Trump backlash has turned California bluer than ever but theres a glimmer of hope for Republicans

Tuesday’s blue wave hit California hard, sweeping away Republican candidates, congressional seats, and hopes of making gains.Already a heavily Democratic state, California is delivering to Republicans another ugly election.My take? This election was about Donald Trump.

California’s No Party Preference voters are fed up with the high cost of living and upset about perceptions of corruption in the White House.They’re punishing Republicans for it. Republicans running for the Legislature get the same treatment as those running for statewide office.

And it’s particularly ugly for congressional Republicans (what few we have in the state).The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Start with the statewide numbers.Steve Hilton has received about 36% so far against Xavier Becerra for governor.

Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general, controller, treasurer and secretary of state are all sitting around that same miserable number.That’s the Republican base and a few conservative independents.I doubt those numbers will move much as ballots come in.Now look at Sonja Shaw, a conservative.

She’s received nearly 43% for superintendent of public instruction, a nonpartisan office.Without an R next to her name, Shaw outpaces Hilton by nearly seven points.

The partisan tag is the “cheat sheet” that protest voters need.You think that’s an accident? I don’t.Insurance commissioner is different: both candidates are Democrats.Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, leads state Sen.

Ben Allen.And then there’s Congress.What a mess.Proposition 50’s gerrymandered, Democrat-friendly map had Republicans hoping they might hang on to five or six of California’s 52 House seats.

That now looks like...