WSSN Stories

This is the first in a series of five articles and editorials that will inform you about the sources, quality and safety of your drinking water in California, and introduce you to economic opportunities as well as key African American decision makers in our state’s water industry.  

By Dale Hunter | Special to California Black Media  

Is your tap water safe to drink?  

For a majority of Californians, the answer is “yes.”  

However, in some areas, especially rural and disadvantaged communities, the drinking water does not meet state and federal drinking water standards and regulations.  

California has some of the strictest water quality regulations in the nation, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution for communities with challenges meeting those regulations. The quality of your drinking water depends largely on where you live. For example, if you live in Stockton, the source of your drinking water may be from local groundwater wells or from the San Joaquin River Delta. Many Southern Californians drink water from the Colorado River.  

The source of your water supply dictates how much clean-up and treatment is required. The agency responsible for delivering the water to your home — which may be a city, special district or private company — will dictate whether that treatment occurs, and which process is used.  

The California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF), in partnership with the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), is sponsoring a five-part series titled, “Is Your Water Safe to Drink.” 

Over the next two months, the series will examine and inform the African American community about the current drinking water quality across our state. Community leaders, water quality experts and clean water advocates will offer their perspectives on the challenges to ensuring safe drinking water for all.  

In 2012, a California law declared that every person in the state has a right to clean, safe and affordable drinking water. Although that law did not appropriate any money or levy any taxes to fund its implementation, in 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 200, authored by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel), to provide funding to achieve the goal of “safe drinking water in every California community and for every Californian.”   

The State Water Resources Control Board estimates that all drinking water funding sources combined will provide $496 million during the 2020-’21 fiscal year for drinking water solutions. 

In this series, we hope to inform you about the water industry in California and about the safety of your water supply. Our goal is to motivate you to become engaged and active participants in influencing the decisions the state and companies make regarding the water you depend on to live and for so many other vital aspects of your life.   

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The information in this article is brought to you in partnership with the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), a non-profit statewide association of public water agencies whose more than 450 members are responsible for about 90 % of the water deliveries in California.   

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

Early voting in California will begin Monday, October 5. Registered voters will be able to either mail in or drop off their ballots from that day until the day before Election Day, Monday, November 2.  

In a deeply divided American electorate, both Democrats and Republicans have been pushing efforts to motivate their respective party bases to get out and vote. And in an election year when a few votes in a handful of swing states will likely determine who will win the U.S. presidency, poll watchers are predicting that young people could be the deciding vote in several places.  

“Don’t let anyone keep you from exercising your sacred vote. Make your plan to vote. Grab your vote and head to the polls the first day they are open,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, calling out young people in his speech at the Democratic National Convention in August.  

Across California, young voters are speaking out about the issues that concern them this election, and decisions that will affect their future. On September. 11, Power California, a civic engagement organization that encourages young people of color to participate in government, hosted their “Fight For Our Future Campaign Kick-Off.” 

Young activists from all corners of California spoke about issues coming up in the November election to launch he campaign, which aims to reach more than 150,000 California voters between the ages of 18 and 35 through virtual phone banking and texting. 

Annie Gonzalez, the actress known for her role as Lidia Solis on Netflix’s comedy-drama series “Gentefied,” hosted the virtual event. She addressed the struggles that young people of color are facing in the lead up to the election.  

According to Power California’s 2020 Youth Poll, 46 percent of young people surveyed had difficulty buying food, household supplies or medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 67 percent said their state government is not doing enough to address the impact of COVID-19. 

“Young people of color have been hit hard by these crises, and their needs and futures must be centered in this election, and always during the recovery, from young essential workers risking everything to take care of us to college students unsure about their future to everyday young people struggling to afford rent,” said Gonzalez. 

Kendrick Sampson, activist and actor known for his role as Nathan Campbell on HBO’s popular comedy-drama series “Insecure,” addressed the young people watching the event as well. He stressed the importance of activism and participation.   

