Homelessness And Affordable Housing, Top Of Mind As Most Urgent Issues In California, Quinnipiac University California Poll Finds; 7 In 10 Voters Don't Want Gov. Newsom To Run For President In 2024

Asked to choose the most urgent issue facing California today, 22 percent say homelessness followed by affordable housing (17 percent) and inflation (10 percent), according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in California released today. No other issue reached double digits.

There are wide gaps by political party.

Among Republicans, the top issues are immigration (17 percent), homelessness (14 percent), taxes (14 percent), affordable housing (11 percent), and crime (10 percent).

Among Democrats, the top issues are homelessness (26 percent), affordable housing (24 percent), and climate change (13 percent).

Among independents, the top issues are homelessness (23 percent), affordable housing (15 percent), crime (12 percent), inflation (12 percent), and taxes (11 percent).

“What worries the Golden State most? Dealing with the homeless crisis and finding a home Californians can afford to live in,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

Eighty-four percent of voters think homelessness in California is a very serious problem, while 14 percent think it is a somewhat serious problem, 2 percent think it is not a very serious problem, and 1 percent think it is not a problem at all.

Nearly 7 out of 10 voters (69 percent) think California is doing too little to help homeless people, while 14 percent think it is doing too much and 11 percent think California is doing about the right amount to help homeless people.

Voters say 82 - 14 percent that there is a housing crisis in California, up from 78 - 15 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll in July 2019.

ECONOMY

Forty percent of voters describe the state of California's economy these days as either excellent (6 percent) or good (34 percent), while 59 percent describe it as either not so good (28 percent) or poor (31 percent).

This is a reversal from a Quinnipiac University poll in February 2019 when 58 percent described the economy as either excellent (12 percent) or good (46 percent) and 38 percent described it as either not so good (21 percent) or poor (17 percent).

Asked about their own personal finances, 15 percent of voters say they are getting better, while 39 percent say they are getting worse, and 46 percent say they are staying about the same.

LIVING IN CALIFORNIA

Voters say 53 - 45 percent that they feel like they can afford to live in California.

If given the financial means to do so, more than 4 in 10 voters (43 percent) say they would move out of California to somewhere else, while 55 percent say they would not.

"If they could afford to pack up their bags and put California in the rear-view mirror, they would, say 43 percent of voters. And who wants out the most? Overwhelmingly, Republicans," added Malloy.

VOTING IN PRISON

Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) oppose California allowing citizens to vote while they are serving time for felonies in prison, while 32 percent support it.

IMMIGRATION

Two-thirds of voters (67 percent) believe that immigration is good for the country, while 23 percent believe that immigration is bad for the country. This is a change from a Quinnipiac University poll in February 2019 when 76 percent said immigration was good for the country and 14 percent said immigration was bad for the country.

Voters say 53 - 39 percent that California does not have effective border security along the border with Mexico. In Quinnipiac University's February 2019 poll, voters were split 46 - 46 percent.

Nearly 4 in 10 voters (39 percent) think that undocumented immigrants are provided with too much protection in California, while 27 percent think they are not provided with enough protection, and 27 percent think undocumented immigrants are provided with the right amount of protection.

GUNS

Voters support 58 - 39 percent stricter gun laws in California.

Voters support 61 - 36 percent a ban on assault weapons in the state.

Voters think 66 - 31 percent that the state should set limits on where people can carry guns in public.

Voters think 77 - 21 percent that people under the age of 21 should be restricted from obtaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Forty-two percent of voters think that gun violence in California is a crisis, while 47 percent think it is a problem but not a crisis, and 8 percent think it is not a problem at all.

Seven out of 10 voters (70 percent) say they do not personally own a gun, while 24 percent say they do own one.

Among those who do not own a gun, 25 percent say they are considering acquiring one.

"About 40 percent of California voters own a gun or are thinking about getting one," added Malloy.

GAVIN NEWSOM IN 2024?

Voters say 70 - 22 percent they would not like to see Governor Gavin Newsom run for president in 2024.

Among Democrats, 54 percent say they do not want to see Newsom run for president in 2024, while 35 percent say they would like to see him run.

"A resounding thumbs down from the home team as California voters tell the Governor: if you have designs on the big job beyond Sacramento, we're not on board," added Malloy.

JOB APPROVALS

Voters are split on the way Gavin Newsom is handling his job as governor, with 44 percent approving and 43 percent disapproving. Thirteen percent did not offer an opinion. This compares to July 2019 when 39 percent approved, 38 percent disapproved, and 24 percent did not offer an opinion.

Voters give Senator Dianne Feinstein a negative 37 - 44 percent job approval rating, with 19 percent not offering an opinion. This compares to a 41 - 41 percent job approval rating, with 18 percent not offering an opinion in July 2019.

Voters give Senator Alex Padilla a 38 - 29 percent job approval rating, with 33 percent not offering an opinion.

They give President Biden a split 48 - 47 percent job approval rating.

They give Vice President Kamala Harris a negative 42 - 48 percent job approval rating.

Voters give U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy a negative 33 - 48 percent job approval rating, with 19 percent not offering an opinion.

U.S. SENATE RACE

When voters were asked how closely they have been following news about the U.S. Senate race in California to succeed Senator Feinstein, who announced she is not running for re-election in 2024, 15 percent say very closely, 34 percent say somewhat closely, and 49 percent say not too closely.

Voters were asked whether they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of:

• Adam Schiff: 31 percent favorable, 30 percent unfavorable, 38 percent haven't heard enough about him;
• Katie Porter: 30 percent favorable, 11 percent unfavorable, 59 percent haven't heard enough about her;
• Barbara Lee: 18 percent favorable, 11 percent unfavorable, 71 percent haven't heard enough about her.

If Rep. Katie Porter is elected United States Senator from California in 2024, 39 percent of voters say they would be either very enthusiastic (15 percent) or somewhat enthusiastic (24 percent), while 35 percent say they would be either not so enthusiastic (12 percent) or not enthusiastic at all (23 percent). Twenty-six percent did not offer an opinion.

If Rep. Adam Schiff is elected United States Senator from California in 2024, 35 percent of voters say they would be either very enthusiastic (15 percent) or somewhat enthusiastic (20 percent), while 52 percent say they would be either not so enthusiastic (16 percent) or not enthusiastic at all (36 percent). Twelve percent did not offer an opinion.

If Rep. Barbara Lee is elected United States Senator from California in 2024, 34 percent of voters say they would be either very enthusiastic (8 percent) or somewhat enthusiastic (26 percent), while 40 percent say they would be either not so enthusiastic (16 percent) or not enthusiastic at all (24 percent). Twenty-six percent did not offer an opinion.

1,091 California self-identified registered voters were surveyed from February 23rd - 27th with a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

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