PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment, February 2006
Mark Baldassare

February 2006

Some findings of the current survey

• An overwhelming number of likely voters in California (87%) say candidates’ positions on the environment and coast will be important in the 2006 gubernatorial elections.
• Latinos are more likely than whites (60% to 44%) to say the environmental policies of gubernatorial candidates are very important to them.
• Across political parties, support is high for reducing ocean and beach pollution, even if it means paying higher taxes (Democrats 80%, independents 73%, Republicans 68%).
• Partisan accord breaks down over offshore oil drilling: Eighty percent of Democrats and 69 percent of independents oppose it, while 51percent of Republicans favor it.
• Many Californians are very concerned about fish or other seafood for sale having contaminants such as mercury (64%) and being commercially overfished (46%).

This is the 64th PPIC Statewide Survey and the seventh in a series of special surveys focusing on Californians and the environment. This survey focuses in particular on marine and coastal issues.