Most California Voters Say Governor Newsom Is Prioritizing Presidential Run Over State Issues: Survey

A majority of California voters believe Governor Gavin Newsom is focusing more on advancing his national political profile than addressing issues within the state, according to a recent survey.

Conducted by UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by The Los Angeles Times, the poll also found that 54% of registered voters think Newsom is acting in ways that would benefit a potential presidential campaign, while only 26% said he is primarily focused on governing California and solving its problems. 20% of respondents remained undecided.

This perception crosses party lines, with 83% of Republicans, 52% of independents, and 40% of Democrats believing that Newsom's actions align more with presidential ambitions than state governance. Only 6% of Republicans, 22% of independents, and 41% of Democrats think he is actually prioritizing California's needs at the moment.

The poll also shows Californians are evenly split on Newsom's job performance, with 46% approving and 46% disapproving. This rating has remained stable since late 2023, but is notably 15 points lower than former Governor Jerry Brown's approval at the same point in his second term.

Confidence in Newsom's ability to represent California's interests when dealing with the Trump administration is similarly divided. While 48% of respondents expressed confidence in this scenario, 45% said they were not. The responses to that question were sharply partisan, with 70% of Democrats expressing some level of confidence, compared to 77% of Republicans who expressed little to none.

Newsom's healthcare policy, which expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to undocumented immigrants, received mixed support, as most voters supported coverage for children and adults over 50, but support dropping for adults aged 18 to 49.

Newsom's public engagements, including a podcast featuring controversial Republican figures, have drawn criticism from both conservatives and progressives. A March poll by Capitol Weekly showed that while 13% said the podcast improved their view of Newsom, twice as many (26%) said it harmed their perception.