What California Voters Want from Their Next Governor: A Deep Dive into the State’s Most Pressing Issues

As California gears up for its closely watched gubernatorial debate, a comprehensive survey of the state’s voters reveals a complex landscape of priorities and concerns that the next governor will need to navigate. From tax policy to immigration, housing affordability to government fraud, Californians are sending clear signals about what matters most to them—though these priorities often differ sharply along party lines. This CBS News/YouGov poll, conducted among nearly 1,500 registered voters, paints a picture of a state grappling with foundational questions about its future direction and the accessibility of the famed “California Dream.”

Taxing the Ultra-Wealthy: A Popular but Partisan Issue

When it comes to addressing California’s fiscal challenges, a majority of voters have made their preference clear: they want the next governor to support additional state taxes on billionaires. This sentiment reflects growing concern about wealth inequality in a state that is simultaneously home to Silicon Valley tech titans and some of the nation’s highest poverty rates when cost of living is factored in. However, this majority support masks a significant partisan divide. While Democrats and many independents embrace the idea of taxing the ultra-wealthy to fund state services and programs, Republican voters strongly oppose such measures. This division reflects broader national debates about taxation, wealth distribution, and the role of government in addressing economic inequality. For the gubernatorial candidates, navigating this issue requires balancing populist appeal with concerns about driving wealthy residents and businesses to other states—a phenomenon that has received considerable media attention in recent years. The next governor will need to determine whether pursuing billionaire taxes aligns with their vision for California’s economic future and whether such policies can be implemented without unintended consequences for the state’s revenue base.

Government Fraud: A Bipartisan Concern Demanding Action

Perhaps one of the most striking findings in the survey is the widespread belief among California voters that fraud exists within state agencies. This isn’t a fringe concern or a view held only by skeptics of government—it’s a mainstream opinion that crosses party lines. While Republicans express particularly strong concerns about fraud in state operations, Democrats and independents also acknowledge that the problem exists at meaningful levels. Most voters characterize the fraud as at least “some,” with many believing there is “a lot” of fraudulent activity happening within California’s government agencies. This perception has real consequences for public trust and creates a mandate for action that gubernatorial candidates ignore at their peril. Reflecting these concerns, most California voters say that finding and eliminating fraud should be a high priority for the next governor. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for candidates: a challenge because rooting out fraud requires building effective oversight systems and potentially confronting entrenched interests, but an opportunity because addressing this issue could yield bipartisan support and restore confidence in government. Whether the fraud is occurring in unemployment benefits, contractor payments, or other areas of state spending, voters are sending a clear message that accountability matters and that the next administration must take concrete steps to protect taxpayer dollars from waste and abuse.

Immigration Policy: California Pushes Back Against Federal Deportation Programs

On immigration, California voters are charting a course that puts them at odds with the Trump administration’s approach to deportation and enforcement. The survey reveals that the administration’s deportation program does not enjoy majority support among Californians, reflecting the state’s historically more welcoming stance toward immigrants and its large immigrant population. This opposition has translated into specific expectations for the next governor, particularly among Democratic voters who constitute the majority in this deep-blue state. Many Californians, especially Democrats, have expressed a clear preference for a governor who will not cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. This desire for a “sanctuary state” approach represents a continuation of California’s recent positioning as a bulwark against federal immigration policies viewed as overly aggressive or inhumane. However, Republican voters in California take the opposite view, supporting cooperation with ICE and federal deportation efforts, creating yet another sharp partisan divide the next governor must navigate.

Adding to voters’ skepticism about federal immigration enforcement is a widespread belief that the administration is not prioritizing the deportation of dangerous criminals in California. Despite federal claims that enforcement focuses on removing violent offenders and threats to public safety, most California voters don’t believe this is actually happening in practice. This perception gap suggests either a communication failure by federal authorities or evidence that deportation efforts are indeed sweeping up immigrants without serious criminal records. On a more positive note, California voters on balance view immigration as having made the state better rather than worse—a perspective that distinguishes California from many other parts of the country and reflects the state’s identity as a diverse, immigrant-friendly place. This overall positive assessment of immigration’s impact provides context for understanding why voters want their governor to resist what they see as overly broad federal deportation programs. The next governor will need to continue balancing respect for federal authority with protection of California’s immigrant communities while addressing legitimate public safety concerns.

The Housing Crisis: Affordability, Insurance, and Homelessness

Perhaps no issue weighs more heavily on everyday Californians than housing. The survey reveals that a staggering three-quarters of California voters consider housing unaffordable—a near-consensus that crosses geographic, economic, and demographic lines. This crisis in affordability is directly connected to perceptions that the “California Dream”—the idea that anyone willing to work hard can build a prosperous life in the Golden State—is increasingly out of reach for ordinary people. Young families struggle to buy their first homes, renters face ever-increasing costs that consume larger portions of their income, and even middle-class professionals find themselves priced out of desirable communities. For those fortunate enough to own homes, a new concern has emerged: the rising cost and decreasing availability of homeowners insurance. With major insurers pulling back from California markets due to wildfire risks and climate change impacts, homeowners worry more about insurance costs than about insurance availability, suggesting that while coverage can still be obtained, it comes at a price that strains household budgets.

When asked what the next governor should prioritize to address homelessness—the most visible manifestation of California’s housing crisis—voters point to two clear priorities: building more housing and supporting mental health treatments. The focus on housing construction reflects an understanding that the fundamental shortage of affordable units drives both high costs and homelessness. California has consistently failed to build enough housing to meet demand, creating a supply-demand imbalance that pushes prices ever higher. The emphasis on mental health treatment acknowledges that many of those experiencing homelessness struggle with mental illness and need clinical intervention, not just shelter. This dual focus suggests voters understand that homelessness is a complex problem requiring multiple approaches rather than a single solution. The next governor will need to streamline housing development processes, potentially override local zoning restrictions that block construction, secure funding for affordable housing projects, and simultaneously expand mental health services and treatment facilities. These are politically difficult tasks that require confronting both NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) homeowners who resist nearby development and budget constraints that limit social service expansion, but the mandate from voters is clear: housing affordability and homelessness must be top priorities.

Student Athletes and Gender: A Divisive Social Issue

Finally, the survey reveals sharp divisions on cultural issues, particularly regarding student athletes and gender identity. A majority of California voters say that student athletes should be required to play on teams matching their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender identity. This finding might surprise those who view California as uniformly progressive on LGBTQ+ issues, but it reveals more nuanced and conflicted attitudes, particularly when abstract principles about inclusion meet concrete concerns about fairness in sports competition. What makes this issue especially notable is that it divides Democrats internally—unlike some issues where the partisan split is clean, this one creates fissures within the Democratic coalition itself. Some Democrats prioritize transgender rights and inclusion, arguing that forcing transgender students to play on teams that don’t match their gender identity is harmful and discriminatory. Other Democrats, while generally supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, worry about competitive fairness, particularly for cisgender girls and women who might face athletic disadvantages when competing against transgender women. This internal division presents a particular challenge for Democratic gubernatorial candidates who must find a position that doesn’t alienate significant portions of their base. Republicans, by contrast, show more uniformity in supporting birth-sex-based team assignments. How the next governor approaches this and similar cultural issues will send signals about California’s values and priorities that extend well beyond sports policy to questions of inclusion, fairness, and how the state balances competing rights and interests in an increasingly diverse and complex society.