Field Poll Shows Change In Republican Numbers In California
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) – As California prepares to host Wednesday night's presidential debate for GOP hopefuls in Simi Valley, a new Field Poll shows a change in the Republican Party in the state.
California has been known as a fairly reliable blue state, but Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said that wasn't always the case.
"Between 1952 and 1988, there were ten presidential elections and the Republican ticket carried in nine of them," he said. "One of the main reasons for that was that in seven of those ten, a Californian, either Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan, was on the ticket."
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
But DiCamillo said a review of surveys done over the past 20 years shows a net loss of nearly 300,000 registered Republicans in the state.
"Most of the reason for that is the changing demography," said DiCamillo. "With more and more ethnic voters, they're more likely to be voting or registering for Democrats."
The Field Poll found that while the number of registered Republicans in Coastal California has dropped by 600,000, inland, it's increased by more than 300,000 with Republicans now outnumbering Democrats.
Wednesday night's Republican debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
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