ELECTORAL VOTES 55

2008 ELECTION Leaning Democrat

ABOUT
CALIFORNIA

California, which rapidly gained population during the Gold Rush of 1848, joined the union in September 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850. With the exception of 1920, the state has gained electoral votes from every census since its founding, and will likely gain one more in time for the 2012 election. In 1972, California reached 45 electoral votes, passing New York for most in the country. With 54 currently, the state has 10% of all available electoral votes. While growth in the Latino population has helped make California a reliably Democratic state today, this was not always the case. In fact, from 1952 through 1988, Republicans won every presidential election except the landslide loss of Barry Goldwater in 1964. In 2004, John Kerry defeated George W. Bush by 54%-44%.