Is ita red wave, or are California voters coming down with a case of blue flu?
These are questions political insiders and data nerds are trying to answer after Republicans showed surprising strength in the first wave of mail ballot returns for next month’s primary election.
GOP voters accounted for 34% of early ballot returns as of Friday, up 8% compared to the same stage of the 2022 midterms, according todata compiled by research firm PDI.
Meanwhile, Democrats made up 41% of early returns, down 7 points from the same moment in the primary election four years ago. Independent ballot returns were up 2% compared to 2022.
Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a San Diego Republican, cautioned against over-interpreting the numbers but said the trend is encouraging for conservatives.
“When you take a look at the numbers, both in comparison to the numbers four years ago and voter registration, Democrats are way down and Republicans are up in early voting,” DeMaio told The Post.
“It may mean that many Democrats are taking longer to decide onthe governor’s raceand who ultimately they want to lead.”
The Democratic field is led by former U.S. Health and Human Services SecretaryXavier Becerra, progressive billionaireTom Steyerand former Orange County congresswomanKatie Porter, while San Jose MayorMatt Mahanand ex-Los Angeles MayorAntonio Villaraigosahave shown more feistiness in recent weeks.
On the Republican side, former Fox News hostSteve Hiltonappears to have a firm lead on Riverside County SheriffChad Bianco.
Most polls have Becerra and Hilton looking like the frontrunners to advance out of the state’s “jungle” primary system, which ignores party affiliation and has created anxiety on both sides of the political spectrum about being shut out of the November runoff.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
