California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a negative approval rating for the first time in his tenure leading the state.
The results come from the latest statewide survey from the Public Policy Institute of California.
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By the numbers: The survey found that 47 percent of adults approve of Newsom’s job performance, the first time that he has been under 50 percent as Governor.
- On the flip side, 50 percent of adults disapprove of how he is acting as Governor.
- He enjoys immense support from his own base, however, with 70 percent approval from Democrats.
- But 60 percent of independents and 84 percent of Republicans disapprove of his performance.
Go deeper: According to the survey, about 60 percent of the state believes that California will have a rough time financially during the next year.
- That comes as the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office upped its estimated budget deficit for the state to $73 billion.
- Despite a majority of Californians believing the state will face financial hardships, only 40 percent think the state’s budget situation is a big problem, with 51 percent of adults favoring Newsom’s budget plan.
- Looking at the southern border with Mexico, 70 percent of the state thinks the situation is a “crisis” or a “very serious problem.”
What they’re saying: “Californians are waking up to Gavin Newsom’s complete failure as a leader,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher. “Under Newsom, gas and utility prices skyrocketed, people can no longer afford their groceries, homelessness and crime soared, our budget plunged into a deficit and we have the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation. Running a make-believe campaign for president while ignoring the issues hurting Californians will only push Gavin’s approval numbers lower.”
