From the same state but different planets
Rival Californians are in line to lead on Capitol Hill
SAN FRANCISCO — Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi may stand political poles apart, but, together, the two California lawmakers are on the verge of making history.
If, as seems likely, McCarthy becomes the next House Republican leader and Pelosi continues as head of the Democratic caucus, it would mark the first time the congressional leaders of both parties hail from the same state.
Which of the two would reign as speaker, as opposed to minority leader, depends on the results of November’s midterm election and whether each withstands a potential challenge in his or her own ranks.
The prospect of two Californians — McCarthy from Bakersfield and Pelosi from San Francisco — leading their respective parties on Capitol Hill would suggest unparalleled clout for the state, save for the fact the two often work at political cross-purposes.
McCarthy, 53, fought to repeal the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — which Pelosi was instrumental in passing. She fiercely opposed President Trump’s sweeping tax cut bill, which McCarthy helped usher into law.
Pelosi, 78, supports the proposed San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bullet train, while McCarthy staunchly opposes it.
Both reflect the city they represent. McCarthy, deeply conservative. Pelosi, unreservedly liberal. Indeed, although a mere 250 miles separate them, Bakersfield and San Francisco may as well occupy different planets.
Think Buck Owens vs. Jello Biafra,
agriculture vs. high tech, or a 72-degree August day in San Francisco when it’s a broiling 97 in Bakersfield.
Here’s a tale of their two cities:
Population Bakersfield: 376,000 San Francisco: 884,000
Land area Bakersfield: 151 square miles San Francisco: 47 square miles
Population density (Residents per square mile) Bakersfield: 2,600 San Francisco: 18,700
Median age Bakersfield: 30 San Francisco: 38
Median income Bakersfield: $59,000 San Francisco $104,000
Average hourly wage Bakersfield: $22.79 San Francisco: $36.61
Major occupations Bakersfield: education, training; construction and extraction; protective services (correctional officers, police, firefighters) San Francisco: computer and mathematical; business and financial operations; management
Median home price Bakersfield: $234,036 San Francisco: $1.3 million
What $500,000 will get you Bakersfield: 3,400-squarefoot, five-bedroom, threebath single-family home San Francisco: 1,000square-foot tear-down/ fixer-upper
Average monthly rent Bakersfield: $935 San Francisco: $3,426
Voter registration, by major party Bakersfield: 36% Democratic, 35% Republican San Francisco: 58% Democratic, 7% Republican
2016 presidential results Bakersfield: Donald Trump 53%, Hillary Clinton 40% San Francisco: Hillary Clinton 84%, Donald Trump 9%
2012 presidential results Bakersfield: Mitt Romney 57%, Barack Obama 40% San Francisco: Barack Obama 83%, Mitt Romney 13%
Famous natives Bakersfield: David Benoit, jazz pianist; Frank Bidart, poet; Brandon Cruz, actor/ punk rock musician; Kelli Garner, actress; Kevin Harvick, professional stock car racer; Tyrone Wallace, pro basketball player San Francisco: Ansel Adams, photographer; Clint Eastwood, actor; Robert Frost, poet; Jerry Garcia, musician; Steve Jobs, entrepreneur; Jason Kidd, former pro basketball player and coach
Songs about Bakersfield: “A Bar in Bakersfield,” “Bill Woods From Bakersfield,” “Streets of Bakersfield” San Francisco: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Lights,” “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers)”
City motto Bakersfield: “Life as it should be” San Francisco: “Oro en paz, fierro en guerra” (Gold in peace, iron in war)
Tallest building Bakersfield: Stockdale Tower, 176 feet San Francisco: Salesforce Tower, 1,070 feet
Famous for Bakersfield: agriculture, conservative politics, country music, oil industry, summer heat San Francisco: cable cars, fog, liberal politics, sourdough bread, vertiginous hillsides
Still to be determined Home to the most powerful lawmaker in Congress
mark.barabak@latimes.com