| Election Name: | 1996 United States presidential election in California |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1992 United States presidential election in California |
| Previous Year: | 1992 |
| Next Election: | 2000 United States presidential election in California |
| Next Year: | 2000 |
| Turnout: | 65.53% (of registered voters) 9.79 pp 52.56% (of eligible voters) 1.96 pp[1] |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1996 |
| Image1: | Bill Clinton.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Bill Clinton |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Home State1: | Arkansas |
| Running Mate1: | Al Gore |
| Electoral Vote1: | 54 |
| Popular Vote1: | 5,119,835 |
| Percentage1: | 51.10% |
| Nominee2: | Bob Dole |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Home State2: | Kansas |
| Running Mate2: | Jack Kemp |
| Electoral Vote2: | 0 |
| Popular Vote2: | 3,828,380 |
| Percentage2: | 38.21% |
| Image3: | RossPerotColor.jpg |
| Nominee3: | Ross Perot |
| Party3: | Reform Party of the United States of America |
| Home State3: | Texas |
| Running Mate3: | Pat Choate |
| Electoral Vote3: | 0 |
| Popular Vote3: | 697,847 |
| Percentage3: | 6.96% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Bill Clinton |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Bill Clinton |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1996 United States presidential election in California took place on November 5, 1996, as part of the 1996 United States presidential election. Voters chose 54 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. California, was won by Incumbent President Bill Clinton (D) over Senator Bob Dole (R), with Clinton winning 51.1% to 38.21% by a margin of 12.89%. Billionaire businessman Ross Perot (Reform Party) finished in third, with 6.96% of the popular vote.
California had grown increasingly Democratic relative to the rest of the nation in the prior three elections, culminating in Bill Clinton's becoming the first Democrat to carry California in 1992 since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide. In 1996, Clinton carried California once again by double digits, representing the first time California had voted Democratic in back-to-back elections since 1948. This was also the first time since 1964 that a Democrat won a majority of the vote in California. Nevertheless, Clinton's margin of victory shrank from 13.40% to 12.89%, even as his national margin swelled by 3%. Dole reclaimed eleven counties for the GOP: San Diego, Riverside, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Butte, Tehama, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Plumas, and Mariposa. He also carried Trinity County, the one county in the state in which Ross Perot had won a plurality in 1992. Of these counties, San Diego, Riverside, Fresno, and San Luis Obispo cast over 100,000 votes; and San Diego County was the largest county in the country to switch parties in 1996.
In contrast, Clinton flipped no counties in the state from red to blue, making this the first election since 1980 in which no red counties in the state turned blue. Clinton became the first Democrat to win the White House without carrying Fresno County since the county's founding in 1856, and remains the only one to have done so as of 2020.[2] He also became the first Democrat since Woodrow Wilson in 1912 to win the White House without carrying Plumas County. Nevertheless, Clinton retained seven counties that he had been the first Democrat to carry since 1964 in 1992: San Bernardino, Ventura, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Imperial, and San Benito, of which all save Imperial and San Benito cast over 100,000 votes. He also retained all the counties that had voted Democratic in 1988, including a number of sizeable ones that had voted Republican in 1976, such as Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Sonoma. This was the last election in which California voted to the right of Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, or West Virginia. This was also the first election since 1912 in which California voted differently than nearby Montana.
Late in the 1996 campaign, Dole had made an upset victory over Clinton in California central to his strategy.[3] Dole hoped to capitalize on two issues that had been figuring prominently in California politics under Governor Pete Wilson, illegal immigration and affirmative action.
California is one of thirteen states where on the election ballot, James Campbell of California, Perot's former boss at IBM, was listed as a stand-in vice-presidential candidate.
