San Bernardino, CA Politics: Is It Liberal or Conservative?

Election Results and Trends in San Bernardino, CA

In the last Presidential election, San Bernardino, CA voted predominantly Democrat, with 54.2% of voters casting their ballot for Biden, while 43.5% of voters in San Bernardino voted for Trump, and other parties voting 2.3%. Based on these voting patterns, San Bernardino is considered a slightly leaning liberal city. Specifically, it ranks 146th 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, San Bernardino ranks 182nd out of the 333 most populated cities, indicating a relatively low liberal vote.

Presidential Elections Voting Trend

The last six Presidential election results (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) for San Bernardino, CA are: R R D D D D

San Bernardino has generally leaned towards Democrat candidates in Presidential elections. Voters in the city supported Bill Clinton (D) in 1996, Al Gore (D) in 2000, and John Kerry (D) in 2004. The trend continued with Barack Obama (D) winning in 2008 and 2012. Hillary Clinton (D) carried the city in 2016, and Joe Biden (D) maintained the Democrat trend in 2020. This consistent pattern aligns with the broader Democrat inclination in California, albeit with some variations in the margin.

Local Elections

In local/city level elections over the last 25 years, San Bernardino has exhibited a more mixed trend, reflecting the diverse socio-economic composition of the city. While the mayor's office and City Council have seen Democrat leadership, there have also been instances of Republicans and non-affiliated candidates occupying key positions. The bankruptcy in 2012 and the subsequent recovery have shaped local politics, and the issues have often transcended traditional party lines.