As we look back over the year 2022 and forward to next year’s elections in 2024, we see many themes shaping up. One recent constant, however, is how deeply blue the State of California is – yet we see voters who are also fiercely independent with pockets of red in other areas of the state.

When we consider how the state is changing, where those changes are taking place, and how impactful these changes can be to the state in the near future, it is important to step back and assess what issues and policies will matter over the next year or so.

While the Golden State has experienced highs and lows through recent times defined by many as challenges, disasters, Midterm elections, as well as the persistence of COVID, we are also seeing important changes going on in politics here.

For more on this, Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke to the Chair of the California Democratic Party, Rusty Hicks.