Posted on 08/14/2026 9:54:24 PM PDT by thecodont
If you look at a map of the 2024 presidential election results, you can draw a squiggly line down the state of California, splitting it in two from north to south. The coastal area of the state voted overwhelmingly blue, while the inland area is almost entirely red (with the exception of three small counties bordering Nevada). Many of the rouge-colored counties flipped from blue to red in that most recent election, but new research analyzing the state’s political leanings has mapped out some core findings from California’s political divide.
A recent report from the Public Policy Institute of California underscores many long-held stereotypes but also finds some key surprises.
For example, there was once a strong divide between north and south in the state, with most areas surrounding Los Angeles leaning Republican. Some pockets still exist, but Orange County, known for its conservative strongholds, has made a steady shift left that’s helped dilute a historically conservative area. Instead, the report found California’s conservative heartbeat in the northern area that includes suburbs of Sacramento and the Redding/Red Bluff area. At least 40% of residents there describe themselves as conservative. “[Orange] County is more of a swing county than the bastion of conservatism like it used to be,” study author Eric McGhee said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Hasn’t Orange County been largely made up of an influx of “immigrants” of a certain variety by now?
The area lost defense contracts. Remember B-1 Bob?
Wow, what a newsflash!!!!
The last time in a presidential election that California’s old stereotypical north (Democrat) south (Republican) split was *clearly* evident was.....
1976.
What other revelations did this “recent report” come up with about 1976, LOL?
How about “Disco is here to stay!!!”
[BTW, states such as Ohio, Indiana and Illinois used to have similar splits except north was Republican and south was Democrat (dating back to old Civil War allegiances).]
I think if you fun a line the length of Calif, you split it fro east to west, not north to south. Also the coastal vs the inland areas are east to west, not north to south.
I think your comment is spot-on, even if you didn’t proof-read it.
“I think if you fun a line the length of Calif, you split it fro east to west, not north to south. Also the coastal vs the inland areas are east to west, not north to south.”
____________________________________________________________
The coastal areas have the vast majority of the population in California. The areas to the East are collectively known as “the cow counties,” and account for maybe 4 million residents. The coastal areas have around 35 million residents.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.