SACRAMENTO – (INT) - The share of registered California voters who are Democrats (44.9%) has decreased slightly since 2022 (46.8%), the year of the last gubernatorial election. The share who are Republicans (25%) has seen a small uptick (23.9% in 2022).

• The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that more than two in ten voters (22.8%) are independents (also known as “decline to state” or “no party preference” voters), a share that has remained about the same since 2022 (22.7%). The share registering with a minor political party has held somewhat steady (6.6% in 2022 to 7.3% today).

• Twenty years ago, Republicans made up a much higher share of the electorate: in May 2006, about one in three voters (34.4%) were registered as Republicans. The share of independents (18.5%) was lower than it is today, and the share of Democrats (42.7%) was slightly below the current level.

Half of independent likely voters are ideologically moderate, compared to fewer Democrats and Republicans.

• In the PPIC surveys over the past year, independent likely voters have been most likely to lean toward the Democratic Party (43%). A quarter lean Republican (25%) and about three in ten say they do not lean toward either party or are unsure (32%).

Story Date: September 1, 2026