The Reform Party successfully conducted a drive to qualify as a party in California over the course of eighteen days in 1995. [4]
| 1996 United States presidential election in California | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | William Jefferson Clinton (Incumbent) | Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (Incumbent) | 5,119,835 | 51.10% | 54 | |
| Republican | Robert Joseph Dole | Jack French Kemp | 3,828,380 | 38.21% | 0 | |
| Reform | Henry Ross Perot | James Campbell | 697,847 | 6.96% | 0 | |
| Green | Ralph Nader | Winona LaDuke | 237,016 | 2.37% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Harry Browne | Jo Jorgensen | 73,600 | 0.73% | 0 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Marsha Feinland | Kate McClatchy | 25,332 | 0.25% | 0 | |
| Taxpayers’ | Howard Phillips | Herbert Titus | 21,202 | 0.21% | 0 | |
| Natural Law | John Hagelin | Dr. V. Tompkins | 15,403 | 0.15% | 0 | |
| Write-in | Charles Collins | 765 | 0.01% | 0 | ||
| Write-in | James Harris | 77 | 0.00% | 0 | ||
| Write-in | Joel Neuberg | 13 | 0.00% | 0 | ||
| Write-in | Willie Carter | 12 | 0.00% | 0 | ||
| Write-in | Isabell Masters | 2 | 0.00% | 0 | ||
| Invalid or blank votes | 242,155 | 2.36% | — | |||
| Totals | 10,261,639 | 100.0% | 54 | |||
| Voter turnout | 65.53% | — | ||||
| County | Bill Clinton Democratic | Bob Dole Republican | Ross Perot Reform | Ralph Nader Green | Various candidates Other parties | Margin | Total votes cast | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alameda | 303,903 | 65.77% | 106,581 | 23.07% | 24,270 | 5.25% | 20,432 | 4.42% | 6,858 | 1.48% | 197,322 | 42.70% | 462,044 | ||||||||||||||
| Alpine | 258 | 42.02% | 264 | 43.00% | 63 | 10.26% | 19 | 3.09% | 10 | 1.63% | -6 | -0.98% | 614 | ||||||||||||||
| Amador | 5,868 | 40.60% | 6,870 | 47.54% | 1,267 | 8.77% | 264 | 1.83% | 183 | 1.27% | -1,002 | -6.94% | 14,452 | ||||||||||||||
| Butte | 30,651 | 38.53% | 38,961 | 48.98% | 6,393 | 8.04% | 2,409 | 3.03% | 1,136 | 1.43% | -8,310 | -10.45% | 79,550 | ||||||||||||||
| Calaveras | 6,646 | 38.63% | 8,279 | 48.12% | 1,612 | 9.37% | 338 | 1.96% | 331 | 1.92% | -1,633 | -9.49% | 17,206 | ||||||||||||||
| Colusa | 2,054 | 36.60% | 3,047 | 54.29% | 404 | 7.20% | 42 | 0.75% | 65 | 1.16% | -993 | -17.69% | 5,612 | ||||||||||||||
| Contra Costa | 196,512 | 55.73% | 123,954 | 35.15% | 20,416 | 5.79% | 7,334 | 2.08% | 4,386 | 1.24% | 72,558 | 20.58% | 352,602 | ||||||||||||||
| Del Norte | 3,652 | 41.08% | 3,670 | 41.29% | 1,225 | 13.78% | 199 | 2.24% | 143 | 1.61% | -18 | -0.21% | 8,889 | ||||||||||||||
| El Dorado | 22,957 | 36.33% | 32,759 | 51.84% | 5,077 | 8.03% | 1,439 | 2.28% | 964 | 1.53% | -9,802 | -15.51% | 63,196 | ||||||||||||||
| Fresno | 94,448 | 45.32% | 98,813 | 47.42% | 10,962 | 5.26% | 2,523 | 1.21% | 1,647 | 0.79% | -4,365 | -2.10% | 208,393 | ||||||||||||||
| Glenn | 2,841 | 32.04% | 5,041 | 56.86% | 788 | 8.89% | 85 | 0.96% | 111 | 1.25% | -2,200 | -24.82% | 8,866 | ||||||||||||||
| Humboldt | 24,628 | 44.17% | 19,803 | 35.52% | 5,811 | 10.42% | 4,651 | 8.34% | 864 | 1.55% | 4,825 | 8.65% | 55,757 | ||||||||||||||
| Imperial | 14,591 | 55.27% | 9,705 | 36.76% | 1,778 | 6.73% | 154 | 0.58% | 172 | 0.65% | 4,886 | 18.51% | 26,400 | ||||||||||||||
