A new Berkeley IGS Poll indicates that huge numbers of Californians are concerned about the future of democracy in the United States.

The poll involving 6,474 registered voters showed that only 1 in 10 Californians believe democracy is in “no danger.”

Conversely, 64% said that “American democracy is under attack,” and another 26% described it as “being tested but not under attack.”

Answers by Party Affiliation

Eighty-one percent of Democrats said democracy is under attack and 16% said it’s being tested. Thirty-eight percent of Republicans said it’s under attack and 39% said it’s being tested. Among independent voters, 61% said it’s under attack, 32% said it’s being tested.

The belief that democracy is under attack was strongest among Blacks (74%), voters 65 years and older (70%), and whites (69%).

“These results underscore the deep concerns that many California voters have about the state of American democracy,” said Eric Schickler, co-director of the Institute of Governmental Studies. “Not many years ago, it is hard to imagine that a majority of voters would have seen U.S. democracy as under severe threat. It is now something of a new ‘normal’ — itself a worrisome sign about how things have shifted.”

Related Story: Record Numbers of Americans Say Immigration Is Good for Country: Gallup Poll

Special Interests Wield Too Much Power

Regardless of party affiliation, Californians overwhelmingly believe that “special interest money has too much influence in Sacramento politics and decision-making.”

Eighty-one percent of Republicans, 73% of Democrats, and 75% of voters registered as No Party Preference agreed either “strongly” or “somewhat” on the influence of special interests.

Regular voters expressed the most dissatisfaction with state politics with 87% agreeing strongly or somewhat to the question of special interest influence.

The poll also found there’s little trust in Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Legislature, or tech-sector leaders to “act in the best interests of California voters.”

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Take a deep dive into the poll at this link.

The poll was administered online in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean, June 2–6, 2025.