A California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) survey finds that about 90% of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans in Congressional District 22 (CD-22) say Medi-Cal is “personally important” to them or their family. 

Eighty-two percent of CD-22 residents, including more than 80% of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, say they or a family member have received Medi-Cal services.

Seventy-nine percent of Democrats, 70% of Republicans, and 68% of Independents say they oppose reductions in federal Medi-Cal funding. 

OAKLAND — Californians living in CD-22 overwhelmingly support the state’s Medi-Cal program, which provides health care services to nearly 15 million people with low incomes across the state, including more than 527,000 families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities in CD-22. About 90% of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans in the district say Medi-Cal is “personally important” to them or their family, according to a new poll conducted by CHCF and NORC at the University of Chicago.  

All told, Medi-Cal covers more than two-thirds (67%) of CD-22 residents, the highest of any congressional district in the state.  

There is strong bipartisan opposition in the district to federal Medi-Cal cuts: Almost 8 in 10 (79%) Democrats, 70% of Republicans, and 68% of Independents oppose reductions in federal funding to the program. 

Large majorities of residents also say they have personal experience with Medi-Cal: More than eight in 10 (82%) residents, including more than 80% of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, say they or a family member have received Medi-Cal services at some point.  

Across party lines, CD-22 residents believe Medi-Cal is “working well” — with 91% of Independents, 84% of Democrats, and 78% of Republicans holding this view. 

Interviews for this survey were conducted between March 17 and March 25, 2025, with 1,350 adults age 18 and older in California Congressional Districts 22, 40, and 41. Interviews were conducted online and over the phone, with 97 people completing the survey via telephone and 1,253 completing it via the web. 

“Whether they are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, residents of CD-22 have a lot of personal experience with Medi-Cal, and they don’t want to see the program cut,” says Kristof Stremikis, director of Market Analysis and Insight at CHCF. “Anxiety about the program’s future is growing. Large majorities of people in the Central Valley are worried that those who rely on Medi-Cal will have fewer benefits and less access to care in the future.”  

Other key findings in the new CHCF survey of CD-22 can be found below: 

• Across party lines, CD-22 residents overwhelmingly say that Medi-Cal should stay as it is. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats, 79% of Independents, and 76% of Republicans expressed this view. 

• Across political affiliations, CD-22 residents believe that everyone in California should have health insurance, even if it means increasing federal spending on health care: 87% of Democrats, 86% of Independents, and 77% of Republicans hold this view. 

• There is widespread anxiety about the future of Medi-Cal. Almost three-quarters (73%) of CD-22 residents, including 80% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans, and 68% of Independents are worried that future Medi-Cal enrollees will not be able to get the same benefits that are available today. 

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