Table of Contents
- Key Findings
- State of the State
- Economic Conditions and Personal Finances
- State Budget and the Governor’s May Revise
- Natural Disasters
- Immigration Policies
- State of the Nation
- Regional Map
- Methodology
- Questions and Responses
- Authors and Acknowledgments
- PPIC Statewide Advisory Committee
- PPIC Board of Directors
- Copyright
Key Findings
State and federal fiscal issues took center stage in late May as key deadlines loomed for passing the California state budget and increasing the federal debt limit in June. Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his May budget revision to the legislature with solutions to address a multi-billion-dollar shortfall. President Joe Biden met with Speaker Kevin McCarthy to find a bipartisan solution to pay the federal bills coming due. The economy is sending mixed signals—with job growth but also ongoing inflation—while bank failures underscore recession fears. Having weathered the historic winter storms and spring flood season, Californians face the prospect of extreme weather events that could bring severe heat waves and wildfires this summer.
This is the 25th year of the PPIC Statewide Survey. These are the key findings of the Californians and Their Government survey on state and national issues conducted from May 17 to 24, 2023:
Californians name economic conditions, homelessness, and housing as the most important issues facing the people of California today. Californians have mixed views about whether the state is going in the right or wrong direction. Strong majorities believe that the state will have bad times financially in the next 12 months. Majorities approve of Governor Newsom’s job performance, while about half approve of the state legislature and their own legislator.→- Nearly six in ten Californians believe that the state is in an economic recession, with most thinking that it is moderate in nature. Partisans differ in their perceptions of whether the state is in an economic recession. About six in ten adults say that they have experienced financial hardships due to rising prices, with lower-income residents far more likely to say that rising prices have caused serious hardships. About half of adults say their finances are in excellent or good shape today and that their finances have not changed in the past year; lower-income residents are much more likely to hold negative views. Forty-six percent say that housing places a financial strain on them; about six in ten are in favor of changing California’s environmental regulations and local permitting processes as a way to make housing more affordable in their part of the state.→
Nearly four in ten Californians say the state’s budget situation is a big problem. Majorities favor the governor’s budget plan for the next fiscal year, but approval varies across partisan groups. Most say that not accessing the Rainy Day Fund to address the current budget shortfall is a good idea, while fewer than half think that the proposed combination of spending cuts, delayed spending, and shifts in funding sources is a good idea. Half of likely voters favor raising state taxes on some of the largest California corporations, with partisans divided.→- Most Californians say they are somewhat knowledgeable about disaster preparedness. About six in ten say they are worried about personal injury, damage, and disruption from disasters. Four in ten say they have a disaster kit and three in ten have a disaster plan—with lower-income residents and women less likely to have these items. Most adults say they have a great deal or some confidence in state and local government readiness to respond to disasters.→
- By a wide margin, Californians view immigrants as a benefit rather than a burden to the state. Californians overwhelmingly favor a path to citizenship for undocumented residents and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protections from deportation for immigrants brought to the US as children. Majorities are in favor of providing health care coverage for undocumented immigrants in California, but there is a partisan divide.→
Overwhelming majorities of adults and likely voters have gloomy views of the state of the nation. Solid majorities across party lines say that the US is headed in the wrong direction and expect bad economic times in the US in the next year. About six in ten want the issues of debt payment and federal spending handled separately; partisans are divided on this issue. About half approve of President Joe Biden, Senator Alex Padilla, and their local US House member, while fewer approve of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the US Congress. Former President Trump has a large lead in the Republican presidential primary while President Joe Biden has a wide lead over Donald Trump in a potential rematch.→
State of the State
When asked about the most important issue facing people in California today, Californians are most likely to name jobs, the economy, and inflation (27%), homelessness (16%), and housing costs and availability (11%). Fewer Californians mention crime, gangs, and drugs (7%), the environment (6%), the state budget (5%), or government in general (5%). Across regions, residents are most likely to mention jobs, the economy, and inflation. Thirty percent of Democrats and about a quarter of Republicans and independents mention jobs, the economy, and inflation. Across partisan groups, Republicans are the most likely to mention crime, while Democrats and independents are the most likely to mention housing costs and availability.
Californians are somewhat more likely to say that the state is generally going in the wrong direction than the right direction. The outlook for the state varies by party, with strong majorities of Democrats optimistic (68%) and overwhelming shares of Republicans pessimistic (89%); strong majorities of independents are pessimistic (68%). Across regions, about six in ten residents in the Central Valley (61%), Orange/San Diego (57%), and the Inland Empire (56%) think things are going in the wrong direction; residents in Los Angeles (49% right direction, 50% wrong direction) and the San Francisco Bay Area (51% right direction, 48% wrong direction) are more divided. A majority of Asian Americans (56%) are optimistic, while Latinos (45% right direction, 53% wrong direction) and African Americans (48% right direction, 50% wrong direction) are divided, and a majority of whites (59%) are pessimistic.
