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California Democratic Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

California Democratic Party
ChairpersonRusty Hicks
GovernorGavin Newsom
Lieutenant GovernorEleni Kounalakis
Senate President pro temporeMike McGuire
Assembly SpeakerRobert Rivas
Headquarters1830 9th Street, Sacramento CA 95811
Membership (2023)Increase 10,305,901[1]
IdeologyProgressivism[2]
Modern liberalism[3]
Social liberalism[4]
Centrism[3]
National affiliationDemocratic Party
Colors  Blue
Seats in the U.S. Senate
2 / 2
Seats in the U.S. House
40 / 52
Statewide Executive Offices
8 / 8
Seats in the State Senate
31 / 40
Seats in the State Assembly
62 / 80
Website
cadem.org

The California Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of California. It is headquartered in Sacramento, the state capital.

With 46.59% of the state's registered voters as of February 2024, the Democratic Party has the highest number of registrants of any political party in California and the highest number of pre-registered voters at 37.21%.[5] It is currently the dominant party in the state, and is one of the largest affiliates of the national Democratic Party. The party currently controls the majority of California's U.S. House seats, both U.S. Senate seats, the governorship, and has supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature.

History

[edit]

1850s

[edit]

Since the beginning of the 1850s, issues regarding slavery had effectively split the California Democratic Party. By the 1853 general election campaign, large majorities of pro-slavery Democrats from Southern California, calling themselves the Chivalry (later branded as Lecompton Democrats), threatened to divide the state in half, should the state not accept slavery. John Bigler, along with former state senator and lieutenant governor David C. Broderick from the previous McDougall Administration, formed the Free Soil Democratic faction, modeled after the federal Free Soil Party that argued against the spread of slavery.

The Democrats effectively split into two camps, with both the Chivalry and Free Soilers nominating their own candidates for the 1853 election.[6] By 1857, the party had split into the Lecompton and Anti-Lecompton factions. Lecompton members supported the Kansas Lecompton Constitution, a document explicitly allowing slavery into the territory, while Anti-Lecompton faction members were in opposition to slavery's expansion. The violence between supporting and opposition forces led to the period known as Bleeding Kansas. Splits in the Democratic Party, as well as the power vacuum created by the collapse of the Whig Party, helped facilitate the rise of the American Party both in state and federal politics. In particular, state voters voted Know-Nothings into the California State Legislature, and elected J. Neely Johnson as governor in the 1855 general elections.

During the 1859 general elections, Lecompton Democrats voted for Milton Latham, who had briefly lived in the American South, as their nominee for governor. Anti-Lecomptons in turn selected John Currey as their nominee. The infant Republican Party, running in its first gubernatorial election, selected businessman Leland Stanford as its nominee. To make matters more complicated, during the campaign, Senator David C. Broderick, an Anti-Lecompton Democrat, was killed in a duel by slavery supporter and former state Supreme Court Justice David Terry on September 13.[7]

Late 19th and early 20th centuries

[edit]
Governor James Budd in his office

Until the early 1880s the Republican Party held the state through the power and influence of railroad men. The Democratic Party responded by taking an anti-corporate, anti freedom of attainment position. In 1894, Democrat James Budd was elected to the governorship, and the Democratic Party attempted to make good on their promises to reform the booming railroad industry. The party began working closely with the state's railroad commission to create fair rates for passengers and to eliminate monopolies the railroad companies held over the state. The main effort focused on making railroads public avenues of transportation similar to streets and roads. This measure passed and was a great victory for the Democrats, but the honeymoon would not last.[8] Budd was to be the last Democratic governor for thirty years. The struggle between the anti-monopolists and the railroad companies was, however, a key and defining issue for the Democratic Party for some time.

Despite their relative lack of power during this period, the Democrats in California were still active in pursuing reform. The party supported fairer railroad policies and crusaded for tariff reform.[8] The party also supported the large scale railroad strikes that sprung up statewide. The corruption of the time in both the railroad companies and the government led to a change in political dynamic. The people of the state moved away from both of the main parties and the Progressive Movement began.

While the Progressives were successful in creating positive reform and chasing out corruption, the movement drained away many of the Democratic Party's members. As their movement ended, the Republicans won the governorship, but the Democratic Party had a distinct voter advantage.

In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president, and the Power balance between the Republicans and the Democrats in California equalized. However, as Roosevelt's New Deal policies began to raise the nation out of the depression, Democratic strength mounted. Culbert Olson was elected to the governorship, but his term was rocky, and both parties organized against him. Shortly thereafter, Earl Warren and the Republicans regained power again.

The California Democratic Party needed a new strategy to regain power in the state. A strategy of re-organization and popular mobilization emerged and resulted in the creation of the California Democratic Council. The CDC, as it became known, was a way for members of the party from all levels of government to come together, and, as such, the party became more unified. A new network of politically minded civilians and elected officials emerged, and the party was stronger for it.[4] Despite the fact that the council struggled in the Cold War era, due to Republican strength and issues such as the Vietnam War, it still exists today.[9]

1990s

[edit]

By 1992, California was hurting more than most states from a national recession which had started in 1990, causing incumbent Republican president George H. W. Bush's approval rating to tank within the state, giving an opening for the Democratic party to break through and eventually become the largest party. Starting with the double digit victory of Bill Clinton, this became the first time a Democrat had carried the state of California since 1964. Afterwards, a consolidation of the Latino and Asian vote would strengthen the Democratic party's hold in California, when these groups had previously been considered core Republican supporters within the state.

The California Democratic Party began re-organizing in 1991, and in 1992, the party won the greatest victories in the history of California. President Clinton won California's 54 electoral votes, and two women, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, were elected as U.S. senators.

Even though redistricting (re-apportionment) was executed by a Republican State Supreme Court, California Democrats in November 1992 had increased their margin at all levels—congressional, state assembly and in the state senate.

In 1994, California Democrats suffered a setback by losing the governor's race for the fourth time in a row, and the Democrats became a minority in the State Assembly. However, despite $29 million spent by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Huffington, Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein won re-election.

The 1996 elections proved to be a dramatic turnaround from the results of 1994, as President Bill Clinton won California's 54 electoral votes for a second consecutive time. Three Republican congressmen were also defeated, including Bob Dornan in the conservative stronghold of Orange County. In addition, California Democrats also regained the majority in the State Assembly, while adding to their majority in the state senate.

Davis's official biography profile as governor

1998 was a banner year for California Democrats. An overwhelming majority of Californians elected Gray Davis, the first Democratic governor in 16 years, and re-elected U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Six of eight candidates for statewide constitutional offices won, including Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Treasurer Phil Angelides, Controller Kathleen Connell, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin. In addition, California Democrats increased their majority in the State Assembly from 43 to 48, and also in the state senate from 23 to 25.

21st century

[edit]

Holding off a national Republican trend in 2002, California Democrats won all eight statewide offices for the first time since 1882. Governor Gray Davis, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and State Treasurer Phil Angelides were all re-elected, while Steve Westly was elected State Controller, Kevin Shelley was elected Secretary of State, John Garamendi was elected Insurance Commissioner, and Jack O'Connell was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

This feat (winning all statewide offices) was repeated in 2010, when, despite massive Republican gains nationwide, the California Democratic Party swept all the statewide offices being contested, maintained its 34–19 edge in the 53-member U.S. House delegation, and won one additional seat (thus increasing their majority) in the State Assembly, while maintaining their current majority in the state senate.

In the 2012 election, California Democrats experienced tremendous success once again: Not only did President Barack Obama win California's 55 electoral votes again, with over 60% of the vote, and Senator Dianne Feinstein was re-elected with over 62% of the vote, but California Democrats – despite running in federal and legislative districts that were redrawn by an independent redistricting commission for the first time, per the passage of Propositions 11 and 20, and the implementation of a new blanket primary – also won a net gain of four House seats by defeating three GOP incumbents and winning an open GOP seat, and won a supermajority in both houses of the state legislature, a feat which the party last accomplished in 1882.[10] Geographically, the 2012 elections also witnessed the California Democratic Party make inroads in traditionally Republican areas: San Diego, the second largest city in California and a long-time GOP stronghold, elected a Democratic mayor for the first time since 1988.[11] California Democrats also notched up victories in other traditionally Republican areas, such as the Inland Empire, Ventura County, the Central Valley, and Orange County.[12]

Participation of "independent" voters

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Since January 2001, California has had a "modified" closed primary system in which political parties can determine whether or not to allow voters who are not affiliated with any party (i.e. "independent") to participate in the party's primary. The passage of Proposition 14 limited this "modified" closed primary system to primaries for President of the United States, starting with the 2012 primaries. Since the primaries in 2004, the California Democratic Party has allowed "independent" voters to vote in every Democratic primaries, as applicable.[13]

