Is Southern California (minus LA County) similar to Nevada or Arizona politically?

[Cyrusman]

If you were to take Southern California ONLY minus Los Angeles County and look at its politically lean, would it be similar to either Nevada or Arizona? Essentially this would be San Diego, Imperial , Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino counties, which in itself would be more populated than several states. Just trying to get a gauge if this would be a red, blue, or purple state if So Cal, minus LA were its own state.

[Cyrusman]

In terms of actual election results, Southern California minus LA County (and also minus Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties as you stated) in recent decades has been most similar to Colorado among all states. Not too far off of New Mexico, too. Not really that similar to Nevada or Arizona, although the trends are somewhat similar to Arizona. That might come as a surprise.

Demographically of course it has more similarities to Arizona and Nevada. But then again places like Orange County and San Diego are totally different from anything in either Arizona or Nevada. Only the Inland Empire and Imperial County bear some resemblance to them, and even then they aren't the same.

You don't think Orange County is similar to Maricopa County?

[Cyrusman]

San Bernardino County and Riverside County are very similar demographically to Nevada.

In the Southern California you described, it was Bush +13, Obama +4, Obama +2, Clinton +12, Biden +13.

That is a crazy swing from 04-08. Worse than 12-16.