A recent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) statewide survey reveals deep partisan divisions among Californians on key state and national issues, a strong majority’s concern about the nation’s direction and economy, and mixed views on Governor Newsom’s performance.
The survey, conducted from October 7 to October 14, 2025, also highlights significant concerns over the cost of living and homelessness in the state.
Proposition 50 Sees Likely Voter Support
Ahead of the November special statewide election, 56% of likely voters say they would vote “yes” on Proposition 50, which authorizes temporary changes to the state’s congressional district maps in response to partisan redistricting in Texas.
- The vote is partisan-divided: Republicans and Democrats have different views, while independents lean toward a “yes” vote.
- 68% of likely voters consider the outcome of Proposition 50 “very important” to them.
- Furthermore, 72% think the 2010 Proposition 20—which gave the task of congressional redistricting to a citizens’ commission—has been “mostly a good thing” for California.
Low Approval for Trump and Congress, Widespread National Pessimism
Approval ratings for federal leaders remain low in California:
- 26% of adults and 33% of likely voters approve of the way President Donald Trump is handling his job. Partisans are deeply divided, with approval at 80% among Republicans but only 4% among Democrats. Approval also varies across racial/ethnic groups: 37% of whites, 21% of Latinos, 16% of Asian Americans, and 11% of African Americans approve.
- The U.S. Congress fares worse, with an approval rating of just 14% among adults and 17% among likely voters.
Californians are overwhelmingly pessimistic about the nation’s trajectory and economy:
- 77% say the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction, matching the highest point since 2003. This view is shared by overwhelming shares of Democrats (94%) and independents (83%).
- 76% expect bad economic times over the next 12 months for the country, a pessimistic view shared most by Democrats (92%) and independents (80%).
- The most important problem facing the U.S. today is identified as political extremism or threats to democracy (40%), followed by economic conditions (19%) and immigration (12%).
Mixed Views on State Direction, Governor Newsom
Concerns about personal financial burdens top the list of state issues:
- The most important issues facing the state are the cost of living, economy, or inflation (32%), followed by housing costs and availability (14%).
- 54% of adults and 55% of likely voters approve of the way Governor Gavin Newsom is handling his job, up from 44% in June.
- Views on the state’s direction are mixed, with 47% of adults saying California is headed in the right direction.
- However, a strong majority of 75% of adults and 76% of likely voters expect California to have bad times financially over the next 12 months.
Financial Worries and Homelessness a Local Concern
Despite gloomy economic forecasts, most Californians are at least somewhat satisfied (74%) with their household financial situation. However, financial strain is evident:
- About four in ten Californians (42%) are concerned about not having enough money to pay for their rent or mortgage. Renters (61%) are twice as likely as homeowners (29%) to express this concern.
- 53% of Californians say they see someone experiencing homelessness daily.
- 78% of Californians are concerned about the presence of homeless people in their local communities.
Concerns about increased federal immigration enforcement are also high, with about half of Californians worried (49%) that someone they know could be deported. This worry is most pronounced among Latinos (65%) and noncitizens (77%).
READ: California Sues Trump Admin Over SNAP Funds Amid Shutdown, Deploys National Guard
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
