Californians and Their Government

Every California voter has received a June 7 primary ballot in the mail and they have been weighing their election choices in the midst of disturbing news and unsettling circumstances. Inflation continues to take a daily toll on consumers and dampens their economic outlook. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned […] Read more »

Voters Support Prohibiting Foreign Entities From Funding Ballot Measures

A strong bipartisan majority of eight-in-ten voters favor Congress banning foreign individuals and entities from spending money to influence ballot initiatives. Support is robust across party affiliation (Republicans 77%, Democrats 84%, independents 74%) and congressional districts (very red districts 74%, very blue districts 80%). While federal law prohibits foreign entities […] Read more »

California: Sanctions on Russia Have Bipartisan Support

Following the invasion of Ukraine, most Californians—and majorities across party lines—favor imposing economic sanctions on Russia even if it means higher energy prices. On the pandemic front, Democrats are far more likely than independents and Republicans to say controlling COVID-19 is more important than having no restrictions on normal activities. […] Read more »

Republicans increasingly look to ballot initiatives as way to enact voting measures

Republicans seeking to change state voting laws in the face of opposition from Democratic governors or unwilling legislatures are zeroing in on another path — enacting fresh restrictions via ballot initiatives. In Michigan and Pennsylvania, key battlegrounds that President Joe Biden flipped back blue in 2020, as well as in […] Read more »

Why Republicans aren’t likely to budge on gun control

The political script following the recent mass shootings in Boulder, Colorado, and Atlanta feels all too familiar. Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, want Congress to pass gun control legislation, most notably universal background checks, while Republicans are balking. The motions are so familiar that I wrote an article three […] Read more »