PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government February 8, 18 Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Lunna Lopes Supported with funding from the James Irvine Foundation, the California Endowment, and the PPIC Donor Circle
Outline PPIC Statewide Surveys 18 California election State and national issues Conclusions 2
PPIC Statewide Survey mission Provide timely, relevant, nonpartisan data on political, social, and economic opinions Inform and improve state policymaking, raise awareness, encourage discussion Provide a voice for all Californians in important state policy debates 33,+ Californians interviewed since 1998 1+ general, issue, and regional surveys 3
Californians and Their Government General series funded by the James Irvine Foundation, the California Endowment, and the PPIC Donor Circle Telephone interviews, January 21 3, 18 7% cell phone, 3% landline 1,75 adults, ± 3.2% margin of error 1,42 likely voters, ± 4.35% margin of error Views on gubernatorial and US Senate elections and candidates Opinions on state and federal elected officials, the state budget, sexual harassment in the state legislature, and immigration policy 4
Outline PPIC Statewide Surveys 18 California election State and national issues Conclusions 5
Gubernatorial election preferences Gavin Newsom Antonio Villaraigosa John Chiang Travis Allen John Cox Delaine Eastin Doug Ose Someone else (vol.) Don t know 1 3 4 7 8 9 21 23 24 % likely voters 6
Satisfaction with gubernatorial candidates In general, would you say you are satisfied or not satisfied with your choices of candidates in the primary election for governor this June? % 1 54 26 71 15 38 36 44 33 69 24 5 Satisfied Not satisfied 54 29 All likely voters Dem Rep Ind Latinos Whites Other racial/ ethnic groups 7
Favorability of gubernatorial candidates 1 Favorable opinion Unfavorable opinion % likely voters 13 8 27 17 11 11 14 16 3 8 11 29 Travis Allen John Chiang John Cox Delaine Eastin Gavin Newsom Doug Ose Antonia Villaraigosa 8
US Senate race Candidate preference Candidate favorability Don t know 33% Someone else 3% Kevin de León 17% Dianne Feinstein 46% % likely voters 1 16 19 45 19 Kevin de León Favorable opinion Unfavorable opinion Never heard of Don t know 52 38 7 4 Dianne Feinstein 9
Candidate experience Which of these is most important to you? That the candidate has experience in elected office, or that the candidate has experience running a business? % likely voters 1 44 49 43 43 Experience in elected office Experience running a business 62 31 % likely voters 1 84 11 Experience in elected office Experience running a business 25 65 56 36 Dem Rep Ind 1
Important candidate qualities Which of these is most important to you? Would it be the candidate s experience, the candidate s character, the candidate s political party, or the candidate s stands on the issues? % likely voters 1 Candidate's stands on issues 17 16 Candidate's experience Candidate's character 6 Candidate's political party 1 1 Other/it depends (vol.) Don't know 11
Repealing gas tax increase In 17, the California Legislature passed and Governor Brown signed into law an increase in the state s gasoline tax. Do you favor or oppose repealing the recently passed increase in the state gas tax? % 1 47 48 39 56 61 36 Favor Oppose 52 43 All likely voters Dem Rep Ind 12
Taxing commercial properties at market rate Under Proposition 13, residential and commercial property taxes are both strictly limited. What do you think about having commercial properties taxed according to their current market value? Do you favor or oppose this proposal? % 1 46 43 All likely voters Favor Oppose 53 56 45 39 34 39 Dem Rep Ind 13
Outline PPIC Statewide Surveys 18 California election State and national issues Conclusions 14
Approval of federal elected officials 1 President Trump US Congress 1 President Trump US Congress 72 % adults 33 3 26 21 % 26 21 All adults 32 15 Likely voters 27 31 18 7 1 Dem Rep Ind 15
Approval of state elected officials % adults 1 Governor Brown California Legislature 56 51 % 1 56 57 51 5 Governor Brown California Legislature 76 69 47 37 26 24 All adults Likely voters Dem Rep Ind 16
State and national prospects for working together and accomplishing a lot in 18 Do you think that will be able to work together and accomplish a lot in the next year, or not? % 1 28 Yes, will be able to work together No, will not be able to work together 29 67 Governor Brown and the state legislature President Trump and the US Congress 17
Top issue for the governor and legislature Which one issue facing California today do you think is the most important for the governor and state legislature to work on in 18? % all adults 14 14 9 11 8 5 7 17 18 3 6 Immigration Jobs, economy Education, schools, teachers State budget, deficit, taxes Infrastructure 18
Outlook for the state Do you think things in California are generally going in the right direction or the wrong direction? Don't know 6% Turning to economic conditions in California, do you think that during the next 12 months we will have good times financially or bad times? Don't know 1% Wrong direction 38% Right direction 57% Bad times 35% Good times 56% All adults 19
Perception that the state budget situation is a big problem % all adults 43 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17 Jan-18
Support for the governor s proposed budget Governor Brown recently proposed a budget plan for the next fiscal year that includes $132 billion dollars in general fund spending In general, do you favor or oppose the governor s budget plan? % 1 67 66 24 28 81 15 39 49 Favor Oppose 62 27 All adults Likely voters Dem Rep Ind 21
Support for spending gas tax revenue The governor s proposed budget plan includes spending $4.6 billion dollars from the recently passed gas tax and vehicle fees to repair roads, highways and bridges...overall, do you favor or oppose this proposal? % 1 7 26 65 33 18 55 Favor Oppose 68 28 All adults Likely voters Dem Rep Ind 22
Sexual harassment in the state legislature How closely are you following news about sexual harassment and misconduct in the California State Legislature? Do you approve or disapprove of the way Democratic leaders in the state legislature are currently handling the issue of sexual harassment and misconduct in the California State Legislature? Fairly closely Very closely Don't know 25% % 28 29 42 35 37 Approve 39% 18 All adults 27 14 13 22 Dem Rep Ind Likely voters Disapprove 36% 23
State and local action to protect undocumented immigrants Do you favor or oppose the California state and local governments making their own policies and taking actions, separate from the federal government, to protect the legal rights of undocumented immigrants in California? % 1 65 31 58 39 83 15 21 73 Favor Oppose 53 42 All adults Likely voters Dem Rep Ind 24
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Thinking about undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, do you favor or oppose the protections given by DACA Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals which include protection from deportation and a work permit, if they pass a background check? % 1 85 13 81 17 95 4 58 38 Favor Oppose All adults Likely voters Dem Rep Ind 16 25
Outline PPIC Statewide Surveys 18 California election State and national issues Conclusions 26
Conclusions Newsom and Villaraigosa are in a virtual tie in the top-two gubernatorial primary, but a quarter of likely voters are undecided. In the US Senate race, Feinstein continues to lead de León by double digits; a third of likely voters remain undecided. Likely voters are divided about repealing the recent gas tax and about taxing commercial properties at current market value. Most Californians favor the governor s proposed budget and believe the governor and legislature will be able to work together and accomplish a lot. However, expectations of cooperation are low for the president and congress. Many are closely following news about sexual misconduct in the state legislature; Californians are divided about how Democratic leaders are handling this issue so far. Californians are most likely to name immigration as the top issue facing the state today, and majorities across parties favor the DACA protections. 27
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government February 8, 18 Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Lunna Lopes Supported with funding from the James Irvine Foundation, the California Endowment, and the PPIC Donor Circle
Notes on the use of these slides These slides were created to accompany a presentation. They do not include full documentation of sources, data samples, methods, and interpretations. To avoid misinterpretations, please contact: Lunna Lopes (lopes@ppic.org; 415-291-4492) Thank you for your interest in this work. 29