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Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
Statewide Survey · February 2003

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Mark Baldassare

Full Report Methodology

This is the thirteenth survey in a series of large-scale public opinion polls that PPIC is conducting throughout California’s election cycles. The purpose of the surveys is to develop an objective, in-depth profile of the social, economic, and political forces affecting public policy preferences and elections in California.

Some findings of the current survey:

  • An overwhelming majority of residents (71%) believe that the state will face financially bad times in the coming year, compared to 47% one year ago.
  • Today, 60% of Californians believe their region of the state is in an economic recession. That’s up from 47% just three months ago in November 2002.
  • By a wide margin, Californians today say the economy and jobs (28%) are the biggest problem facing the state, followed by the state budget and taxes (15%), education and schools (11%), and war and terrorism (10%).
  • 60% of Californians say the state is headed in the wrong direction, while only 28% believe it is headed in the right direction.
  • At the national level, Californians give President Bush his lowest ratings to date.

Topics

Political Landscape Statewide Survey