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The Role of Public Opinion on the California Governor’s Recall in 2003

Populism, Partisanship, and Direct Democracy

Public Policy Institute of California

The article examines the role of public opinion during the California governor’s recall in 2003 compared to partisanship and ideology. In the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Statewide Surveys, most Californians reported that their state was headed in the wrong direction, whereas relatively few said that they trusted state government, and most said that they disapproved of the way the governor was handling his job. Californians reported that they liked the recall process in concept, and about one half said that they were pleased with its current use and satisfied with the replacement candidates. The author finds that public support for the recall was consistent over time and related to negative political attitudes and positive recall attitudes when controlling for other factors. The implications for the future use and success of recalls and on what political science has to say about the role of populism and partisanship in the direct democracy movement are discussed.

Key Words: public opinion • California recall election • direct democracy • Gray Davis • Arnold Schwarzenegger • Public Policy Institute of California

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