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-24: This lush stretch of the Central Coast is a closely contested district. Though liberal and genteel, it includes a fair number of Republicans. Moderate Democrat Lois Capps is retiring from Congress this year — and a large number of candidates are vying to replace her, fueled by plenty of funding from Hollywood. Environmental issues are key in this picturesque yet oil-rich region, where offshore drilling has been banned for fifty years.
Prospects:
Democrats: Sanders’s vehement opposition to fracking will earn him the edge in this otherwise moderate district.
Sanders 4, Clinton 2
Republicans: Trump is polling far ahead of his rivals here, though Cruz could make the district very competitive.
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.