Reagan was born in Illinois.
Illinois didn't elect him Governor and give him a political base from which to launch a presidential run.
don't mattter.......ask anyone who knew him.....Reagan was a Californian thru and thru.....it is where you live your life and where your heart is......
Reagan was President Screen Actors Guild, California.
Governor twice - California. Though he was born in Illinois, he made no mark there.
As an aside, the conservatives are marginalized because they have a litmus test - abortion. Most conservatives are fiscal/government (imo).