This is part 3 of a 3 part series on the Progressive Movement from the 1892 Peoples Party Convention to the 2003 election of Gov. Schwarzenegger. You can click here for Part 1 or Part 2.
There are two ways to show the connection between the People’s Party of 1892, which became the Progressive movement of 1910 that elected Gov. Johnson, and the 2003 recall of Gray Davis which resulted in the elevation of Arnold Schwarzenegger to governor.
One is to show that the issues and platforms were the same. That I have done in the previous blogs.
The second, and most convincing, is to show that the same kind of people voted the same way in the elections connected to each period. The people were not physically the same, but they lived in the same counties. There is a geographic continuity which wise people understand is the basis for deep rooted political conviction. New York City and Upper New York State have rigidly voted the same patterns (opposite) for over 200 years.
The large counties in California that went in a big way for Schwarzenegger for governor in 2003 were: Orange, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino. (Southern California) Lesser counties with strong support were San Luis Obispo and Fresno. Los Angeles County gave Schwarzenegger a large number of votes, but came in below the statewide average level of support.
The same counties went for Governor Johnson in 1910. The same counties. San Diego was a major Johnson county as were Riverside and Los Angeles.
Supporting the People’s Party presidential candidate, Weaver, in 1892 were the same counties (except that Riverside doesn’t seem to have existed). Orange, San Diego, San Luis Obispo were strongly for Weaver as were Los Angeles and Fresno.
Summary:
For 120 years the same counties have constituted the base for the Progressive movement. The same counties that supported the Peoples Party candidate for president in 1892 elected Arnold Schwarzenegger governor.
Most writers and international observers who have visited California have commented on the very heartland of America quality they find in Southern California. Historically it has voting patterns in common with Kansas and Texas where the Progressive movement started.