Are Placer and El Dorado counties still Republican strongholds? Here are the latest numbers

Placer and El Dorado counties have long been Republican strongholds, reliably voting for conservative candidates in presidential elections every year since Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980.

But a new wave of voters in the last four years have registered with the Democrats or refused to affiliate with either party, winnowing the registration gap.

Both counties, which are a mix of suburban, semi-rural and rural communities east of Sacramento, still have more Republicans than Democrats, and a majority in both may vote for to reelect President Trump in November. But the Democrats are growing faster.

In Placer County, the number of Democrats increased by 26%, or 16,000, from 2016 to 2020, according to the California Secretary of State. By comparison, the number of Republicans grew by 9%, or 8,600.

A higher proportion of Placer County voters are registered as Democrats today than during any presidential election since 2000.

The Republican Party hit its most recent peak in Placer County in 2004, when 52% of voters were Republicans and 29% were Democrats. Today, 42% of the county’s voters are Republican and 31% are Democrats. The number of voters declining to affiliate with any party rose from 15% in 2004 to 21% today.

In El Dorado County, the number of Democrats increased by 18%, or 6,100, from 2016 to 2020. The number of Republicans grew by 9%, or 4,500.

There is a higher proportion of El Dorado County voters registered as Democrats today than during any presidential election since 2008.

In 2004, 47% of voters in El Dorado County were Republicans and 32% were Democrats. Today, 41% of the county’s voters are Republican and 31% are Democrats. The number of voters declining to affiliate with any party rose from 16% in 2004 to 21% today.

Roseville and Rocklin, the two largest communities in Placer County, are driving much of the growth in Democratic registration.

In Rocklin, the number of Democrats rose by 38% from 2016 to 2020, triple the rate of growth among Republicans. In Roseville, the number of Democrats rose by 33%, also triple the rate of growth among Republicans.

The number of Democrats grew at a faster pace than the number of Republicans in all of the two counties’ incorporated areas.

The trends are consistent with a pattern seen statewide.

Since 2016, the number of registered voters has increased sharply in California. There are more Democrats and Republicans today than four years ago.

But the proportion of voters registered as Republicans has shrunk while the proportion registered as Democrats has grown, along with the proportion of voters refusing to affiliate with either party.

While cultural factors are contributing to the registration numbers, a big factor is the expansion of the Motor Voter Program. Implemented in spring 2018, it automatically registers residents to vote when they go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to register a car or get a license.

Many new registered voters are young.

The only places where Republicans are thriving are rural and semi-rural northern California counties. The number of Democrats grew at a faster pace than the number of Republicans in 42 of the state’s 58 counties from 2016 through 2020.