Why do you think California voted overwhelmingly — by a margin of 30 points — for the Democratic PRESIDENTIAL candidate Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump, at the same time that California voted more in line with Republican endorsements than with Democratic endorsements on state PROPOSITIONS?
In other words, at the same time that the Democratic Party leadership helped orchestrate a landslide in California for its lackluster presidential candidate Biden, smashing Trump, the Republican Party got its way on a majority of the 12 state propositions. Republican politicians are a distinct minority in California; the state has had a “super-trifecta” for almost a decade, with Democratic governors and Democratic super-majorities in both houses of the legislature.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS 2020: Whose values won?
CHART NOTES
(na) – Endorsement was neutral, or no position
Prop 25 – Green Party is against cash bail, but this proposition’s replacement could be as bad or worse.
Green positions – matched the Democratic in all but four props. For half of those one or the other party had a neutral position.
WHY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN PROPOSITIONS?
First: I hope you have a moment to write some of your thoughts before reading the following. Second: please consider this list, by no means exhaustive, of some possible explanations. I’m hoping to receive many thoughtful emails!
- Media focused most of its attention on the presidential race
- Democratic Party focused its efforts on presidential, not on their endorsed propositions
- People voted NO if their current taxes or expenses might be increased
- People voted YES if something would not cost them more money
- Fear of Trump winning a second term was intense in California
- People generally voted out of fear
- People do not trust the propositions that sound good
- People do not trust the government to use tax money wisely
- People trust corporations more than government
- People tend to vote NO, which aligned with Republican endorsements (but if so, why do voters tend to vote NO?)
- Money talks and TV ads and mailers sway people
This question about state propositions came up last weekend when the Green Party of California held its twice-yearly state meeting online. We also addressed next steps for advancing corporate-free solutions in the nation, and in the nation-state of California. The Green Party will continue to run locally, and even win races. We will not stop — and that is a subject for another blog…
Maybe the bottom line answer about state proposition voting is that people are waiting for a government they can trust. Wouldn’t it be great if we had Proportional Representation like 90-plus other countries in the world? With PR, we would have what 60% of Americans want: more than just two parties. We improve our chances when we register Green now. The Green Party, a political party that is not funded by billionaires and corporations, would have seats at the table. Corporate-free politics would have decision-making power in our governments. What a concept.
Thanks Laura,
I think the last suggestion “Money talks and TV ads and mailers sway people” was dominate. As a Green I did not get a lot of mailers personally, however I share my house with Democrats and Republicans. The extremely fancy mailers on the Republican side of issues were dominate, especially on 22 by a landslide. With the focus on the Presidential election, many people were probably confused by the deceptive named “officially and unofficially” named propositions. I only saw one “Democratic” small mailer listing Democratic party positions and this came week before election after many people had already voted. I can’t speak much to TV ads as I don’t watch much corporate TV!