| Inyo | 2,601 | 34.36% | 3,924 | 51.84% | 811 | 10.71% | 127 | 1.68% | 106 | 1.40% | -1,323 | -17.48% | 7,569 | ||||||||||||||
| Kern | 62,658 | 36.56% | 92,151 | 53.77% | 13,452 | 7.85% | 1,289 | 0.75% | 1,841 | 1.07% | -29,493 | -17.21% | 171,391 | ||||||||||||||
| Kings | 11,254 | 43.59% | 12,368 | 47.91% | 1,745 | 6.76% | 205 | 0.79% | 243 | 0.94% | -1,114 | -4.32% | 25,815 | ||||||||||||||
| Lake | 10,432 | 48.90% | 7,458 | 34.96% | 2,539 | 11.90% | 583 | 2.73% | 323 | 1.51% | 2,974 | 13.94% | 21,335 | ||||||||||||||
| Lassen | 3,318 | 33.60% | 5,194 | 52.60% | 1,080 | 10.94% | 131 | 1.33% | 152 | 1.54% | -1,876 | -19.00% | 9,875 | ||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 1,430,629 | 59.34% | 746,544 | 30.96% | 157,752 | 6.54% | 45,977 | 1.91% | 30,112 | 1.25% | 684,085 | 28.38% | 2,411,014 | ||||||||||||||
| Madera | 11,254 | 36.70% | 16,510 | 53.85% | 2,192 | 7.15% | 376 | 1.23% | 330 | 1.08% | -5,256 | -17.15% | 30,662 | ||||||||||||||
| Marin | 67,406 | 58.04% | 32,714 | 28.17% | 6,559 | 5.65% | 7,360 | 6.34% | 2,101 | 1.81% | 34,692 | 29.87% | 116,140 | ||||||||||||||
| Mariposa | 2,920 | 36.73% | 3,976 | 50.02% | 729 | 9.17% | 192 | 2.42% | 132 | 1.66% | -1,056 | -13.29% | 7,949 | ||||||||||||||
| Mendocino | 14,952 | 45.74% | 9,765 | 29.87% | 3,685 | 11.27% | 3,608 | 11.04% | 682 | 2.09% | 5,187 | 15.87% | 32,692 | ||||||||||||||
| Merced | 21,786 | 46.41% | 20,847 | 44.41% | 3,427 | 7.30% | 462 | 0.98% | 416 | 0.89% | 939 | 2.00% | 46,938 | ||||||||||||||
| Modoc | 1,368 | 31.79% | 2,285 | 53.10% | 528 | 12.27% | 49 | 1.14% | 73 | 1.70% | -917 | -21.31% | 4,303 | ||||||||||||||
| Mono | 1,580 | 38.62% | 1,882 | 46.00% | 447 | 10.93% | 96 | 2.35% | 86 | 2.10% | -302 | -7.38% | 4,091 | ||||||||||||||
| Monterey | 57,700 | 53.15% | 39,794 | 36.66% | 7,240 | 6.67% | 2,391 | 2.20% | 1,433 | 1.32% | 17,906 | 16.49% | 108,558 | ||||||||||||||
| Napa | 24,588 | 50.89% | 17,439 | 36.09% | 4,254 | 8.80% | 1,242 | 2.57% | 796 | 1.65% | 7,149 | 14.80% | 48,319 | ||||||||||||||
| Nevada | 15,369 | 35.56% | 21,784 | 50.40% | 3,330 | 7.70% | 2,097 | 4.85% | 639 | 1.48% | -6,415 | -14.84% | 43,219 | ||||||||||||||
| Orange | 327,485 | 37.88% | 446,717 | 51.67% | 66,195 | 7.66% | 11,842 | 1.37% | 12,337 | 1.43% | -119,232 | -13.79% | 864,576 | ||||||||||||||
| Placer | 34,981 | 37.05% | 49,808 | 52.75% | 6,542 | 6.93% | 1,875 | 1.99% | 1,221 | 1.29% | -14,827 | -15.70% | 94,427 | ||||||||||||||
| Plumas | 3,540 | 36.31% | 4,905 | 50.31% | 919 | 9.43% | 214 | 2.19% | 172 | 1.76% | -1,365 | -14.00% | 9,750 | ||||||||||||||
| Riverside | 168,579 | 43.05% | 178,611 | 45.61% | 35,481 | 9.06% | 4,814 | 1.23% | 4,128 | 1.05% | -10,032 | -2.56% | 391,613 | ||||||||||||||
| Sacramento | 203,019 | 49.83% | 166,049 | 40.76% | 23,856 | 5.86% | 9,142 | 2.24% | 5,348 | 1.31% | 36,970 | 9.07% | 407,414 | ||||||||||||||
| San Benito | 7,030 | 50.55% | 5,384 | 38.72% | 1,044 | 7.51% | 236 | 1.70% | 212 | 1.52% | 1,646 | 11.83% | 13,906 | ||||||||||||||
| San Bernardino | 183,372 | 44.36% | 180,135 | 43.58% | 39,330 | 9.51% | 5,150 | 1.25% | 5,368 | 1.30% | 3,237 | 0.78% | 413,355 | ||||||||||||||
| San Diego | 389,964 | 44.11% | 402,876 | 45.57% | 63,037 | 7.13% | 15,858 | 1.79% | 12,416 | 1.40% | -12,912 | -1.46% | 884,151 | ||||||||||||||
