California Becomes a State

• California became the 31st state in the U.S. in 1850.
• California’s early government and laws were influenced by three main things:
  1. The Gold Rush – When gold was discovered, many people rushed to California to find it, which changed the population and economy.
  2. Immigration – People from different countries moved to California, bringing new ideas and cultures that affected politics.
  3. Economic Growth – As businesses and industries grew, they influenced the way the government made decisions.
• The state had two main political groups. People in the north were mostly Republicans, and they were against slavery. People in the south were mostly Democrats, and they wanted slavery to continue.

Republican Dominance Begins

After the Civil War, the Republican Party took control in California.

• The Republicans supported businesses, railroads, and opposed slavery.
• Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, won California in the presidential elections of 1860 and 1864, which helped strengthen the party’s power.
• By the late 1800s, California mostly supported Republicans, but Democrats still had some influence.

Republican Stronghold with Progressive Influence

The Progressive Movement, led by Governor Hiram Johnson, became influential.

• Progressives were often members of the Republican Party, but they focused on making changes, such as giving women the right to vote and allowing people to have more direct control over government decisions.
• In 1928, Republican Herbert Hoover, who lived in California, won the state’s support in the presidential election.

The Great Depression Brings Democratic Influence

• Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) won California in 1932, reflecting national support for the New Deal.
• Though Republicans still held influence, FDR’s popularity helped Democrats grow in urban areas.

Growth of Republican Leaders in California

This period saw important Republican leaders from California rise to national power.

• During World War II, California’s economy grew because of military and aerospace jobs.
• Earl Warren, a Republican, was California’s governor from 1943 to 1953. He helped improve roads, schools, and other public services.
• Richard Nixon, who was from California, served as Vice President from 1953 to 1961. Later, he became President in 1968.
• Ronald Reagan, another Californian, became Governor in 1967. He later became President in 1981.

Conservative Ideas Stayed Powerful

• Republican Governor George Deukmejian (1983–1991) helped keep California’s politics conservative.
• California mostly voted for Republican candidates in presidential elections until 1988.

California Becomes a Democratic Stronghold

• In 1992, Bill Clinton, a Democrat, won the presidential election in California. Before that, Republicans had won the state for many years.
• Since then, California has always voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election.

Democrats Gain More Power in California

• In the year 2000, Al Gore, a Democrat, won California in the presidential election, and Democrats have won every election there since.
• Democratic governors, like Gray Davis (1999–2003) and Jerry Brown (2011–2019), helped strengthen liberal policies in the state.
• Barack Obama, a Democrat, was very popular in California, winning over 60% of the vote in both the 2008 and 2012 elections.

The Most Democratic-Leaning Time Period

• In 2016, Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, got 61% of the votes.
• In 2020, Joe Biden, also a Democrat, won with 63.5% of the votes—this was the biggest winning margin in recent history.
• In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom, another Democrat, won reelection without much competition.