Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates; Chart: Russell Contreras/Axios California is losing people from suburbs year after year, revealing a deeper demographic shift reshaping America's most populous state. Why it matters: If California's commuter engines keep shrinking, the state risks losing the diverse workforce that powers its economy — while shifting political clout to the states where those families relocate. The cities losing people generally aren't the ultra-wealthy