Most Californians are happy living here, poll says. So why do 4 in 10 want to move away?
Last week, Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis posted an ad slamming California — its decreasing population, crisis-level homelessness, crime in San Francisco and gas prices.
“California’s liberal governance is a disaster,” DeSantis’ campaign tweeted alongside the video.
But what do Californians have to say about their home state?
Seven in 10 are happy living in the state, according to the latest California Community Poll released this month. The residents surveyed described California as a place that brings diverse groups of people together, offers opportunities to do the things they enjoy and where they fit in and feel comfortable. The oldest (65+) and youngest (18-34) age groups were most content, with three-quarters of each rating themselves as happy Californians.
But four in 10 said they are considering moving away, most citing the high cost of living. Satisfaction with the state economy overall has dropped 12 points since 2020.
More residents reported struggling to make ends meet this year compared with 2020. Nearly 1 in 5 said they struggled to make ends meet each month. For those with income less than $50,000 annually, 1 in 3 reported struggling.
In 2020, a little more than half of households making between $50,000 and $100,000 said they could live comfortably in the state. This year, only 28% said they can, and 17% said they struggled financially.
This slide in economic confidence parallels national trends: Nearly half of Americans described economic conditions as poor and only 17% as good, according to a Gallup poll published this spring.
Those who feel unrepresented by California’s democracy and rate the state as headed in the wrong direction are most inclined to leave. Of those considering leaving, 59% are conservative and 28% liberal.
The poll sheds light on issues likely to emerge in California next year, when voters will decide on a successor for the retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein and contested U.S. House seats. In the 2024 presidential contest, DeSantis is likely to continue using the state as an example of failed Democratic governance.
More respondents rated living in California as an important part of their identities than their political party. Seven in 10 said it was extremely or somewhat important to their identity, versus a little more than five in 10 respondents saying the same about their political party.
The California Community poll was developed in partnership with the Los Angeles Times and sponsored by the Los Angeles Urban League, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality and the Center for Asians United for Self-Empowerment. It surveyed 1,354 Californians over the age of 18 with an estimated margin of error of plus or minus percentage points.
This story was originally published June 26, 2023 at 1:29 PM.