Bold, Diverse, Energized: Communities of Color in California

• In Event: Examinations of Diversity of Ideologies and Opinions

Abstract

California is among the nation’s most diverse states. The solid blue reputation is often attributed to the growing diverse population of the state. Political parties take California’s liberal ideology for granted and do not campaign in the state, ignoring much of the diverse population, which contributes to the political marginalization of these communities of color. The diversity of the state also includes conservative and liberal pockets, often intersecting with race and class across the state. Furthermore, we argue that these intersections make race central in the ideological formation of communities of color, even when in otherwise homogenous (in race or ideology) regions. This study addresses these dynamics by examining the political attitudes of communities of color within the state to uncover the ideological variations to show how groups remain politically unincorporated. We explore three regions: the Bay Area, an area with a reputation for its liberal policies; the Central Valley, known to “bleed red” in a blue state; and the Central Coast, the area that connects these two polarizing regions. Using the 2020 Bay Area Research Initiative Political Survey (BARIPS), we examine the political attitudes of these three regions to explore the motivations behind the political behaviors of California’s diverse population. The results from this study will help us better understand the political behavior of communities of color in a diverse state. Particularly we will provide a clearer understanding behind how political behavior differs among different groups who are living in a liberal state. The results from this study will further help to politically incorporate underrepresented populations.

Authors

• Marcela García-Castañon, San Francisco State University

• Ivy A.M. Cargile, California State University, Bakersfield

• Danvy Le, California State University, East Bay