Voter party preferences shift ahead of California’s special election

TL/DR –

The state of California is seeing a shift in party preference ahead of a special election on redistricting, with nearly half of all voters registered with the Democratic Party, 25% with the Republican Party, and 22% having no party preference. An additional 82,700 people have registered as No Party Preference voters and the Republican Party has gained 48,000 voters, while Democrats have only gained 190 voters since February 10th. Political strategists believe this could be a result of people moving away from partisanship in favor of individual ideological beliefs, with the national rhetoric and division within the Democratic Party also playing a role.

Ahead of Special Election, California Sees Shifts in Party Preference | California Politics 360

As of last month, nearly half of all registered voters in California are Democrats, while Republicans account for 25%, and 22% have no party preference.

This week, over 23 million California voters will receive their ballots for the special election on redistricting. This was enacted by Democrats to counterbalance President Trump’s push for more Republican seats in other states. The latest numbers show a shift in voter registration and party affiliation.

Since February 10, 82,000 individuals have registered to vote with no party preference. The Republican Party saw a significant increase, gaining 48,000 voters, while the Democrats added just 190 voters in over 200 days.

Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio and Republican Tim Rosales joined California Politics 360 to offer insights into these statistics and their potential impact on the special election.

Maviglio commented that this shift is more of a ripple than a wave, noting that the number of Democrats has flattened out while the Republicans have only so much lower to go. Rosales discussed the increase in independent voters who have ideological positions but are hesitant to join a party.

When discussing the influence of President Trump on the Republican party, Rosales believes the national rhetoric is making an impact. He pointed out a struggle within the Democratic party, between younger, progressive leaders and the old guard. This division might be causing some voters to step back from committing to a party.

The strategists also discussed the potential impact of these numbers on Prop 50, a fairness issue concerning the drawing of new congressional maps by Democrats. Maviglio believes that Democrats have the advantage due to their numbers, while Rosales thinks it could go either way.

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