A rural-ish California region neglected ed by both political parties

Brawley, California mayor Gil Rebollar wrote a powerful op-ed in the Los Angeles Times a few days ago about one of the state's out-of-the way, agricultural regions--a place often labeled "disadvantaged."  The headline is "In Imperial County, we’ve been abandoned by Democrats and Republicans," and some key excerpts follow about the politics and economics of this primarily Latina/o county in southeastern California, on the Arizona state line.  With a population of 179,702, the county is metropolitan, but widely thought of as rural because of the dominance of agriculture.    

Since the conclusion of the election, much of the media have painted Imperial Valley as having dramatically shifted its politics. With President-elect Donald Trump jumping from 37% of the 2020 vote in the region to 49% this year, many now claim that it has “flipped” from blue to red. Are we a once-blue county making a revolutionary realignment toward the Republican Party, or one growing more purple?

The truth is neither. The Imperial Valley is not living through a left-versus-right war, a storyline far too easy and convenient for pundits to resist as they lazily view our region as a political novelty. Trump’s strong local finish does not mark a sudden conservative awakening, just as the region’s previous Democratic lean did not reflect an unwavering progressive faith.

The truth is more damning. The Imperial Valley is neither red nor blue. Instead, it is a place that feels betrayed by both parties.

Imperial County is the youngest county in California, forgotten in its southeast corner. We have long been treated like the runt of the litter, distancing ourselves from politics and known for having low voter turnouts.

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Lithium extraction in the northern part of the county, dubbed “Lithium Valley,” is supposed to help save us from our employment and economic woes and power the country’s clean energy transition. Yet local leaders have to fight desperately for support from the state and federal government.

In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have designated “Lithium Valley” and all Imperial County surrounding the Salton Sea as the Southeast California Economic Region to better align state and federal support surrounding affected communities and clean energy development in the area. The same month, the Biden administration’s Department of Energy Loan Programs Office awarded $3 billion in grants for domestic battery production — not a single dollar of which made it to Imperial Valley.

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This election is not a cautionary tale for the Democrats, nor a success story for Republicans. It is a warning to both.

The Imperial Valley is not a prize to be brandished after each election cycle. Our plight is not red or blue; it is human. This is our home, our community, and we have a future worth fighting for.

The author, Mr. Rebollar, represents the seven incorporated cities of Imperial County on the Southern California Assn. of Governments Regional Council.  Brawley's population is 27,849.