UCI

Approval Ratings of the Governor

Governor Gray Davis is not especially popular in Orange County today: 33 percent of the county's residents approve of his performance in office; 60 percent disapprove. In the November 2002 election, 35 percent of Orange county residents voted for Governor Davis, the incumbent Democrat, while 58 percent voted for his Republican challenger, Bill Simon. By comparison, in the October 2002 Statewide Survey, 52 percent of Californians approved and 43 percent disapproved of the governor’s overall performance in office.

The governor’s approval ratings are only marginally higher among Orange County residents when they are asked more specifically about his handling of jobs and the economy: 34 percent approve and 55 percent disapprove. By comparison, in the September 2002 Statewide Survey, 45 percent of Californians approved and 40 percent disapproved of his handling of economic issues.

In Orange County last year, Governor Davis’ overall approval ratings were somewhat higher than they are today: 40 percent approved and 53 percent disapproved of his overall performance in office. However, residents were highly negative of his handling of the state’s electricity problem (31 percent approved and 63 percent disapproved of the may he managed this issue).

A major reason why Davis receives higher negative ratings in Orange County, compared to the state as a whole, is because of the partisan nature of the ratings. Orange County is more Republican than Democratic in voter registration, while the state as a whole is more Democratic than Republican. In Orange County, Republicans are highly negative in their ratings of Governor Davis’ overall performance and his specific performance in handling the economy. However, a solid majority of independents hold negative views of Davis as well, and only about half of his fellow Democrats approve of his job performance. Compared to a year ago, Davis’ overall approval ratings have declined across the political spectrum.

Latinos are more than twice as likely as whites to approve of Davis’ handling of his job overall (53% to 25%) and with respect to economic issues (53% to 27%). Davis’ approval ratings, both overall and on economic issues, decline with age, education, homeownership, and income. South County residents are less likely than North County residents to approve of the job Davis is doing, both overall (27% to 36%) and on the economy (28% to 36%).