In an article by Seema Mehta, a reporter with the Los Angeles Times, she looks at the upcoming California presidential primary, where Republican voters residing in liberal communities could find themselves wielding an incredible amount of influence. 

Unlike other states where delegates are awarded based on statewide results, California allocates delegates by congressional district, potentially giving Republican voters in liberal strongholds a significant say.

Each California congressional district carries equal weight in delegate allocation, regardless of its Republican representation. For every district a Republican candidate wins, they are awarded three delegates, irrespective of whether the district leans heavily Democratic or Republican.

This unique system holds considerable importance, especially considering California’s presidential primary is scheduled for March 5, making every delegate crucial. 

California has 169 delegates, the highest number of any state in the nation, meaning that every congressional district win could add up to a significant number.

“We’re a very delegate-rich state,” said Jessica Millan Patterson, the chairperson of the state Republican Party. “An incredibly blue [congressional] seat in Los Angeles or San Francisco has just as many delegates as a strong Republican seat in other parts of the state.”

As the March 5 primary approaches, the involvement of Republican voters in traditionally liberal areas takes on heightened significance. Their participation can impact delegate allocation, potentially influencing the overall trajectory of the Republican nomination race.