Affordability Was on the Ballot Across the Country

Across the country, one theme dominated last week’s elections: affordability.

Candidates who spoke directly to the cost of living, from gas and groceries to electricity, connected with voters in a big way. In states like Virginia and New Jersey, Democrats won by staying laser-focused on the economy and the challenges families face every day.

That message should sound familiar here in California, where affordability has become a daily struggle. The price of housing, food, and transportation keeps climbing.

Affordability and energy security go hand in hand. When local production goes down, prices go up at the pump, in the grocery aisle, and on every manufacturing floor.

This election and the previous presidential one prove that voters want leaders who put affordability first.

As we begin the next legislative session, affordability must be front and center in every discussion CIPA’s membership engages in. Every decision, from energy policy to housing regulations, should be evaluated by a simple standard: does it make life more affordable for Californians?

Voters have made it clear that they want economic stability, energy reliability, and common-sense leadership.

Two Polls to Consider

Californians are losing faith in their government. According to a recent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll, most residents no longer trust the state government to do what’s right for the people.

At the same time, a new Gallup poll offers a powerful contrast: 70% of Americans say they trust small businesses more than any other institution, far above government, media, or large corporations. That trust crosses party lines, with Democrats, Republicans, and independents all expressing strong confidence in local business owners.

In a state where voters distrust government but believe in small business, the message is clear: trust the people who live and work here to power California’s future responsibly.