How is a mecca for wealthy tech workers supposed to be a progressive utopia. Theres really not any such thing in the USA. Not that I'm aware of.
These headlines are clickbait. I wish The Atlantic was better than this, but I know it's not.
The Democrat party is barely a left-leaning party. You have famous national examples like AOC and Bernie who are very progressive, but by and large, most Democrats are happy to accede to corporate power and regressive policies when it actually matters. What is considered "radical left" here in America is basically centrist by the standards of the rest of the world.
Of course there's no progressive utopia. That's what utopia means: "no place". But California is incredibly progressive compared to other states in the US.
BTW, here's another piece on progressive hypocrisy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNDgcjVGHIw