Politics of Los Angeles County
The politics of Los Angeles County leans Democratic. Los Angeles County has voted Democratic in every Presidential election since 1988, with every Democratic nominee winning the county by a margin of at least 25 points since 1992. Los Angeles County has voted for the Democratic candidate in most of the presidential elections in the past four decades, although it did vote twice for Dwight Eisenhower (1952, 1956), Richard Nixon (1968, 1972), and Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984), the latter two of whom were Californians. From 1920 to 1984 it could be considered as a reliable bellwether county which always voted for the eventual national winner. Los Angeles went against the overall national picture in 1988, 2000, 2004, 2016, and 2024.[1]
Northern Los Angeles County, which includes the cities of Santa Clarita, Lancaster, and Palmdale, has historically been a Republican stronghold, but has been shifting Democratic in recent elections. All three cities voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.[2][3] The region is represented in the House of Representatives by Democrat George Whitesides and Republican Jay Obernolte. The region currently leans Democratic in presidential elections, but less so than the rest of the county.
| Year | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1852 | 497 | 46.41% | 574 | 53.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1856 | 521 | 37.84% | 721 | 52.36% | 135 | 9.80% |
| 1860 | 356 | 20.27% | 703 | 40.03% | 697 | 39.69% |
| 1864 | 555 | 42.73% | 744 | 57.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1868 | 748 | 37.70% | 1,236 | 62.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 1,312 | 51.11% | 1,228 | 47.84% | 27 | 1.05% |
| 1876 | 3,042 | 45.69% | 3,616 | 54.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 2,914 | 47.90% | 2,853 | 46.90% | 316 | 5.19% |
| 1884 | 5,595 | 51.67% | 4,683 | 43.24% | 551 | 5.09% |
| 1888 | 13,805 | 54.64% | 10,110 | 40.02% | 1,349 | 5.34% |
| 1892 | 10,226 | 44.89% | 8,119 | 35.64% | 4,434 | 19.47% |
| 1896 | 16,891 | 49.62% | 16,043 | 47.13% | 1,108 | 3.25% |
| 1900 | 19,200 | 55.10% | 13,158 | 37.76% | 2,490 | 7.15% |
| 1904 | 32,507 | 66.50% | 10,030 | 20.52% | 6,346 | 12.98% |
| 1908 | 41,483 | 56.77% | 22,076 | 30.21% | 9,518 | 13.02% |
| 1912 | 2,181 | 1.32% | 55,110 | 33.34% | 108,005 | 65.34% |
| 1916 | 135,554 | 50.59% | 114,070 | 42.58% | 18,297 | 6.83% |
| 1920 | 178,117 | 69.10% | 55,661 | 21.59% | 23,992 | 9.31% |
| 1924 | 299,675 | 65.51% | 33,554 | 7.33% | 124,228 | 27.16% |
| 1928 | 513,526 | 70.22% | 209,945 | 28.71% | 7,830 | 1.07% |
| 1932 | 373,738 | 38.55% | 554,476 | 57.19% | 41,380 | 4.27% |
| 1936 | 357,401 | 31.62% | 757,351 | 67.00% | 15,663 | 1.39% |
| 1940 | 574,266 | 40.58% | 822,718 | 58.13% | 18,285 | 1.29% |
| 1944 | 666,441 | 42.68% | 886,252 | 56.75% | 8,871 | 0.57% |
| 1948 | 804,232 | 46.51% | 812,690 | 47.00% | 112,160 | 6.49% |
| 1952 | 1,278,407 | 56.21% | 971,408 | 42.71% | 24,725 | 1.09% |
| 1956 | 1,260,206 | 55.38% | 1,007,887 | 44.29% | 7,331 | 0.32% |
| 1960 | 1,302,661 | 49.45% | 1,323,818 | 50.25% | 8,020 | 0.30% |
| 1964 | 1,161,067 | 42.52% | 1,568,300 | 57.43% | 1,551 | 0.06% |
| 1968 | 1,266,480 | 47.65% | 1,223,251 | 46.02% | 168,251 | 6.33% |
| 1972 | 1,549,717 | 54.75% | 1,189,977 | 42.04% | 90,676 | 3.20% |
| 1976 | 1,174,926 | 47.78% | 1,221,893 | 49.69% | 62,258 | 2.53% |
| 1980 | 1,224,533 | 50.18% | 979,830 | 40.15% | 235,822 | 9.66% |
| 1984 | 1,424,113 | 54.50% | 1,158,912 | 44.35% | 29,889 | 1.14% |
| 1988 | 1,239,716 | 46.88% | 1,372,352 | 51.89% | 32,603 | 1.23% |
| 1992 | 799,607 | 29.04% | 1,446,529 | 52.54% | 507,267 | 18.42% |
| 1996 | 746,544 | 30.96% | 1,430,629 | 59.34% | 233,841 | 9.70% |
| 2000 | 871,930 | 32.35% | 1,710,505 | 63.47% | 112,719 | 4.18% |
| 2004 | 1,076,225 | 35.60% | 1,907,736 | 63.10% | 39,319 | 1.30% |
| 2008 | 956,425 | 28.82% | 2,295,853 | 69.19% | 65,970 | 1.99% |
| 2012 | 885,333 | 27.83% | 2,216,903 | 69.69% | 78,831 | 2.48% |
| 2016 | 769,743 | 22.41% | 2,464,364 | 71.76% | 200,201 | 5.83% |
| 2020 | 1,145,530 | 26.74% | 3,028,885 | 70.70% | 109,530 | 2.56% |
| 2024 | 1,189,862 | 31.91% | 2,417,109 | 64.82% | 122,118 | 3.27% |
Voter registration statistics
| Population and registered voters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total population[6] | 10,014,009 | |
| Registered voters[7] | 5,745,214 | 86.3% |
| Democratic | 2,994,715 | 52.1% |
| Republican | 1,056,154 | 18.4% |
| Democratic–Republican spread | +1,938,561 | +33.7% |
| American Independent | 186,676 | 3.3% |
| Green | 27,222 | 0.4% |
| Libertarian | 48,319 | 0.8% |
| Peace and Freedom | 42,069 | 0.7% |
| Unknown | 35,995 | 0.6% |
| Other | 50,721 | 0.9% |
| No party preference | 1,303,343 | 22.7% |
Legislative districts
In the United States House of Representatives, Los Angeles County is divided among 17 congressional districts:[8]
- California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte
- California's 26th congressional district, represented by Democrat Julia Brownley
- California's 27th congressional district, represented by Democrat George T. Whitesides
- California's 28th congressional district, represented by Democrat Judy Chu
- California's 29th congressional district, represented by Democrat Luz Rivas
- California's 30th congressional district, represented by Democrat Laura Friedman
- California's 31st congressional district, represented by Democrat Gil Cisneros
- California's 32nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Brad Sherman
- California's 34th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jimmy Gomez
- California's 35th congressional district, represented by Democrat Norma Torres
- California's 36th congressional district, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu
- California's 37th congressional district, represented by Democrat Sydney Kamlager-Dove
- California's 38th congressional district, represented by Democrat Linda Sánchez
- California's 42nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Robert Garcia
- California's 43rd congressional district, represented by Democrat Maxine Waters
- California's 44th congressional district, represented by Democrat Nanette Barragán and
- California's 45th congressional district, represented by Democrat Derek Tran.
In the California State Senate, Los Angeles County is divided among 13 legislative districts:[9]
- the 20th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Caroline Menjivar,
- the 22nd senatorial district, represented by Democrat Susan Rubio,
- the 23rd senatorial district, represented by Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares,
- the 24th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Ben Allen,
- the 25th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Sasha Renée Pérez,
- the 26th senatorial district, represented by Democrat María Elena Durazo,
- the 27th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Henry Stern,
- the 28th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Lola Smallwood-Cuevas,
- the 30th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Bob Archuleta,
- the 33rd senatorial district, represented by Democrat Lena Gonzalez,
- the 34th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Tom Umberg,
- the 35th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Laura Richardson, and
- the 36th senatorial district, represented by Republican Tony Strickland.
