New College Poll asks ‘Is Gavin Newsom to Blame for California Wildfires?’

A new College Pulse poll released on Wednesday found that only around roughly 14% of college age Californians at least somewhat blame Governor Gavin Newsom for the wildfires in Southern California last month, showing that Californians are still mixed on assigning some blame to the Governor.

Since January 7th, when both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire began in Southern California, blame for the mismanagement of the wildfires has largely fallen on both Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. While Newsom was initially praised for leading the charge against the fires in lieu of Bass’ absence, goodwill rapidly evaporated as the full scope of the destruction was exposed. The Governor’s announcement that he was rolling back “red tape” and “bureaucratic nonsense” regulations, including CEQA requirements, environmental regulations, and tough permitting processes, highlighted the huge amount of government red tape involved with construction and businesses in the state. Many people who lost homes discovered for the first time in the past few weeks just how strict California regulations are in the state.

Mayor Bass has fared worse. Amongst Bass’ many criticisms tied to the fires include her cutting $17.5 million from the LAFD  in the 2024-2025 city budget, deciding to travel abroad in January despite knowing that a major emergency could happen with high speed winds being expected, giving a minimal response to the fires on the first day, refusing to answer press questions, having promised to never travel abroad as Mayor yet doing it anyway, and showing an overall general mismanagement of the fires once she returned to L.A.

She has even admitted that she has made some errors in handling the wildfire situation. In a CBS interview last month, Bass noted that going to Ghana was a mistake. When asked “Looking back, would you have taken that trip overseas?” she responded with a curt “No.”

Recall efforts have also been mounted against the two as a result of the mismanagement. Newsom currently has an active petition against him with signature gathering to put his recall on the ballot expected to begin soon. As for Bass, her recall effort is currently building up, with an intent notice coming in the next few months.

But the big question just how many are against them, as it would make it or break it for them in both recall effort signature gathering and recall voting. Bass is for sure unpopular, as polls have shown that most Angelinos disapprove of how she handled the wildfires. Only 37% of residents approve of how she has done. She has screwed up so badly that nearly half the city is now looking for GOP leadership, with many in the city saying that three things were responsible for the fires: Dry conditions, high winds, and Mayor Bass.

Young voters tend not to blame Newsom for wildfires

However, as a new poll showed on Wednesday, the blame falling on Governor Newsom is a bit more complicated. Before the fires, Newsom was about dead-even in terms of popularity, with 46% of voters approving of his job and 47% disapproving of it. But after the fires, so many turned against him for his mismanagement that recall organizers needed to move up their notice of intent announcement. Blame has shifted more and more his way. That is until Wednesday, when a new poll found that only 3.6 percent of college aged students said they strongly agree that Newsom was to blame. In addition, only 10% somewhat agreed and 51 % said that they neither agree or disagree.

This is significant, as other polls have shown this same demographic going after Bass for her role in the wildfire mismanagement. According to College Pulse, this has to do more with political identity and national pride more than anything else.

“While the majority of students don’t directly attribute responsibility to Governor Gavin Newsom, political identity and national pride seem to shape perceptions of accountability,” said Terren Klein, CEO of College Pulse. “This divide reflects broader ideological battles in the U.S., where discussions of climate change, government responsibility, and disaster response are deeply partisan. For some, critiquing Newsom for the LA wildfires may align with a broader frustration with California’s leadership, which has faced scrutiny over issues like homelessness, cost of living, and crime.”

Other pollsters have noted that, while Newsom does have many troubling factors attached to him over the wildfires, Bass has been seen as the far more guilty party.

“Newsom didn’t slash LAFD funding and wasn’t overseas living it up while the city burned,” explained LA County pollster Manny Rodriguez to the Globe on Wednesday. “That’s the difference to many people. As for the younger voters in this poll, yeah, it’s just how partisan voters, especially younger voters, can be. But it is also how people blame Bass more than him at this point.

“Both of their political careers are on the line over this. Bass is almost certainly done and her reputation ruined forever. Newsom, well, there is bit more of an argument to it. He has given a strong post-fire response, although how much of that is self-preservation is up to you to decide. And he has Bass to throw under the bus.”