blog post What Approval Ratings Say about Recalling Governor Newsom By Mark Baldassare Feb 2, 2021 Governor Newsom could potentially face a recall election this year. But PPIC’s new statewide survey suggests that California voters currently are unlikely to remove him from office.
blog post Californians Like Voting on Environmental Issues By Mark Baldassare Jul 12, 2023 According to a new PPIC Statewide Survey, Californians value their ability to vote on environmental issues—and are so far unsupportive of a referendum on new oil wells that will appear on next year's ballot.
blog post Race and Partisan Leanings in California’s Draft Redistricting Maps By Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Vicki Hsieh Nov 16, 2021 California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission has released draft maps of new congressional and state legislature districts. What would they mean for racial/ethnic representation and partisan competitiveness?
Report Interest Group Influence in the California Initiative Process By Elisabeth R. Gerber Nov 1, 1998 Perhaps the most dramatic change in the California political system over the past two decades has been the increasing use of the initiative process. Between 1976 and 1996, Californians voted on 106 statewide ballot initiatives. Spending on initiative campaigns has grown commensurately, peaking in 1996 at an all-time high of $140 million. Many observers argue that the initiative process has been captured by wealthy economic interests able to "buy" favorable initiative legislation. This background paper presents evidence to the contrary. Despite their vast monetary resources, economic interests are generally unable to enlist the sympathy of a sufficiently large number of people to pass new laws through the initiative process. Economic groups more often and more successfully use their resources to oppose ballot measures and thereby maintain the status quo.
blog post What’s Wrong with the Recall? By Mark Baldassare Jul 27, 2021 An overwhelming majority of California likely voters say it is a good thing that there is a process for recalling elected officials. But more than two-thirds say the current recall is a waste of money, and a similar share say the recall process should be changed.
blog post Rebooting California’s Congressional Delegation By Eric McGhee Mar 11, 2014 With this year’s retirements, more than a third of the California congressional delegation will have turned over by the time the dust settles this fall.
