CBS News poll on California governor's race: What are primary voters looking for?

Politics CBS News poll on California governor's race: What are primary voters looking for? By Anthony Salvanto, Anthony Salvanto CBS News Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto, Ph.D., is CBS News' executive director of elections and surveys. He oversees the CBS News Poll and all surveys across topics and heads the CBS News Decision Desk that estimates outcomes on election nights Read Full Bio Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus Updated on: April 27, 2026 / 8:25 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The California governor's primary — and Tuesday's debate — take place against a backdrop of voters calling the cost of living in the state unmanageable, with many feeling the famous "California Dream" is out of reach. So, what would primary voters want done about that right now? Democrats, who tend to see the state's economy as better than other voters do, are looking for at least some similarity with Gov. Gavin Newsom's policies and overwhelmingly want a candidate who'd oppose President Trump. Republicans, however, paint a much bleaker picture of the state.All that means it's still a wide-open contest with a lot of candidates in the mix, including a heavily fractured Democratic field, as the percentage of undecided voters outweighs any single candidate's support. And candidates are often being considered by more people than those who are currently voting for them.Describing a choiceThe descriptors "values" and "judgment" stand out as desirable qualities in a candidate. Democrats also want "experience" — perhaps partly reflecting that they are the incumbent party. More Republicans want a candidate they associate with "change." With most voters saying debates matter at least somewhat, it all suggests a dramatic final month before the primary. Cost of livingMore Californians call the cost of living in California "unmanageable" than did five years ago, partly reflecting the inflationary pressures over the ensuing years after COVID. More broadly, and perhaps more long term, there is a lack of confidence that the California Dream is attainable. That said, younger people remain relatively more optimistic, and there's more confidence among those under 50 than among older Californians, and among Democrats more so than Republicans. The economy overallBeyond the personal, partisans have slightly different takes on what's happening to the state's economy. That, in turn, shapes what they want from a governor.Democrats tend to have a better impression of how things are going in California, compared to other voters overall. Democrats also tend to say California more generally sets a good example for the rest of the nation. Republicans think it sets a bad one. So, Democratic primary voters want a candidate with policies at least somewhat, if not very, similar to Newsom's. Within the Democratic ranks, those who want a candidate with very similar policies to Newsom are a little more for former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, while Democrats who want someone with different policies are a bit more for philanthropist Tom Steyer.Republicans, for their part, paint a much more dire picture of the state. They see a state where things aren't going well, where the economy is not just bad, but is worse than the nation's. And there is a difference of opinion on what the next governor should prioritize in their approach to helping the middle and working class.Democrats want the next governor to prioritize a mix that includes building more…

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