Republicans Appear To Lose Ground In California

The secretary of state’s office says Republican voter registration in California has continued to slip despite a renewed effort by the GOP to enlist recruits.

Republicans fell from 34.6 percent of California’s electorate during the last gubernatorial primary four years ago to 30.8 percent in April. The latest number also is slightly lower than Republican registration during the 2008 presidential election.

Democratic registration increased from 42.7 percent of voters in 2006 to 44.6 percent in April. It also was up slightly from Democratic registration in 2008.

The report issued Friday by Secretary of State Debra Bowen said voters who decline to state a party preference account for 20.1 percent of the 16.9 million Californians who are registered, a record.

May 24 is the deadline to register for the June 8 primary.