Capitol Alert

California is a blue state, but just how blue? Nearly half the state votes Democratic

An election ballot is dropped off at a downtown Fresno voting drop box prior in this 2022 file photo.
An election ballot is dropped off at a downtown Fresno voting drop box prior in this 2022 file photo. Fresno Bee file

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DEMOCRATS MAKE UP NEARLY HALF THE STATE ELECTORATE, SURVEY SAYS

Nearly half of all California voters are Democrats, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, which released its finding last week.

The PPIC found that 46.2% of California voters vote Democratic, up about a percentage point from 2020 (45.3%).

Republicans, too, saw a slight uptick in registration, with 24.7% this year compared to 23.9% in 2020. The GOP has fallen dramatically in enrollment over the last few decades; in 2004, more than a third (34.7%) of California voters identified as Republican.

Meanwhile, the share of No Party Preference, or independent, voters has declined in recent years, with 21.9% identifying as such in 2024, down from 25.1% in 2020.

Independents make up a little more than a fifth of the California electorate. According to the PPIC, independents split evenly as either lean Democratic or no party preference, at 38%, while 24% say they lean Republican.

They’re more likely to be “moderate” in their politics (54%) than liberal (25%) or conservative (20%).

As for likely voters, a disproportionate number of them are white. White people make up just 38% of the state population, but account for half of all likely voters. Latinos, who make up 36% of the state, only comprise 26% of likely voters.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Not good news for Trump. Terrible news for down ticket Republicans.”

- California GOP consultant Mike Madrid, discussing a Fox News poll showing Kamala Harris closing the gap with Donald Trump in Sun Belt states, via Threads.

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