Continuing the trend seen in recent years, half or fewer Californians say the state is going in the right direction
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Surveys, 1998–2023.
When asked about the economic outlook for the state, about seven in ten Californians (69%) expect bad economic times in the next year, while three in ten expect good times. Majorities across partisan groups are pessimistic about the economy, but Republicans (90%) and independents (77%) are far more likely than Democrats (52%) to be pessimistic. Two in three or more across regions—and more than six in ten across demographic groups—expect bad economic times in the next year.
Economic pessimism remains high
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Surveys, 1999–2023.
On the heels of the May budget revision, majorities of adults (55%) and likely voters (56%) continue to approve of the way Gavin Newsom is handling his job as governor, while fewer disapprove (43% adults and likely voters). Approval was similar last May (53% adults, 52% likely voters) and has been above 50 percent since the beginning of 2020. About eight in ten Democrats approve, while about eight in ten Republicans disapprove; independents are slightly more likely to disapprove than approve. Majorities of residents in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Orange/San Diego approve of Newsom, while Inland Empire and Central Valley residents are more divided. Majorities across demographic groups—with the exception of whites—approve of the way Governor Newsom is handling his job.
Californians are divided when it comes to the state legislature and their own state legislator, with about half approving and half disapproving of each. For both the legislature and their own legislator, about seven in ten Democrats approve, while majorities of Republicans and independents disapprove. Majorities in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area approve, while residents in Orange/San Diego are more divided; elsewhere in the state, residents are more likely to disapprove than approve of the legislature and their own legislator.
About half or more approve of Governor Newsom, the state legislature, and their own state legislators
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Economic Conditions and Personal Finances
A majority of Californians think the state is in an economic recession—with most saying that it is in a moderate recession. About four in ten think the state is not in a recession. Results were similar in February of this year and in February 2022. Across parties, Republicans (74%) are much more likely than independents (59%) or Democrats (49%) to think California is in a recession, and are also much more likely to say it is serious in nature. Majorities across regions and demographic groups think that the state is in a recession.
Many across the state think California is in a recession
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Despite inflation cooling in recent months, nearly six in ten Californians say that price increases have caused hardship—with about one in four saying this has been a serious hardship and about one in three saying it has not been a serious hardship. Overall findings were similar in February, but somewhat fewer Californians today say that the hardship has been serious. Independents and Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they have experienced hardship. Across regions, more than six in ten in the Central Valley (35% serious, 30% not serious), Inland Empire (28% serious, 40% not serious), and Los Angeles (24% serious, 39% not serious) say they have experienced hardship, while fewer say this in Orange/San Diego (14% serious, 35% not serious) and the San Francisco Bay Area (11% serious, 26% not serious). Latinos are the most likely among racial/ethnic groups to report having experienced hardship, followed by African Americans, whites, and Asian Americans. The share of Californians experiencing serious hardship from rising prices is far higher among lower-income residents.
Many across the state have experienced financial hardships due to rising prices
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
In addition, nearly half of Californians (46%)—including 63 percent of lower-income Californians—say the cost of their housing places a financial strain on them and their family. Three in ten Californians (29%) say the cost of housing places “a lot” of strain on their family; this view is most prevalent among African Americans, Latinos, those whose highest level of education is a high school diploma, those with household incomes of less than $40,000, and those with children 18 and under in their household. About six in ten adults are in favor of changing California’s environmental regulations and local permitting processes as a way to make housing more affordable in their part of California. Similar shares are in favor of reducing state government regulations by changing CEQA—the California Environmental Quality Act—as a way to make housing more affordable in their part of California. Half or more are in favor these two proposals across partisan, age, education, and income groups, among homeowners and renters, and across the state’s regions.
With many experiencing financial strain, how do Californians view their personal finances? Half of Californians describe their personal financial situation as excellent or good, but just one in ten say it is excellent. About half say it is fair or poor, with most saying fair. Views today are similar to February 2022, when nearly half had positive views (8% excellent, 39% good). Today, at least half across partisan groups say their financial situation is excellent or good. Across regions, positive assessments are much more common among residents in Orange/San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area than elsewhere in the state. The share saying their personal financial situation is excellent or good increases with rising income and educational attainment, and is much higher among whites and Asian Americans than African Americans and Latinos.
