West Coast Blues: "Progressives" in California, Oregon, and Washington confront the political consequences of bad governance.

Few regions have been more consistently Democratic than the West Coast. Even compared with the Northeast, where Republicans occasionally win governors’ offices, the appropriately named “left coast” has been adamantine in its progressivism. Republicans haven’t won statewide office in California in years; in Oregon, it’s decades. Washington has elected a Republican secretary of state, but she now serves in the Biden administration. And the region’s major cities are overwhelmingly blue.

West Coast Blues: "Progressives" in California, Oregon, and Washington confront the political consequences of bad governance. Z

West Coast Blues: "Progressives" in California, Oregon, and Washington confront the political consequences of bad governance. Z

That could be changing, at least a bit. As cities from Seattle and Portland to San Francisco and Los Angeles fight crime and disorder, something of a political rebellion has broken out. One progressive fashion entrepreneur has called San Francisco “a city of chaos,” where his employees are not safe. The city, by some estimates, has deteriorated further and faster than virtually any urban area in the country. Within the last year, though, San Francisco recalled its progressive district attorney, Chesa Boudin, as well as left-wing members of the city school board. Meantime, remarkably, Seattle elected a Republican as city attorney, and Los Angeles district attorney George Gascón has faced backlash, and a possible recall. Voters have a chance to continue the rebellion this week.

Progressive candidates will likely eke out some wins. L.A. mayoral candidate and former Republican Rick Caruso has recovered some momentum after a weak summer and could conceivably beat progressive opponent Karen Bass, though Bass leads in betting markets. In Washington, long-time Democratic senator Patty Murray faces a surprisingly tough challenge from Republican Tiffany Smiley, though Murray, too, is favored.

But some heterodox candidates seem poised for upsets. In Oregon, Christine Drazan could become the first Republican governor since the 1980s, replacing the ultra-progressive and highly unpopular Kate Brown. In California, Republican Lanhee Chen, endorsed by the state’s usually lockstep progressive press, could be elected state controller, in what would be the first statewide win for a Republican since 2006.

.https://www.city-journal.org/will-the-left-coast-turn-right?fbclid=IwAR36HmopXuKzlm78u3qXfmFl_Nkhuc-dF2Zg3wKSSAec25XOnWZ-oNmAkGc&wallit_nosession=1

West Coast Blues: "Progressives" in California, Oregon, and Washington confront the political consequences of bad governance.

West Coast Blues: "Progressives" in California, Oregon, and Washington confront the political consequences of bad governance.

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