The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) annual poll, “The People’s Voice 2024,” seems to confirm what the recent election revealed — residents of the Golden state want more jobs, housing, public safety and economic development.

Homelessness and public education are also top issues.

More than 90% of voters agree that California needs to do more to attract and retain businesses. The poll also showed that 71% of voters say that “good paying jobs are hard to find.” Only 12% say they are easy to find. Nearly half (45%) report that “major employers or businesses have left their community in recent years to relocate to another state (that is, outside California).”

When it comes to spending priorities against a tight budget, voters were asked to choose which programs should be protected against cuts. The top choices were housing, law enforcement and homelessness, with economic development and public schools on the next tier. Voters pointed to benefits for undocumented residents, prisons, courts and climate change program as the lowest spending priorities.

Prop. 13 — the landmark initiative from 1978 that protects California homeowners from property tax spikes — is viewed favorably by 85% of voters. By a 3-to-1 margin, voters want to hold the line on new taxes rather than raise taxes for essential programs.

A lot can happen between now and 2026, when California voters will vote in the primaries and even elect a new governor. But what is certain is that they are not happy with how things are going, and they are showing that at the ballot.