CBS News poll and analysis of California policies ahead of governor's race debate

Politics CBS News poll and analysis of California policies ahead of governor's race debate By Anthony Salvanto, Anthony Salvanto CBS News Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto, Ph.D., is CBS News' executive director of elections and surveys. He oversees the CBS News Poll and all surveys across topics and heads the CBS News Decision Desk that estimates outcomes on election nights Read Full Bio Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus, Jennifer De Pinto April 28, 2026 / 11:00 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Ahead of Tuesday's closely watched debate, Californians see the next governor facing a wide array of issues.TaxesA majority of California's voters want the next governor to support an added state tax on billionaires. Republicans, however, do not. FraudMost California voters feel there is at least some, if not a lot, of fraud in state agencies.Republicans in particular say so, but this is not confined to their views.Most voters say finding fraud should be a high priority. Immigration'The Trump administration's deportation program does not find majority favor among California's voters. That's one reason many (especially Democrats) have said they want the next governor to be someone who will not cooperate with the administration on ICE operations. California's Republicans do want that cooperation. Most voters also don't think the administration is prioritizing dangerous criminals for deportation in California. On balance, more California voters think immigration has made the state better than worse. HousingThree-quarters of California's voters call housing unaffordable — it's part of the reason they may also think the "California Dream" is out of reach. For homeowners, the costs of insurance are a greater concern than availability. On what the next governor should do to reduce homelessness, top priorities are more housing and supporting mental health treatments. Student athletes and genderA majority of voters say student athletes should be requir...