The California governor’s primary — and Tuesday’s debate — happen in opposition to a backdrop of voters calling the price of dwelling within the state unmanageable, with many feeling the well-known “California Dream” is out of attain.
So, what would primary voters need carried out about that proper now?
Democrats, who are inclined to see the state’s financial system as higher than different voters do, are looking for a minimum of some similarity with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s insurance policies and overwhelmingly need a candidate who’d oppose President Trump. Republicans, nevertheless, paint a a lot bleaker image of the state.
All meaning it is nonetheless a wide-open contest with loads of candidates within the combine, together with a closely fractured Democratic subject, as the share of undecided voters outweighs any single candidate’s assist. And candidates are usually being thought-about by extra folks than those that are presently voting for them.
Describing a alternative
The descriptors “values” and “judgment” stand out as fascinating qualities in a candidate. Democrats additionally need “experience” — maybe partly reflecting that they are the incumbent celebration.
More Republicans need a candidate they affiliate with “change.”
With most voters saying debates matter a minimum of considerably, all of it suggests a dramatic remaining month earlier than the primary.
Cost of dwelling
More Californians name the price of dwelling in California “unmanageable” than did 5 years in the past, partly reflecting the inflationary pressures over the following years after COVID.
More broadly, and maybe extra long run, there’s a insecurity that the California Dream is attainable.
That mentioned, youthful folks stay comparatively extra optimistic, and there is extra confidence amongst these beneath 50 than amongst older Californians, and amongst Democrats extra so than Republicans.
The financial system general
Beyond the private, partisans have barely completely different takes on what’s occurring to the state’s financial system. That, in flip, shapes what they need from a governor.
Democrats are inclined to have a greater impression of how issues are getting in California, in comparison with different voters general.
Democrats additionally are inclined to say California extra usually units a superb instance for the remainder of the nation. Republicans suppose it units a nasty one.
So, Democratic primary voters need a candidate with insurance policies a minimum of considerably, if not very, just like Newsom’s.
Within the Democratic ranks, those that need a candidate with very comparable insurance policies to Newsom are just a little extra for former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, whereas Democrats who need somebody with completely different insurance policies are a bit extra for philanthropist Tom Steyer.
Republicans, for his or her half, paint a way more dire image of the state. They see a state the place issues aren’t going properly, the place the financial system is not only unhealthy, however is worse than the nation’s.
And there’s a distinction of opinion on what the following governor ought to prioritize of their method to serving to the center and dealing class.
Democrats need the following governor to prioritize a mixture that features constructing extra housing, whereas Republicans largely establish the highest precedence as decreasing taxes.
Gas costs
Gas prices specifically have hit onerous. (This is just not distinctive to California, as our polling nationally has additionally proven.)
As one potential coverage to deal with gasoline costs in California, voters are combined on whether or not they need the following governor to suspend part of the state’s gas tax, with barely extra saying not to take action.
The problems with the economy and jobs and inflation are at or close to the highest for each events. Immigration and crime are greater in significance for Republicans, and local weather change and healthcare are greater for Democrats.
Nationally, Americans have perceived a connection between the rise in gasoline costs and the conflict in Iran.
Large majorities of California voters are against the U.S. military action in Iran and say a candidate’s place on it is very important their vote.
The Trump issue
Democrats overwhelmingly need a candidate who all the time opposes Mr. Trump, and specifically wouldn’t cooperate with the administration on ICE operations.
This is partly as a result of they — like the vast majority of voters general — imagine the Trump administration treats California worse than different states.
Republicans need a candidate who normally, if not all the time, helps Mr. Trump.
Vote alternative
On vote alternative, it stays a fractured subject and a really open contest general to safe the highest two positions that advance to the November basic election. No single two candidates have pulled away, and the 2 highest — Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer — are within the mid-teens, with a lot of the others separated from one another by single digits. In truth, there are extra “undecided” voters than any single candidate has assist, underscoring the potential volatility of the race.
The state’s Democratic voters tremendously outnumber its Republican voters. However, with many Democratic candidates working and splitting up all these Democratic votes, there may be concern amongst Democrats that the 2 Republican candidates may then end on prime. That would go away the Democrats shut out of the overall election.
That mentioned, particular person Democrats have not but consolidated behind anyone or two candidates en masse.
We additionally requested which candidates voters would possibly think about — even when they are not backing them now — and voters may decide as many or as few as they favored.
The chart under reveals the share who would think about supporting every candidate, maybe reflecting their ceiling for the time being, if they will translate that consideration into assist down the highway.
Also, for a lot of voters, there are loads of candidates about whom they haven’t heard sufficient.
Democratic voters say they might think about a number of candidates proper now, however virtually completely Democratic candidates. For occasion, only a few of these contemplating Becerra and Steyer are additionally contemplating Republicans Hilton or Bianco. Similarly, only a few who are contemplating GOP candidates are additionally contemplating Democratic ones.
That giant variety of undecided voters may very well be partially as a result of a large portion of primary voters are not glad with the present alternative of candidates. It’s independents who most want there have been extra selections. But these unhappy are additionally much less prone to say they are going to vote, so it might be that the voters shifts as properly if they do not present up.
This CBS News/YouGov survey was carried out with a consultant pattern of 1,479 registered voters in California interviewed between April 23-27, 2026. The pattern was weighted in line with gender, age, race, schooling, and geographic area based mostly on the voter file and U.S. Census knowledge, in addition to to 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ± 4.2 factors for registered voters and ± 4.1 factors for seemingly primary voters.
