Updated
Updated · KQED · Aug 14
California Poll Puts Prop 40 Ahead 48%-41% as 70% of Democrats Back Billionaire Tax
Updated
Updated · KQED · Aug 14

California Poll Puts Prop 40 Ahead 48%-41% as 70% of Democrats Back Billionaire Tax

3 articles · Updated · KQED · Aug 14

Summary

  • 48% of likely California voters support Proposition 40 and 41% oppose it, with 11% undecided, according to a UC Berkeley IGS poll of the November electorate.
  • 70% of Democrats back the proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires’ wealth, while 80% of Republicans oppose it; no-party voters lean yes, 50% to 39%.
  • The measure would help backfill federal healthcare funding cuts, but its coalition is uneven: SEIU-UHW West and the state Democratic Party support it, while Gov. Gavin Newsom, some unions and billionaire opponents do not.
  • Proposition 39, the voter ID measure, trails 51% to 42%, with partisan lines even sharper—80% of Democrats oppose it and 93% of Republicans support it.
  • Two billionaire-backed measures, Propositions 41 and 42, could override Prop 40 if they win more votes, though the poll found no clear consensus and far lower voter awareness of them.

Insights

Will the threat of a retroactive wealth tax trigger a billionaire exodus from California before the ballots are even counted this November?