Poll: Politics Would Drive Out 85 Percent of Calif. Republicans

Eighty-five percent of California conservatives recently surveyed said they have considered leaving The Golden State because of its "political culture" — and 77% would quit the state because of its high taxes.

By contrast, only 11% of registered Democrats in the survey by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California-Berkeley said they would leave because of the political climate, while 77% cited housing costs.

Known as the Berkeley IGS Poll, the results were released last week and tallied responses from 4,527 registered voters collected Sept. 13-8.

California, long a blue state, has 55 votes in the Electoral College — the most of any state in the nation. Those votes went to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

Here are the Berkeley IGS Poll's results:

Are you considering leaving California?

Among Republicans:

• Serious consideration: 40%.
• Some consideration: 31%.
• No consideration: 26%.
• Yes, but within California: 3%.

Among Democrats:

• No consideration: 48%.
• Some consideration: 24%.
• Serious consideration: 14%.
• Yes, but within California: 13%.

If you are considering leaving California, why?

Among Republicans (top four answers):

• Political culture: 85%.
• High taxes: 77%.
• High housing costs: 63%.
• Overcrowding: 45%.

Among Democrats:

• High housing costs: 77%.
• High taxes: 36%.
• Overcrowding: 33%.
• Political culture: 11%.

The Berkeley IGS poll has a margin of error of 2%.

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