When asked to compare their current financial situation to a year ago, about half (53%) say it is about the same, one in three say they are worse off (33%), and 14 percent say they are better off. Views were similar the last time we asked this question in November 2022 (54% about the same, 29% worse off, 16% better off).
Ratings of personal finances vary across groups
State Budget and the Governor’s May Revise
Earlier this month, Governor Newsom unveiled a revised $306.5 billion budget and announced that the state budget shortfall had grown to $31.5 billion, up from previous estimates of a $22.5 billion deficit. Thirty-six percent of adults and 39 percent of likely voters say the state budget situation is a big problem (somewhat of a problem: 52% adults, 49% likely voters; not a problem: 10% adults, 12% likely voters). Similar shares held this view in February (34% adults, 38% likely voters) and in recent years when there was a record budget surplus. Today, 24 percent of Democrats say the budget situation is a big problem, compared to a solid majority of Republicans (64%) and four in ten independents. Four in ten or fewer across regions and demographic groups say the state budget is a big problem, with the exception of African Americans (42%) and those age 55 or older (41%).
Despite a budget shortfall, the share of Californians saying the state budget situation is a big problem remains similar to recent years when there was a record surplus
Percent saying big problem
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Surveys, 2006–2023.
After reading a brief summary of Governor Newsom’s revised budget proposal, a majority of adults (59%) and likely voters (61%) are in favor; views are almost identical to opinions about the governor’s initial proposal in our February survey (60% adults, 62% likely voters). In addition to the $224 billion in planned spending and solutions to address the $31.5 billion budget shortfall, the proposal contains $3.9 billion in “trigger reductions,” or cuts that would be restored in the future if economic conditions improve. The plan currently includes no new general taxes. Majorities of Democrats and independents favor the plan, compared to just three in ten Republicans. Across regions, support for the budget plan is highest in Los Angeles and lowest in Orange/San Diego. Majorities across demographic groups favor the proposal.
Most Californians favor Governor Newsom's proposed budget plan
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
To help address the budget deficit, Governor Newsom has included a combination of cuts, delayed spending, and shifts in funding sources to bridge the gap between spending and revenues in his revised budget. Currently, the plan calls for spending cuts in areas such as workforce training, transportation, housing programs, and efforts to fight climate change. A majority of adults (55%) and likely voters (56%) think these cuts and spending delays are a bad idea, while about four in ten think they are a good idea (42% adults, 42% likely voters). Californians were more divided over these cuts in February (good idea: 48% adults, 49% likely voters; bad idea: 50% adults, 50% likely voters). Today, majorities across partisan groups say the cuts and spending delays are a bad idea. Regionally, about six in ten in the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and the San Francisco Bay Area hold this view, while residents in Los Angeles and Orange/San Diego are more divided. Half or more across all demographic groups believe that spending cuts and deferred spending are a bad idea.
The governor’s plan refrains from accessing the $22.4 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund to partially address the current budget shortfall. A strong majority of adults (68%) and likely voters (72%) say not using the Rainy Day Fund is a good idea (bad idea: 28% adults, 25% likely voters). Similar shares said this three months ago (good idea: 70% adults, 73% likely voters; bad idea: 26% adults, 24% likely voters). There is agreement across partisan groups, but Democrats and independents are more likely than Republicans to say it is a good idea. Solid majorities across regions and all demographic groups hold this view, but men (74%) are more likely to say this than are women (63%). The shares saying it is a good idea to not use the Rainy Day Fund increase as educational attainment and income levels rise.
Although it is currently not part of Governor Newsom’s plan, some legislators have proposed raising state taxes on some of the largest corporations as a way to help reduce the gap between spending and revenues. Forty-seven percent of adults and 50 percent of likely voters favor doing so while nearly equal shares are opposed (51% adults, 48% likely voters). Partisans are divided on this proposed state tax increase.
A strong majority think not using the Rainy Day Fund is a good idea, but fewer think this about cuts, delayed spending, and funding shifts
% saying "good idea"
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Natural Disasters
After experiencing devastating floods earlier this year, Californians are now facing the potential for more catastrophic flooding as the record-breaking snowpack in the Sierra Nevada begins to melt. The summer months also bring other possible natural disasters to the forefront, such as severe heat waves and wildfires. When asked how worried they are about injury, property damage, or a major disruption to their routine due to natural disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, or floods, about six in ten adults say they are at least somewhat worried, including about one in five saying they are very worried. One in three are not very worried, but few say they are not at all worried. Californians were somewhat more likely to say they were very worried when we last asked this question in September 2019 (28%). Across regions today, the share who are very worried is highest in Los Angeles and lowest in Orange/San Diego; in the Central Valley, where recent floods have been severe, 19 percent are very worried. Across racial/ethnic groups, Latinos (30%) are the most likely to be very worried (23% African Americans, 22% Asian Americans, 10% whites). The shares saying they are very worried decline as age, educational attainment, and income levels increase.
