Gavin Newsom Gets Harsh Report Card as 62% of California Voters Want a New Direction

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is leaving office with a troubling assessment from voters, as a new statewide poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of homelessness, housing affordability, taxes and government spending.

The survey found that 62% of registered California voters rated Newsom’s overall performance as governor either fair or poor, while just 36% gave him an excellent or good rating.

Even more concerning for the outgoing Democratic governor, nearly two-thirds of voters said they want his successor to take California in a different direction rather than continue his policies.

The findings come as Newsom prepares to leave Sacramento after eight years in office and continues attracting national attention as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028.

The poll was conducted by TrueDot in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley’s Citrin Center and Politico.

Among respondents, 39% rated Newsom’s performance as poor, the largest single category in the survey. Only 11% described his record as excellent.

The results highlight dissatisfaction with several major issues that have dominated California politics throughout Newsom’s administration.

Homelessness emerged as one of his weakest areas, with 72% of respondents saying he handled the problem either not too well or not at all well.

Only 25% gave him a positive assessment on homelessness, despite years of state spending and policy initiatives intended to address the crisis.

The negative ratings extended beyond Republican voters. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning respondents, 57% said Newsom had performed poorly on the issue.

California has struggled with widespread homelessness for years, particularly in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

The state has committed billions of dollars toward housing programs, emergency shelters and other initiatives, but concerns about visible encampments and the effectiveness of government spending remain widespread.

Newsom has repeatedly defended his administration’s efforts, pointing to expanded housing programs and measures intended to move people from encampments into shelter and permanent housing.

The latest polling suggests those initiatives have not convinced a majority of surveyed voters that the state has handled the problem effectively.

Housing affordability produced similarly negative results.

According to the survey, 69% of registered voters rated Newsom’s handling of housing negatively, compared with just 28% who gave him favorable marks.

Even among Democratic and Democratic-leaning respondents, 52% expressed dissatisfaction with his performance on housing.

The findings reflect concerns about California’s expensive housing market, where high rents, home prices and limited availability have placed financial pressure on residents.

Housing costs have become a central issue in the state’s political debate, with both major parties proposing different approaches to increasing supply and reducing expenses.

Newsom has signed legislation designed to encourage construction, streamline certain approval processes and expand housing development.

Nevertheless, the survey indicates that many voters remain dissatisfied with the results achieved during his administration.

Taxes were another area in which Newsom received negative reviews.

Sixty percent of respondents rated his handling of taxes unfavorably, while 35% offered a positive assessment.

California maintains some of the nation’s highest state income tax rates, and residents also face substantial costs involving gasoline, housing and utilities.

The state’s tax policies have generated debate over whether high rates are necessary to fund public services or place excessive burdens on households and businesses.

Newsom’s handling of government spending also received more negative than positive ratings.

Fifty-five percent of surveyed voters gave him an unfavorable assessment on state spending, compared with 39% who approved of his performance.

California’s budget has experienced substantial fluctuations during Newsom’s tenure, including periods of large surpluses followed by deficits requiring spending adjustments.

The administration has defended its fiscal decisions by pointing to investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and public services.

However, the polling results suggest many voters remain concerned about how Sacramento manages taxpayer money.

Newsom also received mixed reviews on artificial intelligence regulation, an increasingly prominent issue in California because of the state’s large technology industry.

Forty-three percent of respondents rated his handling of AI regulation negatively, while 35% gave him positive marks. Nearly one-quarter were uncertain.

Climate change was the one major policy area in the survey where Newsom received more positive than negative ratings.

Half of respondents said he had handled climate change well, compared with 40% who disagreed.

The governor has made environmental regulation and clean energy development central priorities throughout his administration.

California has adopted aggressive emissions targets and policies intended to encourage electric vehicles, renewable energy and other technologies.

Those measures have also generated debate over energy costs and the practical challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Beyond the individual policy categories, the poll revealed a broader desire for change in Sacramento.

Asked whether California’s next governor should generally continue Newsom’s policies or pursue a different approach, 62% preferred a new direction.

Independent voters and respondents who did not identify with either major political party expressed particularly strong dissatisfaction.

Among those voters, 76% wanted the next governor to change course, while just 11% favored continuing Newsom’s approach.

The results suggest that frustration with the outgoing administration extends beyond traditional partisan divisions.

Newsom’s office rejected the negative interpretation of the survey.

Spokesperson Izzy Gardon defended the governor’s political record, pointing to his election victories and his success in defeating the 2021 recall effort.

Gardon also cited Newsom’s role in securing passage of Proposition 50, the 2025 ballot measure that changed California’s congressional redistricting process.

He described Newsom as the most popular outgoing governor in the history of polling conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California.

“It’s a shame America’s Favorite Governor can’t run for another term — he’d crush it!” Gardon said.

The administration’s response highlights the difference between Newsom’s electoral success and voters’ assessments of his performance on specific issues.

Other surveys have produced more favorable results for the governor when respondents are asked a straightforward job approval question.

A September survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 51% of adults approved of Newsom’s job performance, while 47% disapproved.

That distinction matters because rating an administration’s eight-year record as fair or poor is not necessarily equivalent to disapproving of the governor’s current performance.

Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Newsom’s record in the new survey, the results have not translated into an advantage for the Republican candidate seeking to replace him.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra led Republican Steve Hilton by 55% to 35% among likely voters, with 10% undecided.

Becerra previously served as California’s attorney general and as secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.

Hilton, a former Fox News host, has emphasized affordability, taxes and government reform during his campaign.

The findings illustrate a political challenge in California: voters can express dissatisfaction with the current Democratic administration while continuing to support Democratic candidates.

Newsom is barred by term limits from seeking another consecutive term as governor.

His departure comes as speculation continues about whether he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

The governor has increasingly appeared at political events outside California, including recent campaign stops in New Hampshire.

His national activities have drawn attention as Democrats consider their potential presidential candidates following President Trump’s victory in 2024.

The latest survey provides a detailed assessment of how registered voters in Newsom’s home state view his record as he approaches the end of his administration.

While his office points to electoral victories and favorable approval ratings from other surveys, the new findings identify substantial dissatisfaction with homelessness, housing, taxes and spending.

With California preparing to elect a new governor on November 3, the results indicate that many voters want changes to the state’s policies, even as the Democratic nominee maintains a sizable polling lead.

For Newsom, the survey raises questions about how his eight years in Sacramento will be evaluated as he considers his political future beyond the governor’s office.