The UC Merced Community and Labor Center recently released, "Fresno Speaks 2020: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Voters and their Positions on Major Issues."
Fresno Speaks 2020 was based on a random sample of 2,397 registered voters with phones in the City of Fresno between August and September--the first large-scale random sample survey of registered voters in the Central Valley in the COVID-19 era.
The report found that the pandemic reduced income among half (50.0%) of Fresno registered voters’ households—and that more than half of Latina/o/x (57.0%), African American (54.6%), and Asian American (54.5%) households had experienced income reduction. The study also found that a solid majority of Fresno registered voters support public health behavior mitigating COVID-19 spread (from 85.6% to 92.0%), and that most support civic participation to address racism (54.8%), public education (52.0%), and police reform (50.4%).
An overwhelming number of Fresno registered voters said they would support elected officials who support police reform (77.9%), and a majority support pro-active gang solutions including: jobs initiatives for people with records or youth, or public social programs. Only a minority (15.6%) support more funding for law enforcement.
Fresno Speaks 2020 was the product of a collaboration with the Fresno County Civic Engagement Table, which includes Communities for a New California, Faith in the Valley, Jakara Movement, Hmong Innovating Politics, Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.
The data had a margin of error of +/- 2.5 at the city level and +/- 6 at the district level.
Please read the full research brief here.
