DailyMail: Once a typical Californian ‘blue’ enclave, a beachside paradise is now burning red… and it’s coming for Gavin Newsom
In 2020, this coastal city near Los Angeles looked to be turning blue — just like the rest of its liberal California beach town neighbors.
Not anymore.
Huntington Beach is now burning redder than ever… and it’s coming for Gavin Newsom.
For decades, the surfing paradise was a Republican stronghold. But in 2020, Democrats gained some control of the city council — a shift many saw as a sign the beach town might have been softening with the rest of coastal California. That didn’t last long.
Last year, in what was widely viewed as a backlash against ‘woke’ city policies backed by the previous liberal council, three conservatives ousted their rivals, flipping the balance of power and handing Republicans full control of ‘Surf City USA.’
Now screaming red with right-leaning leaders, the city is an outlier in the Golden State known for its Democratic communities and views.
California State Senator Tony Strickland dubbed the new city council team the ‘MAGA-nificent 7,’ and says their movement in Huntington Beach isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Strickland, who previously served as the 85th mayor of Huntington Beach, said the city thrives on being the political oddball in the state.
Huntington Beach remains a conservative stronghold, with Republicans maintaining a lead in local voter registration.
Here’s the latest breakdown from the Orange County Registrar of Voters:
- Democrats: 693,503 (36.3%)
- Republicans: 651,659 (34.1%)
- No Party Preference (NPP): 445,002 (23.3%)
- Others (Libertarian, Green, etc.): ~6.3% combined
These numbers reflect countywide registration, but Huntington Beach itself has consistently leaned more Republican than the county average. Historically, it’s been one of the most conservative cities in Orange County, with local elections often favoring right-leaning candidates and policies
https://ocvote.gov/datacentral/