A year out from the 2018 mid-term elections, Californians think less of Congress than they do of President Donald Trump, are concerned about the high costs of living and housing availability in the state, and dislike the gas tax, according to the new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll.
The second round of results released this week shows that Trump’s approval rating in California is at 22 percent, considerably lower than his approval in national polls but still higher than Californians’ 11 percent approval of Congress. The poll also shows that 53 percent of Californians think their member of Congress should never work with Trump.
Californians indicated that the high cost of living, including housing costs and housing availability, as the most important issue facing the state, followed by the issue of jobs/economy.
In response to questions about immigrants, large majorities said undocumented immigrants strengthen the economy, are here because they want work, not for handouts, and are helping to revitalize American cities.
When asked about California’s new gas tax, which has triggered proposed ballot initiatives for a repeal in 2018, 54 percent say they would vote to cancel it.
This latest USC Dornsife/LA Times statewide poll is an expansion of a partnership between the LA Times, as well as the Unruh Institute of Politics and the Center for Economic and Social Research, both at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
The partnership began last year with the USC Dornsife/LA Times Daybreak presidential election poll. Its results stood out among national polls as it pointed toward the possibility of a Trump victory. All of the data from the poll were available online.
The latest statewide poll is also internet-based, with methodology information available online.
The survey asked Californians what they regard as the most important issues facing their state, as well as their opinions on President Trump, Gov. Jerry Brown, immigration issues, the state’s new gas tax, and the recent kneeling protests by NFL players.