Governance and Organization

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Leadership

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Officers of the California Democratic Party are elected by Delegates of the Democratic State Central Committee at the Spring Re-Organizing Meeting following the Midterm or Presidential Elections. All officer serve 4 year staggered terms with the Chair, 1st Vice-Chair, and 2nd-Vice Chair being elected following presidential elections, and the Secretary and Controller being elected following midterm elections.[14] Below are the current officers:[15]

Chair: Rusty Hicks

1st Vice-Chair: Betty Yee

2nd Vice-Chair: David Campos

Secretary: Diana Love

Controller: Carolyn Fowler

Party Delegates

[edit]

The California Democratic Party is a "political party that has detailed statutory provisions applicable to its operation", which are in division 7, part 2 of the California Elections Code.[16][17][18] The Democratic State Central Committee, which is the governing body of the California Democratic Party, functions pursuant to its standing rules and bylaws.[19][20] The Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) is composed of approximately 2,900 delegates that are selected through a wide variety of manners. Including being a Democratic elected official or a California Democratic Party official; or being appointed by chartered organizations of the California Democratic Party or county central committees; or being elected as an Assembly District Delegate.[21] The executive board is composed of approximately 320 members and holds all powers and duties of the California Democratic Party while the state central committee or its conventions are not in session.[21][22]

There are semi-autonomous county central committees for each of California's 58 counties. Each county central committee elects 4 members, plus a member for each 10,000 registered Democrats in that county, to the state central committee.[21][23] The state central committee bylaws specify that county central committees may provide for the election of their allocation of membership on an at-large basis, or by county supervisor districts or Assembly districts, or by any combination thereof.[24]

Of the DSCC Delegates, 1,120 are Assembly District Delegates, elected by registered Democrats within each of California's 80 Assembly districts in "Assembly district election meetings" (ADEM's).[21][25] ADEM's are held biennially in January in every odd numbered year with voters electing 14 delegates to the state central committee per assembly district, divided as equally as possible between men and women, with the highest vote getter in each district regardless of gender, serving as that district's representative to the executive board.[26][27]

County central committees

[edit]

At every direct primary election, a county central committee is elected in each county.[28] The California Elections Code specifies how county central committee members are elected.[29] Candidates for county central committees are nominated pursuant to division 8, part 1, chapter 1 of the Elections Code,[30] which defines requirements such as the number of Democratic registered voters required (20–40) to sign a nomination.[31][32] A county central committee may also select its members at any time by holding a caucus or convention or by using any other method of selection approved by the committee.[33] If the number of candidates nominated for election does not exceed the number of candidates to be elected, the candidates are not listed on the ballots, but are instead declared elected by the board of supervisors.[34]

County central committees
County party Elected members
Los Angeles County Democratic Party There are 7 county central committee members elected at-large by Democratic voters in each California State Assembly district contained wholly or partially within Los Angeles County.[35][36]
San Diego County Democratic Party There are 6 county central committee members elected by Democratic voters in each California State Assembly district contained within San Diego County.[37][38]
Orange County Democratic Party There are 6 county central committee members elected by Democratic voters in each California State Assembly district contained within Orange County at the primary election in each even numbered year.[37][39][40]
Santa Clara County Democratic Party There are 6 county central committee members elected by Democratic voters in each California State Assembly district contained within Santa Clara County.[37][41][42]
Alameda County Democratic Party There are 6 county central committee members elected by Democratic voters in each California State Assembly district contained within Alameda County.[37][43]
Sacramento County Democratic Party There are 6 county central committee members elected by Democratic voters in each supervisor district in Sacramento County.[44]
San Francisco Democratic Party The 24-member county central committee is elected from the two Assembly districts in San Francisco, with a 14/10 member split between the two Assembly districts based on number of registered Democrats.[45][46]
San Mateo County Democratic Party There are 22 elected members of the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee. They are elected by Democratic voters in each County Supervisor District every four years in the presidential election cycle.[47]
Santa Cruz County Democratic Party There are 21 elected members of the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee. They are elected by Democratic voters in each County Supervisor District every four years in the presidential election cycle.[48]
Fresno County Democratic Party There are 23 elected members of the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee. They are elected by Democratic voters in each County Supervisor District every four years in the presidential election cycle.[49]

List of chairs

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Organization

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The Democratic State Central Committee of the California Democratic Party of California is organized into nine standing committees: Platform, Resolutions, Rules, Legislation, Affirmative Action, Credentials, Finance, Organizational Development, and Voter Services.[62] Its headquarters are at 1830 9th St Sacramento, California.[63]

Platform

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The California Democratic Party published a 2022 platform.

