Democrat Xavier Becerra holds a significant lead in the California gubernatorial race, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll, which also indicates substantial voter backing for a ballot proposition aimed at reforming the state's environmental law to expedite housing and infrastructure projects.
The survey, released Wednesday, revealed strong opposition among Californians to the construction of data centers supporting artificial intelligence technology. Concurrently, a significant majority of voters favor the state's initiatives to protect the environment and reduce emissions, albeit with notable exceptions regarding cost implications.
In the contest to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, Becerra garnered support from 61% of likely voters, compared to 36% for Republican challenger Steve Hilton. This outcome aligns with California's predominant Democratic voter base, as the Republican Party has not secured a statewide victory since 2008. Independent voters showed a similar preference, leaning 60% toward Becerra over Hilton's 34%.
The poll also highlighted robust support for Proposition 45, a measure intended to revise the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to accelerate construction. Nearly three-quarters of likely voters, across all major political affiliations, indicated they would vote in favor of the proposition, which proposes to shorten review periods for housing, transportation, and water infrastructure projects.
Furthermore, the survey identified widespread opposition to new data centers for AI, with 44% of adults expressing strong opposition and 29% expressing some opposition. This sentiment spans various demographics and regions, notably in the Inland Empire where local resistance has already halted a proposed large-scale data center. While Californians generally endorse environmental protection and emission reduction policies, a majority expressed unwillingness to incur higher electricity costs for renewable energy sources, particularly amid rising energy prices.
The poll also indicated a shift in public opinion regarding the state's mandate to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, with two-thirds of Californians now opposing the policy, a notable decline from 2021. Despite these nuances, majorities of likely voters approve of Governor Newsom's and the state legislature's handling of environmental issues, a stark contrast to the significantly lower approval ratings for former President Trump on environmental matters.
