Poll: 62% of California Voters Want New Direction, Give Newsom Poor Marks

A recent poll reveals that 62% of California registered voters rate Governor Gavin Newsom's tenure as fair or poor, with a significant majority expressing a desire for the state to move in a new direction under its next governor. The survey, conducted by TrueDot in collaboration with UC Berkeley's Citrin Center and Politico, found that only 36% of voters gave Newsom's overall performance an excellent or good rating.

The largest segment of respondents, 39%, characterized his performance as poor, while just 11% considered it excellent. The dissatisfaction is particularly pronounced regarding the handling of homelessness, with 72% of voters rating his efforts negatively. Even among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters, 57% expressed negative views on the governor's approach to homelessness, and 52% of this group gave low marks on housing.

Overall, 69% of voters disapproved of Newsom's handling of housing, compared to 28% who approved. The poll also indicated negative assessments for his performance on taxes and state spending, with 60% and 55% of voters, respectively, rating these areas poorly. Regulation of artificial intelligence also received a negative assessment from 43% of voters.

The only area where Newsom received positive marks was climate change, with 50% of voters approving of his handling of the issue, versus 40% who disapproved.

When asked whether the state's next governor should continue Newsom's policies or take a different path, 62% of voters favored a change, while only 28% supported continuing his policies. This sentiment held even among Democrats, where 49% preferred a new direction compared to 37% who wanted continuity.

Newsom's office, through spokesperson Izzy Gardon, offered a contrasting perspective, highlighting Newsom's electoral victories, including his survival of a recall in 2021 and the passage of Proposition 50. Gardon stated, "Gavin Newsom overwhelmingly won five elections in eight years and is the most popular outgoing governor in the history of PPIC polling the question. It’s a shame America’s Favorite Governor can’t run for another term — he’d crush it!"

The poll also projected the general election matchup for governor, showing Democrat Xavier Becerra leading Republican Steve Hilton 55% to 35%, with 10% undecided. Hilton, however, criticized the prospect of continued one-party rule, suggesting that Becerra would not challenge the status quo established under Newsom and former Governor Jerry Brown.

The survey of 1,149 California registered voters was conducted from October 9-14. A separate survey of 213 "policy influencers" showed a more favorable view of Newsom's performance, with 52% rating him excellent or good, but even this group, at 52%, indicated a preference for a different direction for the state.