Californians' Approval of Gov. Newsom Declines in New Poll
A recent survey indicates a dip in voter satisfaction with Governor Gavin Newsom's performance, particularly among Republicans and independents.
California voters' approval of Gov. Gavin Newsom has seen a decline, with a recent poll indicating that 55% of registered voters disapprove of his job performance, while 42% approve. This marks a slight decrease from March, when a poll showed 51% disapproval and 46% approval.
The drop in favorability is largely attributed to negative views from Republicans and independents. According to the poll, 96% of California Republicans and 78% of independents disapprove of Newsom's performance. In contrast, 72% of state Democrats still approve of the governor.
Jon Cohen, founder and CEO of TrueDot, the firm that conducted the poll for Politico and the UC Berkeley Citrin Center, noted that "people are pretty dour on the state." He suggested that Newsom's approval rating reflects broader assessments of California's direction.
Additional polling data from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows a similar trend. This month, 51% of likely voters approved of Newsom's job performance, compared to 49% who disapproved. This is down from May, when approval stood at 54% and disapproval at 46%. However, Newsom's approval rating among all California adults has remained relatively stable around 51% approval and 47% disapproval throughout the year, according to PPIC.
Newsom's favorability ratings were higher late last year, reaching as high as 56% in some polls. Experts attributed this earlier surge to a redistricting victory that aimed to counter President Donald Trump.
The current polling data emerges as Newsom is reportedly considering a presidential run. The same Politico poll found that 37% of registered California voters expressed excitement about the prospect of a Newsom presidential bid, a decrease from earlier in the year when 48% felt similarly.
Newsom, who is nearing the end of his term limits as governor, is also reportedly under a Department of Justice investigation along with his wife. He has publicly stated his intention not to run for president if fellow Californian Kamala Harris, the former vice president, decides to run. "I don’t know if she runs but we’ll see. But I wouldn’t run if she ran," Newsom told CNN.
The governor's office was contacted for comment regarding the poll results.