Editor’s note: The presidential nominating contests in both parties will come down to the California primary.
For Democrats, 548 delegates are at stake — 11.5% of the total. For Republicans, 172 delegates are at stage — 6.9% of the total. Of those, for Democrats, 158 (29%) are divided proportionally on a statewide basis, while 317 (58%) are divided proportionally by congressional district, with each district providing between 5 and 8 delegates. The remaining 73 (13%) are “superdelegates.”
For Republicans, 13 (8%) are awarded statewide, with ten going to the candidate with the highest number of votes on a winner-take-all basis, and three going to “pre-determined” delegates (the State Chair, National Committeewoman, National Committeeman). Meanwhile, 159 (92%) are awarded by congressional district on a winner-take-all basis, with each district providing 3 delegates.
The result: a district-by-district battle in both parties, which we preview for you here.
CA-11: This industrial and suburban district stretches across the suburbs of Oakland and the East Bay takes in the areas where super-commuters, unable or unwilling to afford the cost of living in San Francisco, have increasingly set down roots in recent years. Moderate Democrat Rep. Mark DeSaulnier has been a leading critic of Governor Jerry Brown’s high-speed rail, and was replaced by a moderate Democrats — though radicals dominate Richmond.
Prospects:
Democrats: This moderate district has its share of left-wing activists, but it generally well-suited to Hillary Clinton.
Clinton 5, Sanders 2
Republicans: The race will be close-fought, but Trump’s edge in the western precincts will lift him over the top.
Trump 3, Cruz 0, Kasich 0
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new e-book, Leadership Secrets of the Kings and Prophets: What the Bible’s Struggles Teach Us About Today, is on sale through Amazon Kindle Direct. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.