Most Californians are at least somewhat worried about personal injury, property damage, or a major disruption to their routine due to a natural disaster
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
A strong majority (69%) of adults have at least some confidence in state and local government readiness to respond to disasters (11% a great deal, 58% some). Three in ten say they have either very little confidence (25%) or no confidence (5%). When we last asked this question in September 2014, more than twice as many Californians said they had a great deal of confidence (27%, 46% some, 18% very little, 7% none). Majorities across regions as well as partisan and demographic groups have at least some confidence, and the shares expressing a great deal of confidence are highest among Democrats (16%) and lowest among Asian Americans (5%) and 18-to-34-year-olds (5%).
A strong majority have at least some confidence in state and local governments' readiness to respond to natural disasters
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Although an overwhelming majority of adults say they are at least somewhat knowledgeable (12% very knowledgeable, 62% somewhat knowledgeable) about steps they can take to prepare for a disaster, most Californians do not have a disaster supplies kit at home or a definite disaster plan in place. Forty-one percent of adults say they have a disaster kit (58% do not have a kit), while 31 percent have a definite plan in case of an earthquake, fire, flood, or other disaster (69% do not have a plan). The shares with a kit (61%) or a plan (50%) have declined since September 2019. Majorities across all regions, partisan groups, and demographic groups report not having a kit, with the exception of likely voters (50% yes, 50% no) and adults age 55 and older (50% yes, 50% no). Solid majorities across regions as well as partisan and demographic groups say they do not have a disaster plan in place. One in four Californians say that they have both a plan and a kit, while 52 percent report having neither. The shares with both a plan and a kit are highest among likely voters, adults age 55 and older, and whites (30% each), while the shares with neither are highest among 18-to-34-year-olds (64%) and are higher among Asian Americans (61%) and Latinos (56%) than among African Americans (48%) and whites (46%).
A slim majority of Californians have neither a disaster preparedness kit or plan
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Immigration Policies
When the COVID-19 national public health emergency ended recently, Title 42, the pandemic-era law that allowed the US to expel migrants before they could ask for asylum, also expired. Amid mass migration and displacement largely in Latin America and the Caribbean, the US has received more than 1.5 million applications for the migrant sponsorship program—which has a monthly cap of 30,000 arrivals—in just a few months.
With tensions rising at US borders, about two in three California adults and likely voters say that immigrants are a benefit to the state because of their hard work and job skills, while roughly one in three adults and likely voters say immigrants are a burden because they use public services. While a solid majority hold positive views, the share saying that immigrants are a benefit has decreased since our January 2021 survey (78% of adults, 75% of likely voters). Despite some fluctuations in this finding, majorities of Californians have considered immigrants a benefit since February 2000.
Today, strong majorities of Democrats and independents say immigrants are a benefit, while three in four of Republicans say they are a burden. Majorities across demographic groups say immigrants are a benefit to California. Majorities across the state’s major regions view immigrants as a benefit to the state because of their hard work and job skills, with those in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area the most likely to say this.
Most Californians continue to believe immigrants are a benefit to the state because of their hard work and job skills
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Fifty-five percent of Californians and half of likely voters support health care for undocumented immigrants. However, the share in favor has declined from March 2021, when 66 percent of adults and 58 percent of likely voters expressed support. Most Democrats and about half of independents favor this proposal, while nearly nine in ten Republicans oppose it. Half or more across most demographic groups are in favor; however, whites and adults 55 and older are more likely to oppose this proposal, and adults with incomes of $80,000 or more are split on the issue. Across the state’s major regions, majorities in Los Angeles (65%) and the San Francisco Bay Area (58%) are in favor, compared to about half elsewhere.
Californians are divided over providing health care coverage for undocumented immigrants in the state
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Overwhelming majorities of adults (75%) and likely voters (74%) continue to favor DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protections of undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, which includes protection from deportation and a work permit, provided they pass a background check. Most Democrats and independents are in support, while a majority of Republicans are opposed. Strong majorities across demographic and regional groups are in favor.
Similarly, overwhelming majorities of adults (80%) and likely voters (81%) continue to favor providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the US if they meet certain requirements, including a waiting period, paying fines and back taxes, and passing criminal background checks. Majorities across partisan, regional, and demographic groups are in favor.
