Press Release: Poll Shows Majority of California Voters Offer Strong Support for Immigrants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      Contact: Lois Pitter Bruce (213) 928-8685

June 16, 2025                                                             lpitterbruce@calendow.org

 Los Angeles, CA – More than 70 percent of California voters believe that undocumented immigrants have a positive impact on the California economy.  The findings are in a statewide bipartisan voter poll commissioned by The California Endowment (TCE).  The poll shows strong support for undocumented immigrants as valued community members.  A clear majority of voters also favor maintaining access to Medi-Cal coverage for all Californians regardless of their immigration status.

Support cuts across the electorate’s major demographic groups, including voters across age groups, race and ethnicity and across various regions of the state.

“Contrary to narratives in the national discourse, Californians overwhelmingly support immigrants and see them as essential members of our communities and our state.  It’s an indisputable truth that immigrants make invaluable contributions to our state and the nation and deserve to have safe and healthy lives. We stand in solidarity with those in our immigrant communities who now face imminent threats, and we remain resolute in the fight for health and justice for all,” said Brenda Solórzano, president and CEO, TCE.

The sentiments in the poll are rooted in voters’ positive view of the important contributions immigrants make to California. A majority of voters agreed that undocumented Californians are integral to communities, families, and the health of the state’s economy, pay taxes, and are long-term members of our communities. Poll results also showed:

• 58% of those polled agreed that undocumented immigrants contribute approximately $8.5 billion in state and local taxes each year and deserve to benefit from the taxes they pay.
• 72% of voters polled offer broad agreement that immigrants are a vital part of the California economy.
• 75% agree that health care is a human right.

Voters were also asked about the current policy that extends coverage to all qualifying Californians in the Medi-Cal program regardless of immigration status and polling found:

• 56% of likely voters support the policy with 39% of those strongly supportive.
• 62% of voters under age 50, 51% of voters aged 50-64, and 52% of voters 65 and over are in favor of it.
• 60% of white voters, 54% of Latino voters, 63% of African American/Black voters, and 50% of Asian American/Pacific Islander voters also back the policy.
• 64%, nearly two-thirds of voters, view Medi-Cal favorably.

When presented with tradeoffs to address California’s budget shortfall, 55% of voters polled prefer to raise taxes on wealthy Californians, compared to just 37% who prefer to terminate Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants.

A bipartisan team of pollsters surveyed 880 California voters likely to participate in the November 2026 election, and polling was conducted in English and Spanish from May 31-June 4.