Politics is the source of a lot of controversies these days, and many people want those around them to have the same political beliefs that they do. Are Antioch residents more likely to be liberal or conservative?
Antioch, California is a liberal city. The majority of residents have voted for the Democratic candidates in every presidential election since 2000. Contra Costa County, the county in which Antioch is, is also a liberal area, and California is a liberal state.
There are many factors to the political climate of a city, including the results of presidential elections, the local leaders, the policies, and the demographics. It is important to consider all of these factors when deciding whether a city is liberal or conservative.
Presidential Elections
The results of presidential elections in a city are a major indicator of the political climate. The two major political parties in the United States represent the liberal and conservative perspectives. The Democratic party has mostly liberal members and supports liberal policies, so if the majority of residents vote for the Democratic candidate, the city is mostly liberal. The Republican party has mostly conservative members and supports conservative policies, so if the majority of residents vote for the Republican candidate, the city is mostly conservative.
It is important to consider not only which candidate go the most votes, but also how much they won. The difference between the percentage of votes for the Democratic candidate and the percentage of votes for the Republican candidate is how much the winning candidate won by, and also shows how liberal or conservative the city is. If the difference is high, the city is solidly liberal or conservative. If the difference is low, the city is close to being evenly split between liberal and conservative.
California is a liberal state
. The majority of residents voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 2000. The differences between the percentages were about 10% in 2000 and 2004, and above 20% in every other election. The lowest difference was 9.9% in 2004, and the highest difference was 30.1% in 2016. The state has gradually become more liberal over time, as evidenced by the increase in the difference between the Democratic and Republican votes during this time period.
In the 2020 presidential election, 63.5% of California residents voted for the Democratic candidate, and 34.3% voted for the Republican candidate. The difference of 29.2% was the second highest after 2016.
Contra Costa County, the county in which Antioch is, is a liberal area. The majority of residents voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 2000. The differences between the percentages were between 20% and 30% in 2000 and 2004, between 35% and 40% in 2008 and 2012, and between 40% and 50% in 2016 and 2020. The lowest difference was 21.75% in 2000, and the highest difference was 45.33% in 2020. The differences grew larger over time, meaning that the county has become more liberal during that time period.
In the 2020 election, 71.63% of Contra Costa County residents voted for the Democratic candidate, and 26.3% voted for the Republican candidate. The difference of 45.33% was the highest difference since 2000.
Antioch, like Contra Costa County and the state of California, has a liberal majority. The majority of residents voted for the Democratic candidates in every presidential election since 2000. The differences between the percentages were higher than 10% in all of those elections. The differences grew larger across that time period, meaning that the city grew more liberal over time.
From 2018 to 2021, there were 13,134 contributions to the Democratic party in Antioch, totaling $567,013. During that same time period, there were 1,988 contributions to the Republican party in Antioch, totaling $239,604. The average size of donations to the Republican party was about 3 times more than the average size of donations to the Democratic party.
Local Leaders
The local leaders of a city represent the political climate. The people elect local leaders based on their promises and beliefs, so the promises and beliefs of the local leaders correspond with what the people desire. To figure out if the city is liberal or conservative, we need to look at the campaign platforms, party affiliations, and goals and initiatives of the local leaders of Antioch.
Mayor
The mayor of Antioch is one of the most important elected officials in the city. The mayor is elected to represent the city in state, national, and international matters. The mayor is also a member of the city council and leads city council meetings, as well as official city ceremonies. The mayor serves for 4 years at a time.
The current mayor of Antioch is Lamar Thorpe. He was elected in 2020 and will serve until 2024. He has also been on the city council and was mayor pro-tem for 2 years during that time.
Mayor Thorpe’s focus during his time in office has been on education, improving quality of life, eradicating homelessness, and police reform.
Mayoral elections in Antioch are nonpartisan, so Mayor Thorpe is technically nonpartisan. However, he has been known to be affiliated with the Democratic party. His political affiliations and his goals and initiatives suggest that he is of a liberal perspective.
City Council
The Antioch City Council is a board of elected officials that serves as the legislative body of the city. The city council is responsible for accepting a budget, approving mayoral appointees, imposing taxes, and creating or changing laws. The city council is made up of five members, including the mayor. The mayor is elected by the whole city, while the other four members are each elected by one of the city’s 4 districts.
All of the current members of the city are nonpartisan, but the goals and initiatives of the city council suggest that it is made up of a liberal majority.
Policies
The policies that are supported in a city are another major indicator of the political climate. Certain policies are likely to be supported or opposed by liberals or conservatives. Fewer abortion restrictions, more gun control laws, and legal same-sex marriage are all likely to be supported by liberals and opposed by conservatives.
Abortions
Abortions in California must be performed before 24 weeks of pregnancy. This is the only major abortion restriction. California does not require patients to receive counseling or an ultrasound before getting an abortion. Private insurance policies, insurance policies for public employees, health plans, and public funding can all legally cover abortions. The parents of a minor do not need to consent for that minor to receive an abortion.
As of 2017, there were 419 facilities in California providing abortions, 161 of which were clinics. 40% of California counties do not have an abortion clinic, leaving 3% of women without access to a clinic.
Antioch residents tend to support the low number of abortion restrictions, which is consistent with a liberal perspective.
Gun Control
In 2020, California had the seventh-lowest gun death rate and fifth-lowest crime gun export rate in the United States. California has the strongest gun control laws in the country. California gun laws include universal background checks, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon, and large capacity magazine restrictions, waiting periods, concealed and open carry regulations, minimum age laws, safe storage laws, lost/stolen gun reporting, a ghost gun ban, gun dealer regulations, and sales record retention.
Antioch residents tend to support the high number of gun control laws, which is consistent with a liberal perspective.
Same-Sex Marriage
California legalize same-sex marriage on June 28, 2013, and was the tenth state to do so. This was about 2 years before the Supreme Court mandate was passed requiring all states to legalize same-sex marriage. Antioch residents tended to support the legalization of same-sex marriage, which is consistent with a liberal perspective.
Demographics
The population of Antioch is about 111,605 people. The population density is about 3,803 people per square mile. 51.5% of the population is female, and 48.5% is male. The median age is 34.6, and the average number of people per household is 3.2.
The racial makeup of Antioch is as follows:
- White: 29.7%
- Black: 19.7%
- Hispanic/Latino: 33.3%
- Asian: 10.7%
- Native American: 0.3%
- Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.8%
- Two or More Races: 5.2%
- Other: 0.3%
50.3% of the population of Antioch is married, and 10.1% is divorced. 34.0% of the population is married with children, and 19.9% is single with children.
The average income in Antioch is $25,499 per year. The median household income is $65,770. The unemployment rate is 9.6%. The sales tax rate is 8.8%, and the income tax rate is 9.3%.
86.4% of Antioch residents are high school graduates, and 29.5% are only high school graduates. 15% of residents have 2-year degrees, 21.1% have 4-year degrees, 1% have master’s degrees, and 0.4% have professional degrees.
39.4% of Antioch residents are religious. 36.7% are Christian, 0.5% are Jewish, 1.0% are of an eastern faith, and 1.0% are affiliated with Islam.
The rate of violent crime in Antioch on a scale of 1 to 100 is 37.3. The rate of property crime on the same scale is 52.0.
