Californians say Ronald Reagan is their favorite governor. 41% of voters choose Reagan over other former Governors. Jerry Brown followed Reagan as the most popular governor with 22% of Californians support. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger came in last, only 3% of Californians choose the current governor as their favorite.
Reagan and Brown also rank at the top of Californians’ list of least favorite governors, both with 20% of the vote. The results suggest that the two Governors tenures were memorable and legacies are divisive. Such results are no surprise in the case of Brown who is currently running for office and equally expected for Reagan, California’s most famous Governor.
It is more actuate to name Arnold Schwarzenegger as California’s most disliked Governor. The current Governor followed Reagan and Brown with 19% of voters saying he was their least favorite governor in state history. Combined with only 3% of Californians naming Schwarzenegger as their favorite governor, it is fair to say the current Governor has few fans and many critics.
Gray Davis was previously considered California’s most unpopular Governor, but in a horserace against Schwarzenegger Davis wins 44:38.
With a Governor this unpopular it is no surprise Californians want to maintain their long proposition tradition. 74% of Californian’s say the state should keep propositions on the ballots.
“There is no question that Schwarzenegger’s failures will continue to be a central part of the gubernatorial debates this campaign season,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Too bad Reagan isn’t alive to give Meg Whitman an endorsement.”
PPP surveyed 614 California voters from July 23-25. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.95%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Of California’s last six governors–Ronald
Reagan, Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian,
Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, and Arnold
Schwarzenegger–who is your favorite?
Ronald Reagan……………………………………….. 41%
Jerry Brown…………………………………………….. 22%
George Deukmejian…………………………………. 4%
Pete Wilson…………………………………………….. 6%
Gray Davis……………………………………………… 10%
Arnold Schwarzenegger……………………………. 3%
Don’t like any of them ………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q2 Of California’s last six governors–Ronald
Reagan, Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian,
Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, and Arnold
Schwarzenegger–who is your least favorite?
Ronald Reagan……………………………………….. 20%
Jerry Brown…………………………………………….. 20%
George Deukmejian…………………………………. 4%
Pete Wilson…………………………………………….. 11%
Gray Davis……………………………………………… 18%
Arnold Schwarzenegger……………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Gray Davis?
Favorable ………….. 32%
Unfavorable……….. 44%
Not Sure……………. 24%
Q4 Who would you rather have as Governor now,
Arnold Schwarzenegger or Gray Davis?
Arnold Schwarzenegger……………………………. 38%
Gray Davis……………………………………………… 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q5 Do you think Californians should keep the right
to vote on ballot propositions, or should props
be eliminated from the California ballot?
Californians should keep the right to vote on
props………………………………………………………74%
Props should be eliminated from the ballot ….. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q6 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 36%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 58%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 6%
Q7 If you are a liberal, press 1. If a moderate,
press 2. If a conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 25%
Moderate………………………………………………… 41%
Conservative…………………………………………… 33%
Q8 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q9 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other……………………………….. 19%
Q10 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If Asian, press 4.
If other, press 5.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 20%
White …………………………………………………….. 61%
African-American …………………………………….. 8%
Asian……………………………………………………… 6%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q11 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
