California Governor Gavin Newsom at the Georgia TechÕs McCamish Pavilion prior to the CNN Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump held at CNN's studios in Atlanta. CNN Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are moderators of the debate.
Sacramento, California – Despite California’s reputation as a progressive stronghold, a new poll reveals that voters are less interested in battling former President Donald Trump than the state’s political elites.
The dual survey, conducted from April 1 to 14, polled 1,025 registered voters and 718 political influencers. It highlights a growing disconnect between the state’s decision-makers and the electorate, particularly on issues like immigration, climate change, and how to deal with the Trump administration.
While political influencers overwhelmingly support aggressive policy action and legal challenges against the Trump White House, voters showed more restraint. Forty-three percent of registered voters said state leaders are “too confrontational” toward Trump, compared to just 33 percent who said they are “too passive.” In contrast, nearly half of policy professionals believe state leaders are not being aggressive enough.
The survey also found stark divisions on specific policies. California’s authority to set stricter auto emissions standards — a key environmental policy — garnered only 45 percent support from voters, with 40 percent opposed. Among policy influencers, however, support was much stronger, at 82 percent.
Similarly, California’s “sanctuary” laws, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, received 60 percent support from voters. Influencers backed the same laws by 20 points more. Voters were also more likely than influencers to support reducing legal immigration and promoting cultural assimilation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats have been wrestling with how to respond to Trump’s presidency after his 2024 return to power. Newsom has moderated his tone, appealing to the president for wildfire relief while also suing the administration over tariffs. His previous confrontational stance has given way to more pragmatic engagements, even as some state leaders continue pushing progressive legislation.
The survey, conducted by UC Berkeley political scientist Jack Citrin and POLITICO, suggests that California’s political class — which Citrin describes as “a much more homogenous group” of progressives — may be out of step with a more polarized and pragmatically focused electorate.
Despite some disagreements, the poll does not show voters abandoning progressive policies entirely. Instead, it suggests they are less eager to engage in political battles and more focused on issues like affordability, crime, and quality of life.
The margin of error for the voter sample is ±5 percentage points.
