New poll reveals Californians’ low approval of Congress

A new Field Poll shows Californians have maintained their recent disdain for the U.S. Congress. During 2000-2003, approval was as high as 50 percent. Today it’s just 18 percent.

That’s actually up a little, from the 10 percent to 13 percent approval given Congress from 2010 to 2014.

Approval for Democrats in Congress clocks at 35 percent, which one would expect in a state with much larger Democratic voting registration than Republican. GOP members of Congress get just 23 percent approval.

Indeed, the approval numbers here are similar to party registration, with 43 percent registered Democrats and 28 percent registered Republican. Knock five to eight points off the registration numbers for each party to get the approval for Congress.

As to Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate last November, giving them majorities in both houses of Congress for the first time since 2006, California Democrats are especially disapproving; 71 percent view it negatively. State Republicans take the opposite view, with 73 percent approving.

Overall — including Democrats, Republicans and those of other parties or no party — 49 percent don’t like GOP control of Congress, with 37 percent approving. That, too, represents the general Democratic leanings of Californians.

The poll was conducted Jan. 26 to Feb. 16, so it only reflects the preliminary jousting in Congress between the parties; and between the GOP leadership and Democratic President Obama. As wrangling over the federal budget and other controversies progresses, the numbers may change.