In the California State Assembly, Los Angeles County is divided among 24 legislative districts:[10]
- the 34th Assembly district, represented by Republican Tom Lackey,
- the 39th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Juan Carrillo,
- the 40th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Pilar Schiavo,
- the 41st Assembly district, represented by Democrat John Harabedian,
- the 42nd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jacqui Irwin,
- the 43rd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Celeste Rodriguez,
- the 44th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Nick Schultz,
- the 46th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jesse Gabriel,
- the 48th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Blanca Rubio,
- the 49th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Mike Fong,
- the 51st Assembly district, represented by Democrat Rick Zbur,
- the 52nd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jessica Caloza,
- the 53rd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Michelle Rodriguez,
- the 54th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Mark Gonzalez,
- the 55th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Isaac Bryan,
- the 56th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon,
- the 57th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Sade Elhawary,
- the 61st Assembly district, represented by Democrat Tina McKinnor,
- the 62nd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jose Solache,
- the 64th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Blanca Pacheco,
- the 65th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Mike Gipson,
- the 66th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Al Muratsuchi,
- the 67th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Sharon Quirk-Silva, and
- the 69th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Josh Lowenthal.
On November 4, 2008, Los Angeles County was almost evenly split over Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. The county voted for the amendment 50.1% with a margin of 2,385 votes.[11]
Cities by population and voter registration
| Cities by population and voter registration | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Population[1] | Registered voters[12] [note 1] |
Democratic[12] | Republican[12] | D–R spread[12] | Other[12] | No party preference[12] |
| Agoura Hills | 20,353 | 70.3% | 40.1% | 33.8% | +6.3% | 11.5% | 17.4% |
| Alhambra | 83,301 | 45.4% | 47.4% | 19.1% | +28.3% | 10.9% | 24.4% |
| Arcadia | 55,993 | 53.7% | 28.4% | 34.2% | -5.8% | 10.1% | 28.9% |
| Artesia | 16,495 | 44.1% | 46.9% | 24.2% | +22.7% | 9.8% | 20.7% |
| Avalon | 3,690 | 46.6% | 38.7% | 34.9% | +3.8% | 12.0% | 17.1% |
| Azusa | 46,177 | 40.1% | 46.8% | 25.2% | +21.6% | 11.9% | 18.7% |
| Baldwin Park | 75,441 | 38.9% | 54.5% | 17.0% | +37.5% | 10.2% | 20.2% |
| Bell | 35,602 | 31.6% | 61.7% | 12.1% | +49.6% | 9.2% | 18.3% |
| Bell Gardens | 42,294 | 30.6% | 61.5% | 11.2% | +50.3% | 9.6% | 19.4% |
| Bellflower | 76,243 | 44.2% | 51.5% | 22.4% | +29.1% | 11.4% | 17.2% |
| Beverly Hills | 34,042 | 66.0% | 45.3% | 24.7% | +20.6% | 10.1% | 21.8% |
| Bradbury | 932 | 67.8% | 24.5% | 48.7% | -24.2% | 8.1% | 20.7% |
| Burbank | 103,037 | 59.4% | 44.2% | 26.7% | +17.5% | 12.5% | 19.0% |
| Calabasas | 22,839 | 67.8% | 43.2% | 31.0% | +12.2% | 10.9% | 17.2% |
