In California, voters are quite divided when it comes to their feelings about President Trump. Most voters not affiliated with the Democratic Party express disapproval of his leadership and believe that the country is on the wrong path. Mark DiCamillo, who directs the UC Berkeley Government Institute’s polls, noted that these sentiments align with previous views of Republican presidents in the state.
“If you examine Trump’s ratings, you’ll see the same attitudes have persisted throughout his term,” DiCamillo said. “People understand him.” This partisan divide also extends to various contentious topics like Medicaid cuts and tariffs.
When asked about the tariffs Trump imposed on international trade, a significant majority—71% of Democrats—viewed the impact as negligible on family spending. DiCamillo remarked, “Republicans tend to downplay these impacts or overlook them entirely, while Democrats often attribute all issues to Trump.” This is evident in a recent poll in which 93% of Democrats expressed doubt that the Trump administration would deliver the nearly $40 billion in wildfire relief California sought due to the LA area fire.
In California, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly two-to-one, Trump’s overall polling approval has been low, reflecting the broader sentiments expressed in recent presidential elections. A poll conducted from August 11-17 indicated that 69% disapproved of Trump, with 62% expressing strong disapproval. Conversely, 29% approved of him, while 68% believed the country was moving in the wrong direction.
Interestingly, among voters with no affiliation to the Democratic Party, 75% felt the country was on the wrong track, compared to just 20% of Republicans. Despite the diverse opinions, the White House did not respond to inquiries about the poll’s findings.
Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif) highlighted the poll results as a wake-up call, stating that they reflect the harmful effects of presidential policies on California communities. He pointed out that Trump’s approach does not resonate with the views of most Californians, which is why he may use the state to challenge constitutional limits.
G. Cristina Mora, co-director of the UC Berkeley Institute of Government, remarked on the pronounced nature of partisan divisions, particularly in relation to Trump’s immigration policies and other parts of his agenda.
Medicaid Cuts
Views on recent changes to Medicaid—branded in California as Medi-Cal—have also shown political splits. Californians tend to disapprove of new job requirements for Medicaid recipients mandated under a legislation championed by Trump. This legislation stipulates that most recipients aged 18-64 must work at least 80 hours a month to keep benefits. While Republicans frame this change as promoting personal responsibility, Democrats call it a threat to public health affecting millions of vulnerable individuals.
The data suggests that 61% of Californians disapproved of the new job requirements. Meanwhile, approval rates were starkly divided along party lines—80% of Republicans supported the change, while 85% of Democrats disapproved. Additionally, 52% of respondents opposed a new limit proposed by California Democrats and Governor Gavin Newsom regarding Medicaid.
There’s a notable concern among those with Medi-Cal coverage, with 67% expressing fears about losing their benefits. Nadereh Pourat from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research emphasized that such job mandates historically lead to loss of health coverage, as seen in previous examples from other states. Without proper access to medical care, individuals often delay necessary preventive measures, which could result in higher costs for both families and health systems.
High-Speed Rail Cuts
Californians are similarly divided over state efforts to construct high-speed rail lines in the Central Valley. This comes after the Trump administration announced it would reclaim $4 billion in federal funding initially allocated for the project. While the rail was intended to link Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2026, plans have shifted to connect Bakersfield by 2030, amidst budget overruns and political backlash.
The polling shows that 49% of Californians support the rail project, while 42% oppose it. Notably, 66% of Democrats are in favor, whereas 77% of Republicans disapprove. Different regions show varying levels of support; for instance, Los Angeles County has more proponents compared to the Central Valley where opposition is stronger.
Senator Dave Cortez, chairman of the Senate Transport Committee, noted that there’s a notable political influence on voter sentiment. While he acknowledges skepticism is healthy, particularly regarding large expenditures, he emphasizes the significance of such infrastructure investments for local communities.
Overall, Mora suggests that the wide gap between Democratic and Republican views on Trump reflects broader contemporary political dynamics. People’s perceptions about their economic well-being are closely linked to their views about who holds power, indicative of the party lines in today’s political climate.
