Executive Summary

In March 2025, NORC at the University of Chicago fielded a 12-question poll among a representative sample of Californians in three congressional districts (22, 40, and 41) to assess attitudes about Medi-Cal, Covered California, and possible reductions to federal funding for both programs.

Key findings from CD-22 include the following:

• Strong bipartisan agreement on the importance of Medi-Cal.
  • Over 90% of Independents and Republicans, and 100% of Democrats, say that Medi-Cal is important to the state.
  • About 90% of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans consider Medi-Cal “personally important” to them or their families.
  • Eighty-two (82%) of all residents, including over 80% across all political affiliations, report that they or a family member have received Medi-Cal services.
• Strong bipartisan opposition to federal cuts.
  • Close to 8 in 10 (79%) Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 69% of Republicans oppose reductions in federal Medi-Cal funding.
• Widespread anxiety about Medi-Cal’s future.
  • Close to three-quarters (73%) of residents are concerned that future Medi-Cal enrollees may not receive the same benefits available today.

Explore the full poll findings below. The survey methodology along with the results from CDs 41 and 40 are available here.

Poll Findings 

Question 1 Finding: Across party lines, CD-22 residents agree on the importance of Medi-Cal.  Over 90% of Independents and Republicans, and 100% of Democrats, say that Medi-Cal is important to the state.

Question 2 Finding: CD-22 residents almost universally say that Medi-Cal is important to them and their family. This opinion was expressed by about 90% of Democrats, Independents and Republicans.

Question 3 Finding: It is very common among CD-22 residents, regardless of political affiliation, to have personal experience with Medi-Cal. More than 8 in 10 (82%) residents, including more than 80% of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, say they, or a family member, have received Medi-Cal services at some point.

Question 4 Finding: Across party lines, CD-22 residents agree that Medi-Cal is working well; 84% of Democrats, 91% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans hold this view.

Question 5 Finding: There is strong bipartisan opposition in CD-22 to federal cuts to Medi-Cal.  Almost 8 in 10 (79%) Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 70% of Republicans oppose reductions in federal funding to the program.

Question 6 Finding: Very few CD-22 residents, regardless of political affiliation, think the federal government spends too much on Medi-Cal. Less than 10% of all residents — and less than 10% of Democrats, Independents, or Republicans — hold this view.

Question 7 Finding: Across party lines, CD-22 residents overwhelmingly say that Medi-Cal should stay as it is: 87% of Democrats, 79% of Independents, and 76% of Republicans express this view.

Question 8 Finding: An overwhelming majority of CD-22 residents say Covered California is important, including 89% of Democrats, 93% of Independents, and 85% of Republicans.

Question 9 Finding: Across party, majorities of CD-22 residents say that Covered California is working well, including 66% of Democrats, 58% of Independents, and 58% of Republicans.

Question 10 Finding: CD-22 residents appear fairly split on whether to reduce federal financial aid to those who get insurance through Covered California, with 40% in favor, 36% opposing, and 23% neither favoring nor opposing.

Question 11 Finding: Across political affiliation, CD-22 residents believe that everyone in California should have health insurance, even if it means increasing federal spending on health care. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Democrats, 86% of Independents, and 77% of Republicans hold this view.

Question 12a Finding: There is widespread anxiety about the future of Medi-Cal. Almost three-quarters (73%) of CD-22 residents, including 80% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 72% of Republicans, are worried that future Medi-Cal enrollees will not be able to get the same benefits that are available today.

Question 12b Finding: Across party lines, strong majorities of residents in CD-22 are worried that future Covered California enrollees will not be able to get the same benefits that are available today. More than three-quarters (76%) of Democrats, 69% of Independents, and 69% of Republicans expressed this concern.