| Carson | 91,508 | 58.3% | 60.7% | 14.8% | +45.9% | 8.5% | 17.8% |
| Cerritos | 49,281 | 64.8% | 39.6% | 28.5% | +11.1% | 8.5% | 25.0% |
| Claremont | 34,824 | 66.0% | 45.0% | 30.4% | +14.6% | 10.7% | 16.0% |
| Commerce | 12,791 | 49.0% | 67.0% | 11.0% | +56.0% | 8.5% | 15.0% |
| Compton | 96,102 | 47.2% | 73.0% | 6.8% | +66.2% | 9.2% | 12.8% |
| Covina | 47,662 | 53.6% | 42.5% | 32.5% | +10.0% | 11.4% | 16.4% |
| Cudahy | 23,846 | 28.1% | 61.9% | 11.6% | +50.3% | 9.7% | 18.1% |
| Culver City | 38,899 | 69.4% | 57.0% | 15.9% | +41.1% | 11.2% | 18.1% |
| Diamond Bar | 55,668 | 58.0% | 34.5% | 31.7% | +2.8% | 10.5% | 25.5% |
| Downey | 111,329 | 48.3% | 50.1% | 25.8% | +24.3% | 10.3% | 16.0% |
| Duarte | 21,363 | 55.9% | 47.6% | 26.5% | +21.1% | 9.9% | 18.3% |
| El Monte | 113,763 | 31.7% | 50.9% | 17.1% | +33.8% | 11.1% | 23.1% |
| El Segundo | 16,597 | 68.8% | 33.5% | 37.3% | -3.8% | 13.2% | 18.9% |
| Gardena | 58,743 | 51.8% | 62.8% | 15.5% | +47.3% | 8.5% | 15.0% |
| Glendale | 192,069 | 50.6% | 40.7% | 27.5% | +13.2% | 11.5% | 22.6% |
| Glendora | 50,000 | 63.6% | 30.1% | 46.0% | -15.9% | 10.7% | 16.1% |
| Hawaiian Gardens | 14,309 | 32.2% | 53.8% | 17.0% | +36.8% | 10.8% | 20.6% |
| Hawthorne | 84,293 | 42.8% | 61.7% | 13.3% | +48.4% | 10.6% | 16.4% |
| Hermosa Beach | 19,422 | 70.4% | 35.4% | 32.5% | +2.9% | 13.7% | 20.9% |
| Hidden Hills | 2,370 | 59.0% | 38.7% | 38.2% | +0.5% | 9.8% | 15.6% |
| Huntington Park | 58,465 | 28.5% | 64.1% | 11.0% | +53.1% | 9.4% | 17.1% |
| Industry | 518 | 19.7% | 25.5% | 53.9% | -28.4% | 16.7% | 9.8% |
| Inglewood | 109,967 | 49.8% | 74.1% | 6.1% | +68.0% | 8.6% | 12.8% |
| Irwindale | 1,525 | 61.0% | 62.4% | 15.5% | +46.9% | 10.1% | 15.0% |
| La Cañada Flintridge | 20,248 | 73.2% | 30.0% | 46.1% | -16.1% | 8.5% | 17.2% |
| La Habra Heights | 5,304 | 72.9% | 23.1% | 53.5% | -30.4% | 9.8% | 16.0% |
| La Mirada | 48,363 | 57.0% | 38.2% | 37.9% | +0.3% | 10.2% | 16.3% |
| La Puente | 39,957 | 39.5% | 58.6% | 15.9% | +42.7% | 9.9% | 17.5% |
| La Verne | 31,139 | 66.5% | 34.4% | 43.0% | -8.6% | 10.3% | 14.9% |
| Lakewood | 79,994 | 60.7% | 44.5% | 30.9% | +13.6% | 10.9% | 16.4% |
| Lancaster | 152,678 | 46.0% | 39.9% | 35.4% | +4.5% | 14.4% | 14.2% |
| Lawndale | 32,652 | 40.8% | 54.0% | 17.8% | +36.2% | 11.5% | 19.1% |
| Lomita | 20,246 | 56.4% | 41.8% | 32.1% | +9.7% | 11.6% | 17.2% |
| Long Beach | 462,197 | 54.2% | 51.5% | 21.1% | +30.4% | 13.2% | 16.6% |
| Los Angeles | 3,782,544 | 48.0% | 56.1% | 15.9% | +40.2% | 12.1% | 18.0% |
| Lynwood | 69,818 | 34.7% | 66.5% | 9.4% | +57.1% | 9.4% | 16.4% |
| Malibu | 12,746 | 72.3% | 42.2% | 29.4% | +12.8% | 11.9% | 19.1% |
| Manhattan Beach | 34,986 | 72.1% | 35.8% | 37.8% | -2.0% | 11.0% | 17.7% |
| Maywood | 27,454 | 30.4% | 62.3% | 10.1% | +52.2% | 9.1% | 19.8% |
| Monrovia | 36,622 | 56.9% | 41.4% | 32.2% | +9.2% | 11.2% | 17.7% |
| Montebello | 62,470 | 47.1% | 59.0% | 16.7% | +42.3% | 9.2% | 16.7% |
| Monterey Park | 60,251 | 46.3% | 44.7% | 19.0% | +25.7% | 9.3% | 28.5% |
| Norwalk | 105,348 | 45.1% | 54.3% | 19.9% | +34.4% | 10.1% | 17.8% |
| Palmdale | 149,001 | 45.2% | 44.5% | 30.6% | +13.9% | 13.1% | 15.2% |
| Palos Verdes Estates | 13,412 | 77.1% | 25.4% | 51.6% | -26.2% | 8.7% | 16.4% |
| Paramount | 54,196 | 36.4% | 61.3% | 13.5% | +47.8% | 10.3% | 16.8% |
| Pasadena | 136,807 | 58.2% | 49.7% | 23.2% | +26.5% | 11.5% | 17.7% |
