California voters consider environmental policy so important, according to a recent poll, that it could influence who they support for president.
Most favor a $10 billion bond measure proposed to pay for flood control and climate resiliency projects, and the majority plan to cast their ballots for President Joe Biden in the deep blue state.
The findings from the Public Policy Institute of California come as the state has been facing what could become another record year for wildfires.
The state has experienced more than 3,500 wildfires through early July, laying waste to 207,000 acres of land, compared to 10,000 acres burned in the first six months of 2023.
"We are not just in a fire season, we are in a fire year," CalFire's Director Joe Tyler, said at a news briefing earlier this month.
The state's $45 billion deficit prompted spending cuts for climate and energy programs. In response, the Legislature approved a $10 billion state bond for the November ballot that asks voters to approve more funding for drought, floods, wildfires, coastal resilience and extreme heat mitigation.
"Majorities of likely voters across the state's major regions say they would vote yes on a $10 billion state bond to pay for flood protection and climate resiliency projects," said Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy.
The survey found 59% of likely voters would vote "yes," on Proposition 4, the climate resiliency bond. The measure garners more support from Democrats with 78% in favor, while 55% of independents would vote yes and only 25% of Republicans in favor of it.
A deep partisan divide on climate and energy policy was revealed during the presidential debate on June 27, according to PPIC, which is significant as the poll found that 78% of California voters view the environment as important when determining their vote for president.
Biden, a Democrat, leads Republican Donald Trump by a 55% to 30% margin in the presidential race in the PPIC poll conducted from June 24 to July 2.
"An overwhelming majority say that the candidate's positions on the environment are important in determining their vote," the PPIC survey said. "Democrats are more likely to say the environment is very important."
Climate change, wildfires, water supply and drought were listed as the most important climate issues facing the state by poll respondents.
"Forty-seven percent of voters said they are very concerned that home insurance will become more expensive due to climate change risks," Baldassare said. "Fifty-six percent of homeowners and 37% of renters hold this view."
Nearly two in three Californians say they are not currently prepared for a disaster, the survey said.
