Donald Trump and the Republican Party have had a rocky relationship with California, particularly with the state’s younger population. In a recent opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times, George Skelton argues that the GOP’s chances of winning over young voters in California are slim, particularly with Trump still casting a shadow over the party.
Skelton cites a recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, which found that only 22% of likely voters under the age of 30 identify as Republicans. This is a significant decline from the 1990s, when the GOP still held sway with young voters.
Skelton notes that Trump’s divisive rhetoric and policies have turned off many young people in the state, particularly those from immigrant families. He also points out that the GOP’s stance on social issues, such as abortion and LGBTQ rights, is at odds with the beliefs of many younger Californians.
Skelton argues that the Republican Party needs to change course if it wants to have any chance of winning over young voters in California. He suggests that the party focus on issues that resonate with younger people, such as climate change and affordable housing. He also suggests that the party embrace a more moderate stance on social issues.
However, Skelton notes that Trump’s continued influence over the party makes this difficult. He points out that the former president is still very popular with many Republicans in California, particularly those who have embraced his “America First” agenda.
In the end, Skelton argues that the GOP’s chances of winning over young voters in California are slim, particularly with Trump still casting a long shadow over the party. He suggests that the party needs to change course if it wants to remain relevant in the state, but acknowledges that this may be difficult given the current state of the party.