| San Francisco | 209,777 | 72.24% | 45,479 | 15.66% | 9,659 | 3.33% | 21,471 | 7.39% | 3,999 | 1.38% | 164,298 | 56.58% | 290,385 | ||||||||||||||
| San Joaquin | 67,253 | 46.34% | 65,131 | 44.87% | 9,692 | 6.68% | 1,501 | 1.03% | 1,563 | 1.08% | 2,122 | 1.47% | 145,140 | ||||||||||||||
| San Luis Obispo | 40,395 | 40.19% | 46,733 | 46.50% | 8,204 | 8.16% | 3,854 | 3.83% | 1,314 | 1.31% | -6,338 | -6.31% | 100,500 | ||||||||||||||
| San Mateo | 152,304 | 60.55% | 73,508 | 29.22% | 15,047 | 5.98% | 7,336 | 2.92% | 3,337 | 1.33% | 78,796 | 31.33% | 251,532 | ||||||||||||||
| Santa Barbara | 70,650 | 46.87% | 63,915 | 42.40% | 9,457 | 6.27% | 4,774 | 3.17% | 1,949 | 1.29% | 6,735 | 4.47% | 150,745 | ||||||||||||||
| Santa Clara | 297,639 | 56.88% | 168,291 | 32.16% | 34,908 | 6.67% | 12,312 | 2.35% | 10,141 | 1.94% | 129,348 | 24.72% | 523,291 | ||||||||||||||
| Santa Cruz | 58,250 | 56.52% | 27,766 | 26.94% | 6,555 | 6.36% | 7,803 | 7.57% | 2,688 | 2.61% | 30,484 | 29.58% | 103,062 | ||||||||||||||
| Shasta | 20,848 | 33.11% | 34,736 | 55.17% | 5,875 | 9.33% | 675 | 1.07% | 827 | 1.31% | -13,888 | -22.06% | 62,961 | ||||||||||||||
| Sierra | 573 | 33.57% | 877 | 51.38% | 170 | 9.96% | 40 | 2.34% | 47 | 2.75% | -304 | -17.81% | 1,707 | ||||||||||||||
| Siskiyou | 7,022 | 38.39% | 8,653 | 47.30% | 1,879 | 10.27% | 372 | 2.03% | 367 | 2.01% | -1,631 | -8.91% | 18,293 | ||||||||||||||
| Solano | 64,644 | 55.12% | 40,742 | 34.74% | 8,682 | 7.40% | 1,868 | 1.59% | 1,343 | 1.15% | 23,902 | 20.38% | 117,279 | ||||||||||||||
| Sonoma | 100,738 | 55.57% | 53,555 | 29.54% | 13,862 | 7.65% | 9,547 | 5.27% | 3,595 | 1.98% | 47,183 | 26.03% | 181,297 | ||||||||||||||
| Stanislaus | 53,738 | 45.93% | 52,403 | 44.79% | 8,360 | 7.14% | 1,172 | 1.00% | 1,334 | 1.14% | 1,335 | 1.14% | 117,007 | ||||||||||||||
| Sutter | 8,504 | 34.37% | 14,264 | 57.64% | 1,533 | 6.20% | 208 | 0.84% | 236 | 0.95% | -5,760 | -23.27% | 24,745 | ||||||||||||||
| Tehama | 7,290 | 35.66% | 10,292 | 50.34% | 2,325 | 11.37% | 245 | 1.20% | 291 | 1.42% | -3,002 | -14.68% | 20,443 | ||||||||||||||
| Trinity | 2,203 | 37.38% | 2,530 | 42.93% | 856 | 14.53% | 159 | 2.70% | 145 | 2.46% | -327 | -5.55% | 5,893 | ||||||||||||||
| Tulare | 32,669 | 38.06% | 46,272 | 53.90% | 5,106 | 5.95% | 737 | 0.86% | 1,062 | 1.24% | -13,603 | -15.84% | 85,846 | ||||||||||||||
| Tuolumne | 8,950 | 40.73% | 10,386 | 47.27% | 1,925 | 8.76% | 427 | 1.94% | 284 | 1.29% | -1,436 | -6.54% | 21,972 | ||||||||||||||
| Ventura | 110,772 | 44.10% | 109,202 | 43.47% | 23,054 | 9.18% | 4,732 | 1.88% | 3,434 | 1.37% | 1,570 | 0.63% | 251,194 | ||||||||||||||
| Yolo | 33,033 | 56.88% | 18,807 | 32.38% | 3,150 | 5.42% | 2,377 | 4.09% | 712 | 1.23% | 14,226 | 24.50% | 58,079 | ||||||||||||||
| Yuba | 5,789 | 37.42% | 7,971 | 51.53% | 1,308 | 8.46% | 201 | 1.30% | 201 | 1.30% | -2,182 | -14.11% | 15,470 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 5,119,835 | 51.10% | 3,828,380 | 38.21% | 697,847 | 6.96% | 237,016 | 2.37% | 136,406 | 1.36% | 1,291,455 | 12.89% | 10,019,484 | ||||||||||||||
Clinton won 38 of 52 congressional districts, including eight held by Republicans. Dole won 14 districts, including one held by a Democrat.