Californians now consider political extremism or threats to democracy a bigger concern for the US than the economy. In a briefing last week, survey analyst Lauren Mora and associate survey director Dean Bonner discussed this and other top issues from the latest statewide survey.
About a third of adults—including across many demographic groups and regions—indicated that political extremism or threats to democracy were their number one concern on a list of concerns for the country. Fifty-one percent of Democrats also chose this top issue; about a third of Republicans pointed to immigration. Californians continue to name cost of living and economic conditions as the top issue for the state.
When PPIC conducted its survey in early February, newly elected officials were joining the ranks of government. Amid the political reshuffling, a majority of Californians approve of the job Governor Newsom is doing while half approve of the state legislature. Thirty percent of Californians approve of Trump, and 20% approve of the US Congress. Bonner noted that approval for the president is the same as at the start of his first term. For the governor, approval rose 11 points since October, bouncing back from lows throughout last year.
It appears that Californians have greater confidence in state than national government. “People are less pessimistic about the state than the country,” Mora said. “Californians may be relying more on the state government.”
This sentiment may fuel a belief that the Golden State should handle certain policy matters on its own. Specifically, about six in ten prefer that California make separate policies from the federal government on climate change and on immigration, Mora said. Six in ten also feel that the federal government does not do enough to address climate change. One example on the world stage is the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which Californians strongly oppose. Meanwhile, residents strongly support spending $2.7 billion from Proposition 4, a multi-year climate bond.
Regarding immigration, 73% of Californians want undocumented immigrants to be allowed to stay in the country if certain conditions are met, although this number is down from 87% at the start of Biden’s term. More aggressive immigration policies have garnered little support. “Under the new administration,” Bonner said, “we find majority opposition for declaring a national emergency at the border, for ending birthright citizenship as well as for ending asylum.”
Despite some degree of faith in state government, Californians do not feel their government is prepared to respond to wildfires. In the months after fires destroyed Los Angeles neighborhoods, over 70% of Californians have little or only some confidence in government readiness on this matter—even as wildfires raise some concern for over 70% of residents across regions.
Any optimism about the state also has not translated to optimism about democracy—satisfaction with democracy now stands at a record low of 33%. The share of Californians who are very or somewhat satisfied has dropped 10 points since October and 20 points since early 2022, Bonner said, with double digit drops among several demographic groups including African Americans, Latinos, and Asians. However, partisans have starkly different views. Compared to 18% of Democrats, 68% of Republicans now express satisfaction with democracy, a share that rose 33 points since October.
