calling California a one-party-state is a bit exagerated: even the Democrats have had a governor from time to time too, in the past 100 (or the past 60, or the past 40) years
And the only bit of "red" on that diagram besides the blip in 96 in the Assembly, was Schwarzenegger, who was quite a moderate figure, and given his party didn't control the legislature at all, he didn't make a tremendous or long-lasting impact besides a few budget showdowns.
but apart from 10 years Warren, 6 years Knight, 8 years Reagan, 8 years Deukmejian, 8 years Wilson, 8 years Schwarzenegger, when did Republicans ever win any election in California?
And the only bit of "red" on that diagram besides the blip in 96 in the Assembly, was Schwarzenegger, who was quite a moderate figure, and given his party didn't control the legislature at all, he didn't make a tremendous or long-lasting impact besides a few budget showdowns.