Republican Wave Doesn't Reach California

Republicans made large gains on Election Day, continuing a national trend. But that trend doesn’t extend to California.

Since President Barrack Obama has been in office Republicans have gained 68 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 14 seats in the US Senate. The GOP now controls both the governor’s office and legislatures in 24 states.

But Field Poll director Mark DeCamillio says the trend stops at the California border. He says for the past six years California Democrats have dominated in national and state races. And he says a geographical divide is becoming more apparent in the state.

"Along the coast the Democrats generally win most of the counties. In fact they win at least three quarters of the counties," he says. "And the Republicans win a large majority of the 38 inland counties."

DeCamillio says Democratic coastal communities contain 70 percent of the state’s voters, which helps the Democrats retain dominance. He says more ethnic voters also help the party.