Scenes from a blue state as California votes
More than ever, the coronavirus pandemic has made us question the unquestionable: Can my kids go to school? Is it safe to go to church? Will I work from home forever?
But if anything can be certain in 2020, it's California and its 55 electoral votes. Since the early 1990s, the state known for Republican presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Regan has been automatic for Democrats in presidential elections. It's reputation as the anchor of the U.S.'s so-called “left coast” is so entrenched that Republicans running in other states often use California as a symbol of all things liberal.
But the lack of Election Day drama has not dampened the spirits of the state's more than 22 million active registered voters, who are casting ballots in record numbers and with the same emotional intensity as a swing state.
Shiela Ruiz, right, kisses a photo of President Donald Trump while mingling with Dale Thomas, president of Westlake Village Republican Women Federated, at a boat parade held in support of Trump in Westlake Village, Calif., Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. “Donald Trump! There is no question,” Ruiz said when asked whom she was going to vote for. “Because he is the man who can lead the country in the way I want to see it led. I have waited for years for a non-politician to run for office.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shiela Ruiz kissed a photo of Donald Trump while attending a boat parade in Westlake Village, saying she has been waiting “for years for a non-politician to run for office.” Gabriel Lebanon stood alone in the streets of Los Angeles mocking Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden while waving a large “Trump 2020” flag.
“Being a Trump supporter in California is hard,” he said.
Meanwhile, Brandon Little has been wearing a facemask emblazoned with the Biden campaign logo. The 32-year-old registered nurse said he believes he and his partner's lives are at stake because of the way Trump has handled the country's pandemic response.
Brandon Little, a 32-year-old ER registered nurse, wears a mask to show his support for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden while pausing for photos with posters showing doctored images depicting President Donald Trump in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Being a gay nurse who is planning to marry his partner in a couple years, Little said he and his partner’s lives are at stake under the Trump administration. The nurse also believes that COVID-19 should have been handled better. “It’s a big slap in the face to anyone that is working in this industry. And having to go through all of this and see these people die everyday. That’s like a big wake up to me.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
“It's a big slap in the face to anyone that is working in this industry,” he said.
California mailed ballots to all of the state's active registered voters this year, and so far more than 8.7 million of them have already returned them. That's nearly 60% of all votes cast in the previous presidential election in California. People can still vote in-person on Election Day, but they will have fewer options as most counties are offering fewer vote centers than they have in previous elections.
Jude Hensley, 17, pauses for photos in a T-shirt to express his displeasure with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Los Angeles. “Trump is a fascist, and he does not deserved to be the President of our country,” said Hensley who is not eligible to vote due to his age. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Wearing a T-shirt showing his support for President Donald Trump, Leny Freeman, a network engineer, stands next to his pickup truck before the start of a rally held in support of Trump in the Tujunga section of Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Freeman said he knew Trump had the public at heart after reading his books more than a decade ago. “I was always hoping he would run. I was hoping he would be good.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Reign, a 37-year-old mixed marital artist who only gave his first name, trains in a park in Santa Monica, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. Reign said he is going to vote for President Donald Trump. “Defund the police doesn’t make sense to me,” said the mixed martial artist. “It’s time for order now.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Barre instructor Danielle Lew, left, leads an outdoor class on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. “I’m going to vote for Biden and Harris,” said the 35-year-old fitness instructor. “The current administration has shown they cannot make choices that are beneficial to the American people, and we need someone who will make those choices thinking of everyone.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A woman stands in front of a commercial advertisement with a political message urging people to vote in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Kilo Martin, 29, wears a T-shirt printed with an American flag in the pan-African colors Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Santa Monica, Calif. “I’m voting for Biden,” said the writer. “I’m afraid of the other option, very afraid of the other option if they get chosen.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Saoirse McNamara, a 20-year-old model, pauses for photos with her “I Voted” sticker in front of a mural depicting George Floyd, left, and Elijah McClain Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Los Angeles. “I’ve actually taken a photo of this mural because I think it’s really beautiful. It holds true to a lot of what’s happened this year. It’s really important for people to walk by this and to be reminded of what has happened this year and how there’s definitely extreme changes that we have to make within our society,” said McNamara who voted for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Musician Henry Brown, 71, a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, plays keyboard while performing in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. “There’s nothing I like about him,” said the musician, expressing his disapproval of President Donald Trump. “I don’t like his personality. I don’t like his way of treating people. I don’t like his style of leadership.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Wearing a paper mask to mock Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, Gabriel Lebaron, 35, attends a rally held in support of President Donald Trump in the Tujunga section of Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. “Trump cares about America. He is an American who cares about America.’” said Lebaron. “Being a Trump supporter in California is hard. I probably had three guns pulled on me in the last six months.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Street performer Kenneth Pomponio, 23, exercises in a Batman costume while working on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Pomponio said he is voting for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden. “I just think that the whole political system needs some reform,” said Pomponio. “I think that the Republicans are too influenced by lobbyists and too prejudiced against other cultures so I think it’s time for change.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A woman walks past a vandalized poster depicting Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two supporters of President Donald Trump laugh while sitting in a car with a cutout of Trump at a rally in Beverly Hills, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Text from AP News story, AP PHOTOS: Scenes from a blue state as California votes