About half of Californians name cost of living, inflation, housing costs, gas prices, utilities, childcare, and healthcare as top issues. Many report financial hardship, viewing the state’s direction negatively. This frames the 2026 governor’s race, with Democrats emphasizing housing supply, energy stability, and subsidies while Republicans call it a failure of one-party rule.
How should California address the high cost of living facing residents?
How OpenCampaign quiz-takers stand on this issue
No quiz question covers this exact issue — showing responses to the closest one, Business and Consumers.
28% call it a high-priority issue (rating it 7+ out of 10).
Liberal5%
Lean liberal22%
Moderate30%
Lean conservative28%
Conservative15%
Where do you stand?
How should California address the high cost of living facing residents?
About half of Californians consistently name cost of living, inflation, housing costs/availability, and related pressures (e.g., gas prices) as the most important issues facing the state.
This frames the governor’s race and Democratic messaging after 2024 losses among working- and middle-class voters. Republicans highlight it as a failure of long-term one-party rule; Democrats emphasize relief via housing supply, energy stability, and subsidies/safety-net protections.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Expand subsidies, safety-net protections, and taxes on high earners to offset costs for working families
Increase public investment in housing supply, childcare, and energy stability programs
Pursue a mix of targeted relief, modest supply reforms, and carefully limited new revenue
Focus on deregulation and market incentives to lower prices without major new spending
Cut taxes and regulations broadly, ending one-party policies seen as driving up costs
California cost-of-living and affordability crisis
Affordability is expected to remain a dominant political message in California in 2026. Republicans frame the crisis as a failure of progressive governance, while Democrats face pressure to deliver real cost-of-living relief—not just through subsidies but through longer-term structural reform on housing supply, energy infrastructure, and service delivery.
How should California address its ongoing cost-of-living and affordability crisis?
How OpenCampaign quiz-takers stand on this issue
No quiz question covers this exact issue — showing responses to the closest one, Business and Consumers.
28% call it a high-priority issue (rating it 7+ out of 10).
Liberal5%
Lean liberal22%
Moderate30%
Lean conservative28%
Conservative15%
Where do you stand?
How should California address its ongoing cost-of-living and affordability crisis?
Expect affordability to remain a dominant political message in 2026. Republicans will frame the crisis as a failure of progressive governance, while Democrats will face pressure to deliver real cost-of-living relief — not just through subsidies, but through longer-term structural reform on housing supply, energy infrastructure, and service delivery.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Invest heavily in public subsidies, rent control, and universal services to directly reduce costs for working families.
Combine targeted subsidies with structural housing and energy reforms to address both symptoms and root causes.
Focus on increasing housing supply and reducing permitting red tape as the primary driver of affordability relief.
Cut state regulations and taxes that drive up business costs, allowing market competition to lower prices naturally.
Dramatically reduce the size and spending of state government; affordability crises are caused by government overreach.
Cost-of-living affordability
Affordability is projected to remain a dominant political message in California in 2026, with debates over whether progressive governance has failed on costs and whether relief should come via subsidies or longer-term structural reforms on housing supply, energy infrastructure, and service delivery. Refinery closures and related energy costs are feeding into broader cost-of-living pressures that both parties are expected to contest.
How should California address the cost-of-living and affordability crisis?
How OpenCampaign quiz-takers stand on this issue
No quiz question covers this exact issue — showing responses to the closest one, Business and Consumers.
28% call it a high-priority issue (rating it 7+ out of 10).
Liberal5%
Lean liberal22%
Moderate30%
Lean conservative28%
Conservative15%
Where do you stand?
How should California address the cost-of-living and affordability crisis?
Expect affordability to remain a dominant political message in 2026. Republicans will frame the crisis as a failure of progressive governance, while Democrats will face pressure to deliver real cost-of-living relief — not just through subsidies, but through longer-term structural reform on housing supply, energy infrastructure, and service delivery.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Major public investment and subsidies plus aggressive tenant/consumer protections to cut living costs now
Expand targeted relief and accelerate housing/energy buildout while keeping strong social supports
Balance short-term aid with moderate supply-side reforms on housing and energy
Prioritize deregulation and market reforms to increase housing and energy supply over new subsidies
Roll back progressive regulations and spending that drove high costs; emphasize private-sector growth
Low-cost mortgage access
2026 ballot propositions include expanded access to low-cost mortgages, tying housing finance tools to voter decisions amid the state’s broader affordability and housing-supply pressures.
Should California expand access to low-cost mortgages through ballot measures?
How OpenCampaign quiz-takers stand on this issue
No quiz question covers this exact issue — showing responses to the closest one, Business and Consumers.
28% call it a high-priority issue (rating it 7+ out of 10).
Liberal5%
Lean liberal22%
Moderate30%
Lean conservative28%
Conservative15%
Where do you stand?
Should California expand access to low-cost mortgages through ballot measures?
Voters will decide on 14 propositions. The propositions include major issues that will change the lives of many Californians, including voter identification requirements, revisions to tax laws, and expanded access to low-cost mortgages.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Strongly expand public and subsidized low-cost mortgage programs for low- and moderate-income buyers
Support expanded low-cost mortgages paired with more affordable housing supply
Allow limited mortgage assistance if it is fiscally sustainable and well targeted
Prefer private lending and zoning reform over new government mortgage subsidies
Oppose expanded state-backed mortgage programs as market-distorting taxpayer risk