PPIC STATEWIDE SURVEY

MAY 2018

Trust in State and Federal Government
Nearly half of Californians (47%) and likely voters (48%) think that they can trust the state government to
do what is right only some of the time, while 9 percent of Californians and 13 percent of likely voters
volunteer that they can never trust the state government to do what is right. In periodic surveys since
August 2002, a majority of adults and likely voters have expressed distrust in state government; however,
distrust is currently at its lowest level since 2002. Today, partisans are divided: Republicans (82%) and
independents (68%) are much more likely than Democrats (40%) to trust the state government only
some or none of the time. Among racial/ethnic groups, whites (62%) and African Americans (61%) are the
most likely to express distrust, followed by Latinos (50%) and Asians (48%). Majorities across regions
express distrust (62% Orange/San Diego, 59% Inland Empire, 58% Los Angeles, 55% Central Valley)—
with the exception of the San Francisco Bay Area (46%).
“How much of the time do you think you can trust the state government in Sacramento
to do what is right?”
Party

All
adults

Dem

Rep

Ind

Likely
voters

Just about always

9%

7%

4%

3%

6%

Most of the time

32

51

13

28

32

Only some of the time

47

37

62

55

48

None of the time
(volunteered)

9

3

20

13

13

Don’t know

3

2

1

1

1

Californians continue to be distrustful of the federal government. A solid majority (62%) think the federal
government can be trusted to do what is right only some of the time, while 11 percent of adults volunteer
that it can never be trusted. Only 24 percent say the federal government can be trusted just about always
(6%) or most of the time (18%). Likely voters are slightly more distrustful (68% only some of the time,
13% none of the time). Similar proportions of Californians held this view in our March 2017 survey (62%
only some of the time, 7% none of the time). Today, Democrats (81%) and independents (80%) are
somewhat more likely than Republicans (73%) to express distrust. Majorities of Californians across all
regions and demographic groups express distrust toward the federal government.
“How much of the time do you think you can trust the federal government in Washington
today to do what is right?”
Party

All
adults

Dem

Rep

Ind

Likely
voters

Just about always

6%

2%

5%

3%

3%

Most of the time

18

15

20

16

15

Only some of the time

62

68

66

66

68

None of the time
(volunteered)

11

13

7

14

13

Don’t know

3

2

2

1

1

PPIC.ORG/SURVEY

Californians and Their Government

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