Some rural Californians illustrate political divide in attitudes toward wearing masks in public during pandemic

Despite ample evidence that masks work to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, many refuse to wear them, especially as the pandemic has become increasingly politicized. In rural areas of California, many are rejecting Gov. Gavin Newsom's June 18 order to wear masks while in public.

"Why the split? Some of it’s cultural; as a rule, rural Californians are more suspicious of what they see as government intrusion into their lives," Dale Kasler reports for The Sacramento Bee. "Some of it’s political; rural areas tend to vote Republican, and some residents are taking their lead from President Donald Trump, who has been disdainful of wearing masks. Polls show Democrats are more likely to wear masks than Republicans."

Kasler's interviews with rural residents illustrate some of the reasons. Lorenzo Smith, a retailer in Placerville, pop, 10,389, told Kasler he won't wear them out of principle and because he thinks it's unnecessary. "Most people up here do not like the governor," Smith told Kasler. "The deal is, you have no right to tell me I have to wear a mask. I’m an American. … I refuse to bow to anybody."