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Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare

This is the 39th PPIC Statewide Survey and the 15th in a series of large-scale public opinion polls that PPIC is conducting on a periodic basis throughout California's election cycles. The purpose of this series is to develop an objective, in-depth profile of the social, economic, and political forces affecting public policy preferences and ballot choices in California.

Some findings of the current survey

  • Californian's trust in their state government is at its lowest level since the statewide survey began in 1998. Only 27% of state residents say they trust the government in Sacramento to do what is right just about always or most of the time.
  • Disapproval ratings for Governor Davis remain high (65%), and 53% of likely voters say they would vote to remove him from office.
  • A majority of Californians (58%) say their region remains mired in an economic recession.
  • Two-thirds of Californians (67%) think the state is headed in the wrong direction.
  • If the 2004 presidential election were held today, 45% of the state's likely voters say they would vote for the Democratic nominee, 40% would vote for George W. Bush.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Most Californians say the health reform law has had no direct impact. One in five say it has directly helped and a similar share say it has directly hurt them.
  • In the gubernatorial election, Governor Brown continues to lead Neel Kashkari by a wide margin; just one in 10 are very closely following news about candidates.
  • As more Californians see the drought as the state’s most important issue, the water bond (Proposition 1) has a two-to-one margin of support (58% to 29%).
  • A solid majority of likely voters support Proposition 47, which would reduce sentences for some drug and property crimes.

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]
Senator Boxer [PDF]
Senator Feinstein [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]
Senator Boxer [XLS]
Senator Feinstein [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
Economic Outlook for California [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
Economic Outlook for California [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Californians say the most important issue facing higher education is its cost.
  • Solid majorities across all regional, demographic, and political groups rate the performance of the three state higher education systems as excellent or good.
  • Sixty-four percent of Latino parents are “very worried” about affording a college education, while only 29 percent of white parents say the same.

This is the 92nd PPIC Statewide Survey and the second Californians and Higher Education survey, which seeks to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about issues affecting higher education. It is supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment

By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Solid majorities of Californians favor government regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and policies to curb global warming.
  • More Californians support than oppose expanding coastal oil drilling; even more favor improving fuel efficiency.
  • Three in four Californians say the state should expand public transit and use existing transportation networks more efficiently—only 18 percent say the state should build more freeways.

Job Approval Ratings:
   President Obama
   Governor Schwarzenegger
   California State Legislature

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
   President Obama
   Governor Schwarzenegger
   California State Legislature

Mood of Californians:
   General Direction of Things in California
   Economic Outlook for California
 
Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
   General Direction of Things in California
   Economic Outlook for California
 
This survey is supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • A strong majority of likely voters favor Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed tax initiative and oppose the "trigger cuts” that public schools would face if the measure fails.
  • Likely voters are split in their approval of President Obama (49% approve, 49% disapprove, 2% unsure).
  • A majority of Californians think the state could maintain current levels of service with lower revenues.

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]
Senator Boxer [PDF]
Senator Feinstein [PDF]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [PDF]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]
Senator Boxer [XLS]
Senator Feinstein [XLS]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [XLS]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
Economic Outlook for California [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
Economic Outlook for California [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Californians and the Environment

By Mark Baldassare

This is the twenty-sixth PPIC Statewide Survey and the third in a new series that will focus on population growth, land use, and the environment. The current survey focuses in particular on public perceptions, individual actions, and policy preferences relating to environmental issues.

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Most residents believe little progress has been made in solving environmental problems over the past twenty years, and they are pessimistic about improvements in the future: 78% believe there has been only some or hardly any progress since the early 1980s, and 79% have only some or hardly any optimism that environmental problems will be under control 20 years from now.
  • Nearly half of all adult Californians (49%) have little or no confidence in government to understand and solve today's environmental problems.
  • A solid majority (62%) believe that there is enough evidence that global climate change is real and that some action is warranted.
  • 59% say policymakers should not allow more oil drilling off the California coast, even if this means higher gasoline prices for California drivers.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on California’s Fiscal System

By Mark Baldassare

This survey – the second in a series of special surveys on the California state budget and fiscal system, conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation – is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system.

Some findings of the current survey

  • 64% of likely voters currently approve of the way Arnold Schwarzenegger is handling his job as governor of California.
  • 58% of likely voters disapprove of the way the California legislature is handling the state budget and taxes.
  • 73% of likely voters think the state government in Sacramento can be trusted to do what is right only some of the time or none of the time; 93% think that the people in state government waste some or a lot of taxpayers’ money.
  • Currently, only 35% of likely voters would vote yes on Proposition 57 — the $15 billion Economic Recovery Bond Act on the March 2nd primary ballot.
  • 57% of likely voters would vote yes on Proposition 58, which would require the state to pass a balanced budget, address fiscal emergencies, and establish a budget reserve. (Prop. 58 can take effect only if Prop. 57 is approved.)

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Californians and the Environment

By Mark Baldassare

This is the 37th PPIC Statewide Survey and the fifth in a series of eight surveys that will focus on population growth, land use, and the environment. This survey focuses in particular on public perceptions, individual actions, and policy preferences relating to air quality issues.

Some findings of the current survey

  • Residents in the Central Valley (42%) are now as likely as Los Angeles residents (43%) to consider air pollution a big problem in their region of the state. In 2000, only 28% of Central Valley residents saw air quality as a big problem.
  • 68% of Californians believe that increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere will, if unchecked, lead to global warming.
  • Most employed residents in the state report that they commute to work by driving alone (73%); many fewer commute by carpool (13%) or public transit (5%).
  • President and governor receive very low approval ratings for their handling of environmental issues: Davis, 30%; Bush, 37%.
  • 86% of Californians say that the presidential candidates' positions in 2004 on environmental issues will be a very important (41%) or somewhat important (45%) factor in determining their vote.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Lunna Lopes

Key findings from the current survey: In California’s gubernatorial race, Democrat Gavin Newsom solidifies his lead and Republican John Cox gains ground—but a quarter of likely voters are still undecided. In the US Senate race, Dianne Feinstein continues to lead Kevin de León by double digits. Immigration is the top issue likely voters want to hear gubernatorial candidates talk about between now and the June primary. Most likely voters would support state bonds for affordable housing and water infrastructure projects.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • There is widespread support for Governor Brown’s budget proposal, including his plans to target education funding and pay down debt.
  • A record-high share of Californians say working illegal immigrants should be offered a path to legal status.
  • Two in three Californians support a nationwide ban on assault weapons.

Gun Regulation:
Guns in Homes [PDF]
Role of Government [PDF]
Assault Weapon Ban [PDF]
Worry About Shootings [PDF]

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]
Senator Boxer [PDF]
Senator Feinstein [PDF]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [PDF]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]
Senator Boxer [XLS]
Senator Feinstein [XLS]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [XLS]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
General Direction of Things in the United States [PDF]
Economic Outlook for California [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
General Direction of Things in the United States [XLS]
Economic Outlook for California [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

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