Good Question: Why Was The State Capitol In Benicia?

BENICIA (CBS 5) – Before Sacramento, California's lawmakers met in several different places, including this Solano County community. In this Good Question: Why was the state capitol in Benicia?

ANSWER: According to historian Rod Warren, the State Capital was built in Benicia in 1853. But the capitol was moved to Sacramento just 13 months later, in a backdoor political deal between Governor John Bigler and state politician David Broderick. Broderick, the political opposition leader delivered enough votes to guarantee Bigler's re-election in exchange for an appointment as a U.S. Senator.

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