Current elected officials

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The following is a list of Democratic statewide and legislative officeholders, as of January 2, 2023 (federal office holders as of January 20, 2021);

Statewide constitutional officers

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After the last election, Democrats maintained control over all eight elected statewide constitutional offices:

Federal executive officials

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Federal officeholders for the 118th United States Congress

[edit]

U.S. Senate

[edit]

Both of California's seats in the U.S. Senate have been under Democratic control since 1992:

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

Of the 52 seats California is apportioned in the U.S. House following the 2020 census, 40 are held by Democrats:[76][77]

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 2007–2011 and 2019–2023

Board of Equalization, State Senate, and State Assembly

[edit]

Board of Equalization

[edit]

Democrats hold four of the five seats on the State Board of Equalization: three of the four district-based seats, and the at-large ex officio seat reserved for the incumbent State Controller, who, in this instance, is Democrat Malia Cohen.

State Senate

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As of August 8, 2024, Democrats hold a 31–9 supermajority in the 40-member California State Senate following Marie Alvarado-Gil switching to Republican party.[78][79] The Democrats have been the majority party in the Senate continuously since 1956.

State Assembly

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As of December 2022, Democrats hold a 62–18 supermajority in the 80-seat California State Assembly.[81] The Democrats have been the majority party in the Assembly continuously since 1996.

Mayoral offices

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Most of the state's major cities have Democratic mayors. As of 2023, Democrats control the mayor's offices in eight of California's ten largest cities:

Other notable mayors include:

Election results

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Presidential

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California Democratic Party presidential election results
Election Presidential Ticket Votes Vote % Electoral votes Result
1852 Franklin Pierce/William R. King 40,721 53.02%
4 / 4
Won
1856 James Buchanan/John C. Breckinridge 53,342 48.38%
4 / 4
Won
1860 Stephen A. Douglas/Herschel V. Johnson 37,999 31.71%
0 / 4
Lost
1864 George B. McClellan/George H. Pendleton 43,837 41.40%
0 / 5
Lost
1868 Horatio Seymour/Francis Preston Blair Jr. 54,068 49.76%
0 / 5
Lost
1872 Horace Greeley/Benjamin G. Brown (Liberal Republican) 40,717 42.51%
0 / 6
Lost
1876 Samuel J. Tilden/Thomas A. Hendricks 76,460 49.08%
0 / 6
Lost
1880 Winfield S. Hancock/William H. English 80,426 48.98%
5 / 6
Lost
1884 Grover Cleveland/Thomas A. Hendricks 89,288 45.33%
0 / 8
Won
1888 Grover Cleveland/Allen G. Thurman 117,729 46.84%
0 / 8
Lost
1892 Grover Cleveland/Adlai E. Stevenson 118,174 43.83%
8 / 9
Won
1896 William Jennings Bryan/Arthur Sewall 144,766 48.51%
1 / 9
Lost
1900 William Jennings Bryan/Adlai E. Stevenson 124,985 41.34%
0 / 9
Lost
1904 Alton B. Parker/Henry G. Davis 89,404 26.94%
0 / 10
Lost
1908 William Jennings Bryan/John W. Kern 127,492 32.98%
0 / 10
Lost
1912 Woodrow Wilson/Thomas R. Marshall 283,436 41.81%
2 / 13
Won
1916 Woodrow Wilson/Thomas R. Marshall 466,289 46.65%
13 / 13
Won
1920 James M. Cox/Franklin D. Roosevelt 229,191 24.28%
0 / 13
Lost
1924 John W. Davis/Charles W. Bryan 105,514 8.23%
0 / 13
Lost
1928 Al Smith/Joseph T. Robinson 614,365 34.19%
0 / 13
Lost
1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt/John N. Garner 1,324,157 58.39%
22 / 22
Won
1936 Franklin D. Roosevelt/John N. Garner 1,766,836 66.95%
22 / 22
Won
1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt/Henry A. Wallace 1,877,618 57.44%
22 / 22
Won
1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt/Harry S. Truman 1,988,564 56.48%
25 / 25
Won
1948 Harry S. Truman/Alben W. Barkley 1,913,134 47.57%
25 / 25
Won
1952 Adlai Stevenson/John Sparkman 2,257,646 42.27%
0 / 32
Lost
1956 Adlai Stevenson/Estes Kefauver 2,420,135 44.27%
0 / 32
Lost
1960 John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson 3,224,099 49.55%
0 / 32
Won
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson/Hubert Humphrey 4,171,877 59.11%
40 / 40
Won
1968 Hubert Humphrey/Edmund Muskie 3,244,318 44.74%
0 / 40
Lost
1972 George McGovern/Sargent Shriver 3,475,847 41.54%
0 / 45
Lost
1976 Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale 3,742,284 47.57%
0 / 45
Won
1980 Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale 3,083,661 35.91%
0 / 45
Lost
1984 Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro 3,922,519 41.27%
0 / 47
Lost
1988 Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen 4,702,233 47.56%
0 / 47
Lost
1992 Bill Clinton/Al Gore 5,121,325 46.01%
54 / 54
Won
1996 Bill Clinton/Al Gore 5,119,835 51.10%
54 / 54
Won
2000 Al Gore/Joe Lieberman 5,861,203 53.45%
54 / 54
Lost
2004 John Kerry/John Edwards 6,745,485 54.31%
55 / 55
Lost
2008 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 8,274,473 61.01%
55 / 55
Won
2012 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 7,854,285 60.24%
55 / 55
Won
2016 Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 8,753,788 61.73%
55 / 55
Lost
2020 Joe Biden/Kamala Harris 11,110,250 63.48%
55 / 55
Won

