Abstract

This article uses political maps to trace the ways in which the geopolitical transformation of California -- from a state divided along North/South lines to one split between the conservative inland areas and the more liberal coastal communities -- has also changed the state's two parties. Internal divisions within the Democratic Party have become muted over the past 30 years, while the Republican Party has split into two geographic and ideological factions.

Recommended Citation

Kousser, Thad (2009) "How Geopolitics Cleaved California's Republicans and United Its Democrats," California Journal of Politics and Policy: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1, Article 4.
DOI: 10.2202/1944-4370.1004
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/cjpp/vol1/iss1/4