CA Republicans Shift on Immigration Policy

Trying to make peace with a changing world

SACRAMENTO — As the cliché goes, elections have consequences. And the Nov. 6 election results have had dramatic consequences in California.

The debate over immigration — legal and otherwise, but, especially, otherwise — is over. Even some Republicans are joining with Democrats to promote the "path to citizenship" for people here illegally.

The reason is obvious. Democrats — buoyed by overwhelming support from the state's Latino voters — maintained their hold on every constitutional office in California and gained two-thirds supermajorities in the Assembly and state Senate. Even the small band of legislative Republicans is noticing the growing percentage of Latino voters in GOP-leaning districts.