SAN FRANCISCO – (INT) – Young Californians, defined here as 18–34, are much more likely than older Californians to be people of color.

Young Californians are more liberal than older Californians across a range of policy topics, especially on questions of race relations and immigration. The greater racial and ethnic diversity of young Californians does not fully explain these differences.

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that young Californians are more likely to register as Democratic—or lean Democratic when registered as independents—and self-identify as liberal. While young Republicans and Democrats hold very different opinions, they are still closer on the issues and on opinions of elected officials than are older Republicans and Democrats.

In the rest of the country, age differences in political views are very similar to the ones in California; if anything, they are larger outside the state.

There is little evidence that Californians of the same generation have become more conservative as they age, the PPIC said.

All else being equal, the future of California may be somewhat more liberal and less polarized by party than the California of the present.

Story Date: April 25, 2024