New Congress mirrors California shift: White, male and Republican yields to diverse array of Dems

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: New Congress mirrors shift in California
A delegation largely white, male and Republican yields to a diverse array of Democrats.
By Noam N. Levey, Times Staff Writer
December 24, 2006

WASHINGTON — When control of Congress switches parties next month, so too will the political face of California.

Slipping into eclipse is red California, dominated by Republican House members who for years have been the state's most influential voices in Washington.

These lawmakers — all white and all Christian — hailed largely from inland valleys. Many were deeply rooted Californians who grew up immediately after World War II when the state was a more homogeneous place. Several strolled the halls of Congress in cowboy boots.

With Democrats ascendant, however, a bluer California is set to put its mark on Capitol Hill. This face is more urban and more diverse. Its senior lawmakers — who include women, Jews, African Americans and Latinos — live in large coastal metropolitan areas. Many moved to the Golden State as adults.

The contrast broadly mirrors national differences between the two major political parties. But the shift in power within the state's congressional delegation also reflects a changing California that is cleaving along an East-West divide.

One California, concentrated along the Pacific Coast, is increasingly secular, multicultural and Democratic; the other, centered east of the coastal mountain ranges, is more overtly religious, more white and more Republican....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-calcongress24dec24,0,4968524,full.story?coll=la-home-nation

[rucky]

1. More and more, Dems reflect what America really looks like.

But on a national level, we're still not there, proportionately, with Women, Blacks, Asians & Latinos.

Bye-bye boys club! It won't be much longer.