Introduction
California State (capital: Sacramento) is America’s third biggest state after Texas and Alaska, with a population of thirty-seven million according to 2010 statistics. The state boasts the nation’s largest economy, having made it first to the trillion-dollar gross state product milestone. By the year 2012, the state became the 9th largest global economy.
Its several million acres of agricultural land makes California a largely rural state. It ranks as national leader in crop production. Further, California houses several world-famous national parks and cultural institutions such as Disneyland, Hollywood, Angel Island, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge and Yosemite National Park. Its biggest cities include Los Angeles, San Jose and San Diego. The state’s main industries are: agriculture, tourism, biotechnology, manufacturing, and aerospace-defense.
According to 2014 figures, 39 percent of California is populated by Latinos, making them the state’s largest single ethnic/racial population. The rest of the ethnic/racial composition of the state is as follows: 38.8 percent non-Hispanic Whites, 13 percent Pacific Islanders or Asian Americans, 5.8 percent non-Hispanic Blacks, and not even 1 percent Native Americans (Lopez, 2014). The ethnic/racial composition of the state certainly affects federal level policies and politics.
Does your state lean Republican...
The Republican Party won almost all presidential elections from 1952 to 1987. But ever since 1988, the Democratic Party has dominated in California (Krishnakumar, Emamdjomeh and Moore, 2016); hence, one can claim that, at present, California has democratic leanings.
Who are your senators? What are their party affiliation, background, length of service, voting record, and key issues?
The state elects Class 1 & 3 Senators. At present, both Californian Senators, Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, are from the Democratic Party. The former is in her first year and term of office as class 3 US Senator from California, whereas the latter has held the post of Class 1 US senator since the year 1992; her current term commenced in 2012 (United states senate, 2018). Both senators regard themselves as California’s delegates and, hence, elected agents. Their voting decisions are based on citizens’ demands; therefore, they are true representatives of the citizens of their state. Their senate voting record is in line with the democratic stand. For instance, both Harris and Feinstein are in favor of the dream act, and against the GOP’s tax cut and republic healthcare bills. As committee member, Feinstein regularly appraises intelligence reports, activities and…