Gubernatorial

[edit]
California Democratic Party gubernatorial election results
Election Gubernatorial candidate Votes Vote % Result
1849 Did not endorse a candidate
1851 John Bigler 23,175 50.48% Won Green tickY
1853 John Bigler 38,940 50.97% Won Green tickY
1855 John Bigler 46,225 47.47% Lost Red XN
1857 John B. Weller 53,122 56.71% Won Green tickY
1859 John Currey 31,298 30.46% Lost Red XN
1861 John Conness 30,944 25.63% Lost Red XN
1863 John G. Downey 44,622 40.97% Lost Red XN
1867 Henry Huntly Haight 49,895 54.03% Won Green tickY
1871 Henry Huntly Haight 57,520 47.89% Lost Red XN
1875 William Irwin 61,509 50.03% Won Green tickY
1879 Hugh J. Glenn 47,667 29.75% Lost Red XN
1882 George Stoneman 90,694 55.08% Won Green tickY
1886 Washington Bartlett 84,965 43.43% Won Green tickY
1890 Edward B. Pond 117,184 46.42% Lost Red XN
1894 James Budd 111,944 39.34% Won Green tickY
1898 James G. Maguire 129,261 45.03% Lost Red XN
1902 Franklin Knight Lane 143,783 47.22% Lost Red XN
1906 Theodore Arlington Bell 117,645 37.7% Lost Red XN
1910 Theodore Arlington Bell 154,835 40.14% Lost Red XN
1914 J. B. Curtin 116,121 12.53% Lost Red XN
1918 Did not field a candidate
1922 Thomas Lee Woolwine 347,530 35.98% Lost Red XN
1926 Justus S. Wardell 282,451 24.69% Lost Red XN
1930 Milton K. Young 333,973 24.13% Lost Red XN
1934 Upton Sinclair 879,537 37.75% Lost Red XN
1938 Culbert Olson 1,391,734 52.49% Won Green tickY
1942 Culbert Olson 932,995 41.75% Lost Red XN
1946 Earl Warren (Republican) won party primary
1950 James Roosevelt 1,333,856 35.14% Lost Red XN
1954 Richard P. Graves 1,739,368 43.16% Lost Red XN
1958 Pat Brown 3,140,076 59.75% Won Green tickY
1962 Pat Brown 3,037,109 51.94% Won Green tickY
1966 Pat Brown 2,749,174 42.27% Lost Red XN
1970 Jesse Unruh 2,938,607 45.14% Lost Red XN
1974 Jerry Brown 3,131,648 50.11% Won Green tickY
1978 Jerry Brown 3,878,812 56.05% Won Green tickY
1982 Tom Bradley 3,787,669 48.09% Lost Red XN
1986 Tom Bradley 2,781,714 37.38% Lost Red XN
1990 Dianne Feinstein 3,525,197 45.78% Lost Red XN
1994 Kathleen Brown 3,519,799 40.62% Lost Red XN
1998 Gray Davis 4,860,702 57.97% Won Green tickY
2002 Gray Davis 3,533,490 47.26% Won Green tickY
2003 (recall) Cruz Bustamante (best-performing) 2,724,874 31.5% Lost Red XN
2006 Phil Angelides 3,376,732 38.91% Lost Red XN
2010 Jerry Brown 5,428,149 53.8% Won Green tickY
2014 Jerry Brown 4,388,368 59.97% Won Green tickY
2018 Gavin Newsom 7,721,410 61.95% Won Green tickY
2021 (recall) Kevin Paffrath (best-performing) 706,778 9.6% Recall failed
2022 Gavin Newsom 6,470,104 59.2% Won Green tickY

