride-share apps and delivery services (Uber, Lyft, Doordash, etc) to classify their drivers as “independent contractors” rather than full-time employees. Such a designation means that the drivers do not receive employee benefits, like insurance or overtime pay, and now do not have the right to collectively bargain or be protected against workplace discrimination. Democratic consultants have pointed to the massive campaigns led by the corporations to pass Prop 22; these corporations spent over $200 million to promote a “Yes” vote on Prop 22, breaking state spending records in the process. The 59 percent “Yes” vote proves the result of such spending; when voters are surrounded solely by advertisements and campaigns to vote Yes, the end result is not surprising.
So what exactly went wrong for Democrats in California? It’s important to note that the state still remains very much blue, but little cracks like congressional representation and the status of ballot measures are important to consider in the future. Perhaps this will serve as a warning that California is not the same distinct Democratic haven anymore. Sitting idly by in hopes that all will remain well cannot and should not be the approach taken. Rather, it’s time for California Democrats to reevaluate their strategies and policies in coming elections.
Written by TGP State Correspondent Dannela Lagrimas. Edited by TGP Editor-in-Chief Ria Chaudhary.
