SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Salon owners and longtime Republicans Mike and Jackie Sellitti remarked that even though a Republican presidential candidate hasn’t won California in over 30 years, it doesn’t stop them from heading to the polls.

What You Need To Know

  • In the last presidential election, six million Californians voted for President Donald Trump, the highest number of votes for Trump in any state

  • Two main drivers to the polls for Republican voters are the economy and immigration

  • Many more Californian Republicans are satisfied with their presidential candidate than Democrats are with their presumptive nominee

  • Republican voters are feeling overwhelmingly negative about the direction of the country and over 90% say that the state's headed in the wrong direction as well

“I’m going to do my part whether it counts or not,” Jackie said.

In the last presidential election, six million Californians voted for President Donald Trump — the highest number of votes for Trump in any state.

Both Jackie and Mike said they will vote for Trump again, as they often decide their votes based on their wallets’ performance.

Another reason, they say, is immigration.

Mike said he worked in agriculture growing up alongside many undocumented workers.

“Nicest, most wonderful people,” Mike said. “I don’t have any issue with people. I have a huge issue with the people coming across the border now. They are coming in such numbers that we just can’t absorb them properly into our system.”

Jackie said that the legal system and crime are other sore points.

“The legal [court] system is so flawed, it takes too long,” Jackie said. “It seems like it’s more for the criminals now than it is for the people.”

Along with immigration and crime, the economy and, in particular, rising prices are certainly issues driving many California Republican voters to the polls, according to The Public Policy Institute of California’s [PPIC] Mark Baldassare.

“Republican voters are feeling overwhelmingly negative about the direction of the country and the direction of the state,” said Baldassre, the survey director at the PPIC. “Like over 90% say that the state’s headed in the wrong direction and the country is headed in the wrong direction.”

And while Baldassare said over 80% of Californian republican voters polled by the PPIC said they support Trump, a number are still undecided.

Kevin McCarty voted for President Obama in his first term, but has since voted for President Trump in the last two elections. He said locally, he backs Republican officials.

This time, though, he said he’s not so sure about his vote for president.

Remarking on President Trump doing many things right during his presidency, but noting his disappointment with his handling of the pandemic in certain aspects.

“I think in general that was a really, good example of a bad personality trait that he has, to let over emotions and his desire for popularity overcome reason and sense,” McCarty said.

Independent Robert Kennedy is someone McCarty said is appealing as an option outside the two major parties. Still, he added he would watch the remaining presidential debates and that his vote was undecided.

While there is a very high chance the Democratic presidential candidate will win California, both Mike and Jackie said they hope Republicans can get some wins in tight congressional seats.

“If things are headed trending in the right direction, maybe we pick up two or three more congresspeople out of California,” Mike said.

And why they will remind people that everyone’s vote counts.