Republicans Boost Registration Margin

Despite a major Democratic voter registration drive this spring, Orange County remains a Republican stronghold, with Republican registrations increasing slightly since January and Democratic registrations showing a small decrease.

The latest figures reflect county registration totals through Wednesday and were released by county Registrar of Voters A. E. Olson.

By law, no new registrations will be accepted until after the June 3 election, but by then, in preparation for the November elections, both parties expect to be registering voters with a vengeance.

Overall, 550,925 people, or 53.5% of Orange County voters, were registered as Republicans by Wednesday, compared to 371,605, or 36.1%, registered as Democrats.

The Republicans showed about a 1% gain since January and a 1.9% gain since the November, 1984, presidential election. The Democratic totals slipped slightly in that period, declining by .5% since January and by 1.3% since November, 1984.

Democrats also lost ground in four central Orange County congressional and state legislative districts that they have targeted for a major registration drive this spring.

Michael Ray, president of the Democratic Foundation and director of the Democrats’ $110,000 drive, expressed dismay at the latest figures. But he said they could have been worse. Had the Democrats not started their own registration drive this year, competing with a successful Republican drive that has been registering voters since January, 1985, “the Democrats would really be in deep water,” he said.

Thomas A. Fuentes, chairman of the county Republican Central Committee, suggested that the Democrats already are. The Republican drive this year will aim for “the largest possible Republican registration in this county--to deliver this county for (Republican Gov.) George Deukmejian,” Fuentes vowed.

As for the Democrats’ registration drive, “we never really sensed there was an ongoing or serious success to their effort,” said Fuentes, who tracks new registrations each week. “We had one week where there was a spurt of activity, but we never did detect an ongoing organization success on their part.”

Besides, the Republican chairman said, “That little spurt of activity was very beneficial to us. We were able to rally our people to get active because the other side was getting active.”

In addition to their overall registration effort, the Republicans also claim to have persuaded some 3,500 Democrats since January to switch parties. Orange County Republican Party Executive Director Greg Haskin said that of every 100 Democrats called by a Republican phone bank, about 14 say they support President Reagan and want to register as Republican.

Orange County Democrats, in their first concerted registration effort since 1978, began registering voters in early February. By late May, Democratic Foundation Executive Director John Whitehurst said, they had signed up about 8,000 new Democrats from four targeted districts.

The goal, however, had been to register about 16,000 people in that period. The party is aiming for 26,000 new Democratic registrations by November.

District Results

Meanwhile, in their efforts to retain three Republican seats and capture a fourth--the 72nd Assembly--from the Democrats, the Republicans have targeted the same four districts. The results:

- In the 38th Congressional District, where Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) is seeking reelection, Republicans made up 39% of the voters in November, 1984, 40.4% of the voters in January, and 41.4% of the voters by Wednesday.

“That bodes well for Bob Dornan,” Fuentes said. “Traditionally, if a district is 38% Republican or better, it is a very winnable Republican district. . . .”

During the same period, Democratic registration in the 38th declined from 49.6% in November, 1984, to 48.9% in January and to 48.2% by Wednesday.

- In the 32nd State Senate District, where Edward Royce (R-Anaheim) is running for reelection, Republican registration rose from 45.2% last November to 46.6% in January to 47.4% by Wednesday. At the same time, Democratic registration fell slightly, from 44.2% in November, 1984, to 43.1% in January to 42.6% by Wednesday.

- In the 71st Assembly District, where Doris Allen (R-Cypress) is seeking reelection, Republican registrations rose from 44.7% in November, 1984, to 45.7% in January to 46.6% by Wednesday. At the same time, Democratic registrations fell from 45.2% in November, 1984, to 44.4% in January to 43.8% by Wednesday.

- In the 72nd Assembly District, where Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) is vacating the seat to run for Congress, Republicans also gained--from 36.4% in November, 1984, to 38% in January to 39% by Wednesday. At the same time, Democratic registrations declined slightly from 52.3% in November, 1984, to 51% in January to 50.2% by Wednesday.

Voter Registration in Target Districts

Countywide

Nov. 84 Jan. 86 May 86 Democrat 37.4% 36.5% 36.1% Republican 51.6 52.7 53.5

38th Congressional District

Nov. 84 Jan. 86 May 86 Democrat 49.6 48.9 48.2 Republican 38.9 40.4 41.4

32nd Senate District

Nov. 84 Jan. 86 May 86 Democrat 44.1 43.1 42.6 Republican 45.2 46.6 47.4

71st Assembly District

Nov. 84 Jan. 86 May 86 Democrat 45.2 44.38 43.78 Republican 44.7 45.75 46.58

72nd Assembly District

Nov. 84 Jan. 86 May 86 Democrat 52.3 50.97 50.20 Republican 36.4 38.02 39.02