Report California’s Future: In Your Hands By Mark Baldassare Oct 12, 2006 In November 2006, California voters passed one of the biggest spending packages in the state’s history. The bonds in that package represent a substantial down payment on repairing and building the infrastructure and increasing the public services required to preserve California’s quality of life. But these funds are just a down payment. More will be needed. Equally important, the state needs to undertake much more comprehensive and systematic planning for the future than it has in recent decades. The population growth and other challenges facing the state are huge—and we all have a stake in the outcome. This report highlights 10 critical questions you should be asking yourself—and your representatives in Sacramento—about building a livable future.
Report Voter Turnout in Primary Elections By Eric McGhee May 1, 2014 California’s new top-two primary system did not produce the increase in voter turnout that many had hoped for in 2012. But it did appear to engage independent voters. Examining primary voting trends over time, this report analyzes voter behavior and the potential impact of electoral reforms in this stage of the election cycle. This research is supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus Jul 27, 2016 Some findings of the current survey: Ten years after California enacted AB 32, strong majorities support the law’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goal and favor expanding it. Most Californians say they are willing to pay more for electricity from renewable sources to help reduce global warming. When asked about the most important environmental issue facing the state, more Californians name water supply and drought than any other issue. Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump in the presidential race; in the US Senate matchup, Kamala Harris leads Loretta Sanchez. Crosstabs: All Adults [PDF] Likely Voters [PDF] Time Trends: All Adults [PDF] Likely Voters [PDF] The survey was supported with funding from The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the Pisces Foundation, and the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
blog post Californians Like Voting on Environmental Issues By Mark Baldassare Jul 12, 2023 According to a new PPIC Statewide Survey, Californians value their ability to vote on environmental issues—and are so far unsupportive of a referendum on new oil wells that will appear on next year's ballot.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha Apr 23, 2014 Some findings of the current survey: Strong majorities of Californians support the Common Core State Standards and the Local Control Funding Formula. Nearly three in four say the state should fund voluntary preschool for all four-year-olds. About half still consider California’s budget situation a big problem for K–12 education and view state funding for local schools as inadequate. Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Silver Giving Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Education By Mark Baldassare Apr 28, 2005 Some findings of the current survey The vast majority of Californians (82%) believe that the quality of education in the state’s K-12 public schools is at least somewhat of a problem. 59% of public school parents say that their local public schools do not receive enough state funding. Most Californians are more likely to say that private schools (60%) rather than public schools (24%) provide the best education. 78% of Californians say parents who fail to pay attention to how their children are doing is a big problem in K-12 public education. Parental hopes for their children’s future education are stunning. Nine in 10 aspire to college graduation for their children, and 41 percent hope that their children will earn a postgraduate degree. This special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey—a survey on education—is the first in a three-year PPIC survey series made possible with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The intent of this special series is to inform state, local, and federal policymakers; encourage discussion; and raise public awareness about a variety of education, environment, and population issues facing the state.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Sep 24, 2008 Some findings of the current survey: Three in four (76%) Californians say major changes are needed in the budget process. Forty-nine percent think it would be a good idea to lower the legislative threshold for budget passage from two-thirds to 55 percent. A record 44 percent of adults across all political party and demographic groups say that jobs and the economy are the top issues facing the state. A majority (55%) of likely voters oppose Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that would eliminate the right to same-sex marriage. By 10 points, likely voters prefer the Obama-Biden Democratic presidential ticket to the Republican McCain-Palin ticket. This is the 90th PPIC Statewide Survey and the 31st in the Californians and Their Government survey series, which is conducted to examine the social, economic, and political trends that influence public policy preferences and ballot choices. It is supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Renatta DeFever, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner Mar 25, 2015 Some findings of the current survey: Californians are worried about the water supply in their part of the state and say that people in their region are not doing enough to respond to the drought. Many share the governor’s concern about the state’s roads and bridges; fewer support tax increases to fund improvements. Most favor using state budget surpluses to restore higher education funding, but only if tuition and fees do not increase. Support for legalizing marijuana (53%) is at its highest point; more than half of Californians would not be bothered if a legal marijuana store opened in their neighborhood. Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [PDF] Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] U.S. Congress [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [XLS] Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] U.S. Congress [XLS] Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California [PDF] Economic Outlook for California [PDF] General Direction of Things in the United States [PDF] Economic Outlook for the United States [PDF] Time Trends for the Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California [XLS] Economic Outlook for California [XLS] General Direction of Things in the United States [XLS] Economic Outlook for the United States [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus Dec 2, 2015 Some findings of the current survey: Californians are much more likely than adults nationwide to view global climate change as a very serious problem. Two in three Californians say the state is divided into haves and have-nots. Slightly more than half (54%) favor providing health care coverage for undocumented immigrants in California. Half prioritize new ideas and a different approach over experience and a proven record in a presidential candidate. Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [PDF] Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] U.S. Congress [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [XLS] Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] U.S. Congress [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.
At Issue, Report The State of California Voters By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Sep 17, 2008 California voters are not happy. They are increasingly distrustful of government, disappointed in the people who run it, and convinced that the nation and state are headed in the wrong direction. And yet, as their disaffection has grown, Californians have begun to register and vote in record numbers. What are voters trying to say? What can they expect from their elected officials in the face of their own partisan divisions? This At Issue provides facts and figures on political involvement, partisan lines, and sources of voter discontent.