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Report of Registration: Odd-numbererd year report" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ a b "The liberal-moderate rift among Democrats has blown open in California". Politico. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Bell Jonathan, "Social Democracy and the Rise of the Democratic Party in California 1950 – 1964" The Historical Journal
  5. ^ "California Secretary of State Report of Registration-February 2024" (PDF).
  6. ^ California Research Bureau (June 1853). "Studies in the News". California State Library. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  7. ^ "Election History for the state of California". JoinCalifornia. September 7, 1859. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  8. ^ a b Williams Hal, "The Democratic Party and California Politics 1880 – 1896" (Stanford University Press, California, 1973)
  9. ^ "California Democratic Council – California Democratic Council". www.cdc-ca.org. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  10. ^ Onishi, Norimitsu (November 9, 2012). "Democrats Likely to Win Supermajority in California Legislature". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Home". sandiego6.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "Dan Walters: California's GOP 'fishhook' is losing its barb – Dan Walters – the Sacramento Bee". Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  13. ^ "History of Political Parties That Have Adopted Party Rules Regarding No Party Preference Voters". California Secretary of State. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  14. ^ "CADEM Bylaws Updated August 2023" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Leaders". California Democratic Party. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  16. ^ California Elections Code § 7050
  17. ^ West's California Jurisprudence 3d. Vol. 28. Bancroft-Whitney Company. 1972. p. 615. OCLC 605100. The organization, operation, and functions of the Democratic Party of California are specifically regulated by the Elections Code.
  18. ^ Eu v. San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee (1989), 489 U.S. 214 Archived 2014-03-12 at the Wayback Machine. "The State of California heavily regulates its political parties. … The California Elections Code (Code) provides that the 'official governing bodies' for such a party are its 'state convention,' 'state central committee,' and 'county central committees,' …"
  19. ^ California Elections Code § 7150
  20. ^ By-Laws & Rules of the California Democratic Party Archived 2013-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. July 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d "About Us / California Democratic Party". California Democratic Party. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  22. ^ By-Laws Article VII, § 1(a)
  23. ^ By-Laws Article II, § 4(a)
  24. ^ By-Laws Article II, § 4(f)
  25. ^ By-Laws Article VI, § 1(a)(2)
  26. ^ By-Laws Article II, § 1(a)(4), § 5(a), § 5(b)
  27. ^ By-Laws Article VI, § 1(a)(1)
  28. ^ California Elections Code § 7225 et seq.
  29. ^ California Elections Code §§ 7200–7216
  30. ^ California Elections Code § 7227
  31. ^ California Elections Code § 8062
  32. ^ California Elections Code § 8068
  33. ^ California Elections Code § 7230
  34. ^ California Elections Code § 7228
  35. ^ California Elections Code § 7203
  36. ^ Constitution and By-Laws of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee Archived March 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, 10 April 2012, p. 2
  37. ^ a b c d California Elections Code § 7202
  38. ^ San Diego County Democratic Party Bylaws Archived 2014-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, 20 November 2012, Article 2, § 1(B)(2)
  39. ^ "Central Committee – Democratic Party of Orange County". Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  40. ^ Orange County Democratic Central Committee Bylaws Archived March 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, August 2009, Article II, § 1(A)
  41. ^ "Central Committee – Santa Clara County Democratic Party". Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  42. ^ Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee By-Laws Archived March 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, § II.A.1.
  43. ^ Bylaws of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Archived March 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, August 7, 2013, Article II, § 2
  44. ^ Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee Constitution Archived 2014-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, March 2013, Article II, § 1(B)(1)
  45. ^ California Elections Code § 7204
  46. ^ San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee Bylaws [permanent dead link], 23 January 2013, Article 2, § 1(a)(1)
  47. ^ "About Us". smcdems.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  48. ^ "About". cruzdemocrats.org. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  49. ^ "Leadership". fresnocountydemocrats.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  50. ^ "Elizabeth Snyder; Led State Democratic Party". Los Angeles Times. August 28, 1998. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  51. ^ "Firm Mourns the Passing of Founder Charles T. Manatt". Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
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