Californians vote Biden, but are hesitant on liberal legislation

While 63.8% of Californians voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 general election, they didn’t show the same left-leaning support towards a number of propositions. WikiCommons

Since 1992, California voters have voted decisively in favor of the Democratic ticket for the president of the United States. The 2020 general election was no exception. 

Democratic candidate and President-elect Joe Biden carried the vote over incumbent President Donald Trump in California. According to The Associated Press, Biden received 63.8% of the vote in the state, compared to Trump’s 34.1%. Thus, one may infer these clear margins would result in the passage of other more liberal state legislation. 

That, however, was not the case. 

California voters rejected propositions that would restore affirmative action, encourage rent control and increase property taxes to improve funding for schools. Instead, they voted in favor of legislation that will reduce labor protections on ride share and delivery drivers within companies such as Uber and Lyft.

These results may seem surprising, given California’s reputation as an overwhelmingly blue state. However, the propositional results may be attributed to the geographic location of voters within the state itself, according to Gordon Babst, a Chapman University political science professor. 

“As to those voting more liberal ... (the propositions) reflect the generally progressive mindset of Californians, especially on the coast and in the key industries of entertainment and high tech,” Babst said.

This phenomenon is particularly evident in Proposition 21’s results. This piece of legislation would have expanded the ability of local governments to further regulate rent control. However, in the entire state, the only counties to vote in favor of this proposition was San Francisco and Alameda, where housing prices are some of the highest in the country.

“In California, homeowners make the rules and homeowners generally have no interest in rent control. However, if they do have any interest, it will be against it,” said Kenneth Stahl, a Chapman real estate law professor. 

Additionally, Californians took definite stances on propositions regarding their property taxes. Voters ultimately voted in favor of California Proposition 19, which in part would open up a loophole for the elderly to maintain their property tax cuts. However, they voted against California Proposition 15, which would increase property taxes on many businesses to increase funding to schools.

Why the contradiction?

“People are not ideologically consistent,” Stahl said. “Ultimately, when it comes to people's own homes and properties, they vote for the value of their homes and properties, not their ideological philosophy.”

Beyond these housing-related propositions, there were others on the ballot that may have confused California voters on matters of legislation – chief among them Proposition 22. Support for the state legislation now denies drivers protections like healthcare and unemployment insurance. However, the drivers will still be allowed to set their own schedules as independent contractors.

“The proposition's purpose was to close a door to drivers and other employees lobbying for greater benefits and re-categorization,” Babst said. “But it was sweetened with some concessions that may have inclined people to support the measure.” 

Thus, other than the majority vote for Biden, it seems as if California voters took a split stance to Democratic legislation in this particular election cycle, whether due to confusion or selfishness. 

“People’s political ideology stops at their gated community, and then they start worrying about their property,” Stahl said. “For example, they may believe in Black Lives Matter, but they don’t want low-income housing in their communities that might actually allow minorities to live in their neighborhoods.”