| Pico Rivera | 63,004 | 51.5% | 61.9% | 15.8% | +46.1% | 8.5% | 15.4% |
| Pomona | 148,946 | 39.3% | 52.1% | 20.2% | +31.9% | 12.3% | 17.6% |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | 41,575 | 69.4% | 31.7% | 42.8% | -11.1% | 9.1% | 18.4% |
| Redondo Beach | 66,397 | 66.6% | 38.0% | 31.4% | +6.6% | 13.4% | 19.8% |
| Rolling Hills | 1,790 | 85.9% | 19.3% | 57.1% | -37.8% | 10.2% | 16.3% |
| Rolling Hills Estates | 8,040 | 74.6% | 28.1% | 49.9% | -21.8% | 8.2% | 15.5% |
| Rosemead | 53,725 | 38.5% | 45.2% | 17.4% | +27.8% | 11.5% | 28.2% |
| San Dimas | 33,523 | 64.4% | 34.2% | 41.7% | -7.5% | 11.0% | 16.0% |
| San Fernando | 23,638 | 38.6% | 60.9% | 12.5% | +48.4% | 11.1% | 17.2% |
| San Gabriel | 39,703 | 41.8% | 41.4% | 22.8% | +18.6% | 10.8% | 26.8% |
| San Marino | 13,131 | 67.9% | 22.7% | 42.1% | -19.4% | 7.8% | 28.9% |
| Santa Clarita | 173,993 | 60.4% | 33.7% | 40.8% | -7.1% | 12.1% | 16.5% |
| Santa Fe Springs | 16,333 | 58.5% | 57.5% | 20.5% | +37.0% | 8.7% | 15.3% |
| Santa Monica | 89,153 | 72.9% | 53.7% | 15.4% | +38.3% | 13.5% | 19.6% |
| Sierra Madre | 10,881 | 75.8% | 38.0% | 36.8% | +1.2% | 11.0% | 16.7% |
| Signal Hill | 10,842 | 56.5% | 50.7% | 21.6% | +29.1% | 12.9% | 17.6% |
| South El Monte | 20,197 | 35.7% | 57.9% | 13.4% | +44.5% | 9.2% | 21.4% |
| South Gate | 94,586 | 37.7% | 62.6% | 12.5% | +50.1% | 9.2% | 17.3% |
| South Pasadena | 25,465 | 65.4% | 45.6% | 24.1% | +21.5% | 11.6% | 20.8% |
| Temple City | 35,372 | 50.7% | 35.3% | 28.4% | +6.9% | 10.6% | 27.7% |
| Torrance | 144,622 | 58.2% | 37.1% | 35.5% | +1.6% | 10.3% | 19.3% |
| Vernon | 112[13] | 69.6% | 23.1% | 32.1% | -9.0% | 26.9% | 23.1% |
| Walnut | 29,269 | 62.2% | 33.2% | 28.0% | +5.2% | 10.3% | 30.3% |
| West Covina | 105,810 | 51.0% | 46.7% | 25.9% | +20.8% | 10.8% | 18.9% |
| West Hollywood | 34,564 | 76.3% | 60.5% | 9.9% | +50.6% | 12.9% | 18.8% |
| Westlake Village | 8,276 | 77.3% | 31.9% | 42.1% | -10.2% | 11.6% | 16.8% |
| Whittier | 85,161 | 54.2% | 44.1% | 33.2% | +10.9% | 10.4% | 14.8% |
See also
Notes
- ^ Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
References
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
- ^ "Election data" (PDF). lavote.net. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
- ^ "Election data" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
- ^ Thompson and West. "Los Angeles County Election Results, 1849-1879: L.A. County Rejects Lincoln (Twice) & Chinese Immigration". SCVHistory.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Los Angeles County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Report of Registration as of October 21, 2024 Registration by County" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "2021 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) Congressional Districts" (PDF). California Senate Office of Demographics. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "2021 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) Senate Districts" (PDF). California Senate Office of Demographics. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "2021 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) Assembly Districts" (PDF). California Senate Office of Demographics. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Bowen, Debra. "Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table P1. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 31, 2013.