Why California's Orange County is the new blue
Orange County’s reputation as a GOP stronghold dates to the days when it had the highest percentage of registered Republicans in the state and was among the best-known red counties in the nation. In 1990, Republicans boasted a 22-percentage point advantage over Democrats. But the GOP has lost market share ever since, and on Aug. 6, 2019, was surpassed by Democrats for the first time since a brief spell in the wake of Watergate.
Democrats have gained ground in nearly every Orange County city and now hold every county congressional seat. The trend is likely to continue until the GOP can find a way to better connect with Latinos and young voters.
While Democrats have held their share of the county electorate, Republicans’ share has shrunk and voters with no party preference have grown. While some Republicans have reregistered as independents, a bigger factor is older Republicans dying and being replaced on the rolls by new voters who register without a party affiliation.
In 1992, there were 19 cities in Orange County with more than 50% of voters registered as Republicans. In 2019, Villa Park is the only city to have 50% or more Republican voters.
There were only three Democratic cities in 1992. Now, there are 14.
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