CBS News poll on California governor's race: What are primary voters looking for?

Politics CBS News poll on California governor's race: What are primary voters looking for? 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, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus Updated on: April 27, 2026 / 8:25 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The California governor's primary — and Tuesday's debate — take place against a backdrop of voters calling the cost of living in the state unmanageable, with many feeling the famous "California Dream" is out of reach. So, what would primary voters want done about that right now? Democrats, who tend to see the state's economy as better than other voters do, are looking for at least some similarity with Gov. Gavin Newsom's policies and overwhelmingly want a candidate who'd oppose President Trump. Republicans, however, paint a much bleaker picture of the state.All that means it's still a wide-open contest with a lot of candidates in the mix, including a heavily fractured Democratic field, as the percentage of undecided voters outweighs any single candidate's support. And candidates are often being considered by more people than those who are currently voting for them.Describing a choiceThe descriptors "values" and "judgment" stand out as desirable qualities in a candidate. Democrats also want "experience" — perhaps partly reflecting that they are the incumbent party. More Republicans want a candidate they associate with "change."  With most voters saying debates matter at least somewhat, it all suggests a dramatic final month before the primary. Cost of livingMore Californians call the cost of living in California "unmanageable" than did five years ago, partly reflecting the inflationary pressures over the en...