California primaries are often times insignificant or uneventful because we are among the last states to vote. It seems this year will in large part be more of the same – at least on one side of the aisle.
California was prepared for mayhem as analysts from different networks were predicting that the GOP primaries would be largely contested in the remaining states about a week ago.
California was likely going to be the deciding factor to reality TV star and extravagant personality Donald Trump’s nomination – however, after Trump swept up Indiana on Tuesday, a state many predicted Texas Senator Ted Cruz to take by a landslide, Cruz opted to drop out of the race.
The following morning, Ohio Governor John Kasich bowed out as well, all but assuring the nomination for Trump, less than a week after Cruz and Kasich both vowed to stay in the race together to stop Trump from the nomination.
This now leaves Trump the lone candidate and obvious front runner to take the GOP nomination for their presidential candidate. This once again left California with no say on the Republican side.
On the Democratic side of the race however, things are still very heated – no matter what the media says. With 839 delegates still up for grabs, of which California is responsible for 475, the race is still very tight.
As of May 4, former Senator and First Lady Hillary Clinton’s count is up to 1,683 while longtime Vermont Senator Bernie Sander’s sits at 1,362. California alone could alter that race in favor of one candidate of the other.
With Bernie’s favorable agriculture-legislation record and his successes in primarily white states, he looks to do well in remaining states including Montana, Oregon, Kentucky and the Dakotas.
The super delegate count is where things become skewed against Bernie’s chances, as many party leaders, whom don’t represent any constituents except for themselves, have pledged themselves to Hillary – the catch being that they don’t actually vote however until all the primary voting is done.
Super delegates can be swayed however, especially if the pressure is applied to them with Bernie taking the popular vote.
With Bernie Sanders vowing to stay in the race until the very end, it will be interesting to see the effect that California voters will have on this democratic primary, as it is more imperative than ever that Californians show to the polls.
