Politics & society, Research

New Berkeley IGS poll: Newsom, Feinstein leading, Props. 6 and 10 behind

By Public Affairs

election 2018 logo
election 2018 logo

The final pre-election Berkeley IGS Poll finds Democratic Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom poised to become California’s next governor. According to the poll, Newsom is comfortably leading his Republican challenger, businessman John Cox, among the state’s likely voters by 58 percent to 40 percent.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Dianne Feinstein also leads, but by a somewhat smaller margin. Her opponent, fellow Democratic state Senator Kevin De Leon, who finished second in the state’s top two primary in June, trails the state’s senior senator 45 percent to 36 percent. Another 19 percent of likely voters, mostly Republicans, are undecided or say they won’t vote for either Democrat in the Senate race.

The poll also shows that two high-profile statewide ballot propositions, Propositions 6 and 10, are trailing. Just 40 percent of likely voters say they intend to vote for Prop. 6, the proposed repeal of the state’s gasoline tax, and only 35 percent are supporting Prop. 10, which would liberalize state restrictions on local rent control laws.

The poll also took the temperature of voter sentiment on down-ballot races for lieutenant governor, state insurance commissioner and schools superintendent.

The Berkeley IGS Poll was completed online in English and Spanish October 19-26, among 1,339 likely voters statewide.

Get full results on the Berkeley IGS Poll website