Election Results and Trends in Riverside, CA
In the last Presidential election, Riverside, CA voted predominantly Democrat, with 53.0% of voters casting their ballot for Biden, while 45.0% of voters in Riverside voted for Trump, and other parties voting 2.0%. Based on these voting patterns, Riverside is considered a slightly leaning liberal city. Specifically, it ranks 117th out of the most populated 333 cities in the United States in terms of conservatism based on the 2020 Presidential election results. Conversely, when looking at the liberal voting patterns in the 2020 election, Riverside ranks 214th out of the 333 most populated cities, indicating a relatively low liberal vote.
Presidential Elections Voting Trend
Riverside's voting trend in Presidential elections has been somewhat mixed but has leaned towards the Democrat side in recent years. The city supported Bill Clinton (1996), George W. Bush (2000 and 2004), Barack Obama (2008 and 2012), Hillary Clinton (2016), and Joe Biden (2020). This reflects a gradual shift towards liberal candidates, especially as Riverside County's demographics and political environment have evolved.
Local Elections
Riverside has demonstrated a more varied political landscape at the city level, with both conservative and liberal leaders holding office. Though officially nonpartisan, local elections have seen a mixture of conservative and progressive candidates winning mayoral and City Council positions. Focusing on local issues rather than party lines has contributed to this diversity in elected officials.