Californians overwhelmingly favor the DACA protections and providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
% favor
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
State of the Nation
There is sustained pessimism about the state of the nation, with more than seven in ten adults (72%) and likely voters (74%) thinking things in the US are generally going in the wrong direction. About one in four say things are going in the right direction (26% adults, 25% likely voters). The share saying things are going in the wrong direction is similar to the record high of 74 percent of adults in August 2008, during the Great Recession. Earlier this year, 71 percent of US adults said things were on the wrong track, according to a January NBC News poll with similar language (23% right direction).
Partisans in California continue to be pessimistic today, with solid majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents saying things are headed in the wrong direction. Strong majorities across demographic and regional groups say this.
An overwhelming majority of Californians think things in the US are headed in the wrong direction
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Surveys, 2003–2023.
Thinking about economic conditions, about three in four adults (76%) and likely voters (75%) believe the US will experience bad times financially in the next 12 months (good times: 22% adults, 23% likely voters). The share saying there will be bad economic times ahead is similar to the share in our February survey and matches the record high in March 2008 (76%). Today, most across partisan, demographic, and regional groups say there will be bad economic times ahead.
Most Californians continue to believe the US will experience bad economic times in the next 12 months
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Surveys, 2003–2023.
Half of California adults and a majority of likely voters (56%) approve of the way President Biden is handling his job, and this share has remained similar since the beginning of this year (53% adults, 56% likely voters). Most Democrats approve, while a majority of independents and most Republicans disapprove. Approval ratings vary across demographic and regional groups, and approval is highest among college graduates, African Americans, Asian Americans, San Francisco Bay Area residents, and Los Angeles residents.
About three in ten California adults and likely voters approve of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Earlier in the year, a similar 28 percent of adults and 27 percent of likely voters said they held a favorable opinion of newly elected Speaker McCarthy. Today, most Democrats and independents disapprove, while a majority of Republicans approve of the Speaker. Majorities across demographic and regional groups disapprove of Speaker McCarthy.
A majority of Californians (59%) think that the issues of debt limit and federal spending should be handled separately, while 36 percent think that Congress should allow the federal government to pay its debts only if Biden agrees to spending cuts; partisans are divided on this policy question.
While Senator Dianne Feinstein has recently announced that she will not run for reelection next year, there have been calls for her to resign as she has experienced some health problems. About three in ten adults and likely voters approve of the way she is handling her job. The share approving has decreased since October 2022 (41% adults, 41% likely voters). Today, majorities across partisan, demographic, and regional groups disapprove.
About half of adults and a majority of likely voters approve of Senator Alex Padilla. Approval among both groups is the highest it has ever been in the four times we have asked this question since 2021. Today, about half or fewer approve of Senator Padilla across many demographic, partisan, and regional groups, though majorities of Democrats, Latinos, Asian Americans, college graduates, higher-income residents, and Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area residents approve.
Slightly more than two in ten adults and likely voters approve of the way the US Congress is handling its job; this share is similar to the approval level earlier this year, but it is the lowest it has been since July 2018 (18%). One-third or fewer across partisan, regional, and demographic groups approve.
About half of adults and a majority of likely voters approve of their own US House representative (disapprove: 47% adults, 43% likely voters). Most Republicans and a slim majority of independents disapprove, while most Democrats approve. Across regions, approval of local House representatives is highest in the San Francisco Bay Area and lowest in the Central Valley. Four in ten or more among demographic groups approve, with majority approval among Asian Americans, adults age 55 and older, college graduates, and adults with incomes of $80,000 or more.
In early readings on the 2024 presidential election, Former President Donald Trump has a large lead over his challengers in the Republican presidential primary, while President Joe Biden has a wide lead over the former president in a potential rematch of the 2020 presidential election.
About half approve of President Biden, Senator Padilla, and their own representative, while fewer approve of Congress, Senator Feinstein, and Speaker McCarthy
SOURCE: PPIC Statewide Survey, June 2023. Survey was fielded from May 17–24, 2023 (n=1,576 adults, n=1,062 likely voters).
Topics
2024 Election Criminal Justice Housing Immigrants in California K–12 Education Political Landscape Population Poverty & Inequality Statewide SurveyLearn More
An Early Look at the 2024 Election
Californians Hold Mixed Views on Their Personal Finances
Californians Remain Positive about Marijuana Legalization
Californians Want Referendum Reforms
Californians’ Racial Attitudes and the Reparations Task Force
Californians’ Views on Mass Shootings and Assault Weapons
Commentary: The Importance of Californians’ Views on Immigration Policies
Video: Californians and Their Government
