Democratic Domination in

The Pacific States

By: Ben Vail and Marianne Needham

Hawaii

% of Senate, Assembly, and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

California% of Senate, Assembly, and Governor Controlled by

Democratic Party

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Oregon% of Senate, Assembly, and Governor Controlled by

Democratic Party

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

Washington% of Senate, Assembly, and Governor Controlled by

Democratic Party

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

Hawaii

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

% of Lower House Controlled by Democrats

% of Upper House Controlled by Democrats

Carl Klarner 1959-2000 dataset, "Measurement of Partisan Balance of State Government."

California

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

% of Lower House Controlled by Democrats

% of Upper House Controlled by Democrats

Carl Klarner 1959-2000 dataset, "Measurement of Partisan Balance of State Government."

Oregon

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

% of Lower House Controlled by Democrats

% of Upper House Controlled by Democrats

Carl Klarner 1959-2000 dataset, "Measurement of Partisan Balance of State Government."

Washington

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

% of Lower House Controlled by Democrats

% of Upper House Controlled by Democrats

Carl Klarner 1959-2000 dataset, "Measurement of Partisan Balance of State Government."

Liberalism

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1960

1963

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism

CA

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1960

1963

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism

HI

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1960

1963

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism

OR WA

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

1960

1963

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism

Berry, Ringquest, et al, Measuring Citizen and State Government Ideology, American Journal of Political Science, January 1998.

% of Democratic Vote in Presidential Elections

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

1952

1956

1960

1964

1968

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

2004

WA OR CA HI USA

Hawaii

1960 2004

Democratic Victory Democratic Victory

Blue = Republican

Washington 20041960

Democratic VictoryRepublican Victory

Blue = Republican

Oregon20041960

Democratic VictoryRepublican Victory

Blue = Republican

California

Democratic VictoryRepublican Victory

1960 2004

Blue = Republican

Conclusions

• States are strongly democratic

• Educated People - High Tech Jobs and Minorities

• Urban vs. Rural

• States are trending liberal