Interesting that relative to 1976, the Republicans had a substantial percentage drop in 1980--especially because the vote in California went from +2R to +17R and of course, it was a national landslide for Reagan.
What happened in those four years to trigger the eventual domination of Democrats? Was it a combination of liberals moving in/conservatives moving out? Any relation to the assassination of George Moscone/Harvey Milk in 1978 and the elevation of Dianne Feinstein as mayor?
How did Reagan perform in San Francisco in the 1966 and 1970 gubernatorial elections?
1966:
Brown: 58.9%
Reagan: 41.1%
1970:
Unruh: 55.4%
Reagan: 42.0%
^^ I don't think this really starts a pattern. I think more than anything, there was a strong anti-war movement in the late 60's/early 70's there, and the Baby Boom grew up much differently and with a much different perspective of the world than their parents (obviously this is true everywhere, but emphasized for SF). McGovern campaigned on an immediate withdrawl of US troops from Vietnam, and he won by 15 points despite Nixon winning by 23 (that's D+38!). People were probably not enthusiastic about Carter because he was a southern democrat, but ever since then, its been a hotbed for left wing politics.
I think the Bay Area was more scared by Carter's religious talk more so than him being from the south. Similar reason why Reagan did worse just 4 years later, his conservative coalition was and still is the minority in the Bay Area. Republicans took winning in CA for granted and neglecting Bay Area interests has come full-circle to completely doom their chances.
