California’s Republican Party is becoming more diverse, and it’s showing in the results of recent elections. For the first time in decades, Latino and Asian American candidates have flipped three seats that were previously held by Democrats. One of the most notable victories was when Republican Steven Choi, a Korean-American, unseated a Democrat senator, something that hasn’t happened in a presidential election since 1980.
Even though Democrats still have control of the state Legislature with a supermajority, these three Republican wins are sparking hope among Republicans that California’s political landscape may be changing. They point to the increasing support from Latino and Black voters for Donald Trump as a sign that people are becoming frustrated with the current leadership.
Brian Jones, the leader of California’s Senate Republicans, emphasized that not only are Republicans growing in number, but they’re also becoming more diverse. In fact, for the first time, the Republican caucus is on track to have at least 50% nonwhite members, a sign that the party is shifting. Currently, 13 out of 27 Republican lawmakers in the state Legislature are not white. That number could rise even further, depending on the results of two pending elections.
Jones also pointed out that the Republican caucus in the Senate has a good number of women, including three Latina Republicans. One of the biggest upsets came when Orange County Senator Josh Newman, a Democrat, conceded his seat to Republican Steven Choi, marking the first time in decades that Republicans managed to oust a Democrat in a presidential election year.
Two other Republican wins in the Assembly were also noteworthy. In the predominantly Latino Imperial and Coachella valleys, Republican Jeff Gonzalez defeated a Democrat in a district where the Democrat registration advantage was 14 points. Meanwhile, in another tight race, Republican Leticia Castillo narrowly led her Democrat opponent, Clarissa Cervantes, in the Inland Empire, with just a 600-vote margin.
Democratic leaders argue that these wins don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. They say the election results don’t signal a huge shift, especially since Democrats still control every statewide office and maintain their supermajority in the Legislature. They also point out that most of the Democratic incumbents up for reelection won.
Some experts, though, warn that these Republican victories shouldn’t be dismissed as flukes. They suggest that Republicans are beginning to make real inroads with nonwhite voters, particularly in more suburban and rural areas of California. Political analysts say that if Republicans continue to field diverse candidates who resonate with local communities, they could continue to make gains, even if they’re not likely to retake full control of the state in the near future.
Part of the shift comes from the changing demographics of Republican-leaning districts, which are becoming more diverse as California’s population becomes less white. Political experts like Christian Grose from USC note that while nonwhite voters in urban areas are still generally Democratic, there has been a noticeable shift toward Republicans in some rural and suburban areas, particularly among men and people without college degrees.
Political consultant Mike Madrid believes the recent election results are a warning for Democrats. He argues that the politics of racial and ethnic identity, which have defined political affiliations in the past, are losing their influence. He sees the emerging multiracial working class as the future of politics in the U.S., with both Latino and white voters coming together to support Republicans.
Republicans argue that their victories show that voters across all races are fed up with Democratic policies. Some of the issues that stood out during the election were California’s high cost of living, which has left many residents feeling frustrated. Incoming Republican Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, who won in the Imperial and Coachella valleys, pointed out that people are noticing how much cheaper things are just across the Arizona state line, and they’re realizing that California’s policies are making life more expensive.
For Republicans like Gonzalez and Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, the election results show that Latinos in California are feeling overlooked by the current majority party. Sanchez believes that California is entering a new political era, one where Republicans, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, will play a bigger role in shaping the state’s future.
While Democrats still hold the upper hand, these Republican victories are making it clear that California’s political landscape is evolving. Whether it’s a temporary shift or the beginning of something more significant remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: voters are paying attention, and change may be on the horizon.