SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

What’s wrong with California?

Nov 21, 2016, 9:50 PM

Election records of the last 64 years raise an inescapable question: what happened to California? The Golden State used to be a sure-thing for the GOP, with Republicans winning California in 9 of 10 elections between 1952 and 1992.

But after ’92, Democrats swept the Golden State in seven straight elections, winning by nearly two-to-one this year. It’s not just a reflection of millions of immigrants entering the state, but of hard-working middle class families leaving it. Squeezed by high taxes, over-regulation and limited opportunity, long-time Californians departed for states like Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas, replaced to some extent by young, college-educated, secular progressives drawn to Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

With the middle class disappearing, California’s become increasingly a state of the struggling, immigrant poor and the upwardly mobile, highly educated rich—in other words, big government Democrats, with little room for middle class (and working class) Republicans.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

Associated Press

Hurricane Nolo gains speed as it moves away from Hawaii, but high winds, flash floods are still risk

HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Hurricane Nolo was moving away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, but the threat of heavy rains, flash flooding and strong winds persisted in areas recovering from previous storms. By early Sunday, Nolo was about 260 miles (418 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii’s southernmost point and was moving away from the Big […]

46 minutes ago

A Coast Guardsman tosses a rope to a kayaker in distress after the kayaker's boat overturned north ...

Tom Brock

San Juan Islands Rescue: Coast Guard crews save man after his kayak overturns

A Coast Guard helicopter and rescue boat saved a man from the chilly waters of the Salish Sea Friday, after his kayak capsized near Orcas Island.

57 minutes ago

Associated Press

Three people were killed and four were injured in shooting at Detroit strip club, police say

DETROIT (AP) — Three people were killed and four more were injured when an argument led to gunfire at an after-hours strip club Sunday morning in Detroit, officials said. Police responding to the 7:21 a.m. shooting on a largely residential street found three men who had been fatally shot, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison told […]

1 hour ago

Boeing (2)...

Tom Brock

Software glitch raises safety concerns for Boeing 737 MAX planes

Boeing has notified its customers of a computer glitch on its 737 MAX planes that could force pilots to land manually, instead of using autopilot.

3 hours ago

Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Ass...

Associated Press

UN speakers’ go-to quotes: Ancient texts, modern greats and a little Talking Heads

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Presidents, premiers, monarchs and cabinet ministers have plenty to say at their annual gathering at the U.N. General Assembly. Still, sometimes they borrow a few words, quoting from a range of sources. Speakers this week touched on homeland sayings, ancient texts, figures of moral authority and more — even a bit […]

4 hours ago

Police stand at a road block on the road to RAF Fairford after an incident, in Whelford, England, S...

Associated Press

Air base at the center of a UK terror probe has been used by the US Air Force during the Iran war

LONDON (AP) — British police arrested five men on Sunday on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism and explosives offenses outside RAF Fairford, a military base in western England that’s operated by the U.S. Air Force. Three suspicious vehicles are being searched, and counterterror officers are leading the investigation. Here’s what to know about […]

4 hours ago

What’s wrong with California?