“I’m inspired by all the young people. It’s what keeps me going and motivated, because y’all are leading the movement across the country. Young people like yourselves are rising up and fueling movements for justice, from Black Lives Matter and calls to defund the police to climate change and immigrant rights. You are the leaders and the moral compass of our nation in every major movement for justice that has been true in our past, and it is still true today.” 

Tyler Okeke, a 19-year-old organizer with Power California, asked young people to sign a letter asking Gov. Newsom to endorse Proposition 15. The ballot measure would require commercial and industrial properties to be taxed at their market value. According to Ballotpedia, 40 percent of the revenue generated will fund school districts and community colleges. 

“It will require decisive action from our elected leaders, especially leaders like Governor Newsom,” he said. “We need leaders who will put people over corporations and take steps to meet California’s most essential human needs while recognizing that young people are the central force of this future that we want for this state.” 

Ixchel Arista, a 15-year-old youth organizer with Oakland Kids First, advocated for Measure QQ, a ballot initiative in Oakland which will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections. 

“Students feel the most impact as we spend most of our lives at school, yet have no say in decisions being made for our education. We need to be able to decide who is making these impactful decisions,” said Arista. 

Te’Ausha Garcia, a civic engagement organizer with Californians for Justice in Fresno, said, “It’s important that we fight for the solutions that we need, because who else will fight for us? We have to be willing to stand up and fight for what we want. Otherwise the change we desperately need will not be showcased. We must stand up for our rights and really name what it is that we need.” 

“We must continue to fight for our right to the future that we deserve. The right to have our most basic human needs met: Clean and fresh air and water, housing, healthcare and education. The right to be free and to live with dignity and without discrimination, the right to determine the future of our democracy and our economy, and we will not stop until we secure these rights. We will not stop until we secure these rights,” said Eugene Vang, a 19-year-old activist from Merced, who organizes with 99 Routes and Power California.

By Lou Yeboah

Mama always said, “A hard-head makes a soft behind.” Now, if you don’t know what that means, you just keep on doing you. Keep on doing what you want, when you want. Keep on ignoring God’s warnings. You will find out sooner than later what it means.

Listen, warning is never meant to hurt us. Warning is meant to keep us from hurting ourselves.  Alarms may be a nuisance to our ears, but they are really our friends, so to speak. Fire alarms alert us to the danger of fire. Burglar alarms alert us of the danger of theft and violence. Our alarm clocks alert us of the danger of being late for work. If we do not heed the warnings, we can find ourselves in a place that we wouldn’t want to be. And if that is the case, what about the warnings that exist for our spiritual lives? If our spiritual selves are more important, and even more “real” due to the fact that they are eternal, if they are more important than our physical bodies, how much more should we pay attention to spiritual warning signs?

[Proverbs 22:3] tells us,  “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”The word “simple” here means those without moral direction. It refers to people who just want to do their own thing as they see fit, people who move about as if there are no consequences for the things they do.  [Proverbs 1:22], asks the question, “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” How long will you keep ignoring the warning signs and live for your own ways and desires as if there are no consequences for doing so?” I tell you, “It takes a fool to learn!

Don’t be another Samson [Judges 14:1-9] who ignored warning signs that would have indicated he was headed for disaster. Because he did not listen, he suffered greatly for it. Samson leaped over many warning signs. Don’t you do it! When you ignore the warning signs and step across clearly stated boundaries for your life, you will absolutely compromise God’s intended future for you as did Samson. You can’t get down the road where God desires to take you if you are ignoring the warning signs.

Just like Samson’s parents tried to talk some sense into him. They tried to get him to consider the ramifications of what he was doing, but his mind was made up. He couldn’t see the big picture. He couldn’t consider the compromise. He couldn’t weigh the impact of his decisions on the others around him. He didn’t even think about the example he was setting for the rest of the Israelite’s. I tell you, shutting out the voice of truth; that kind of arrogance is foolishness and destructive. We all need direction. We all need correction. We all need perspective. Samson’s parents were trying to put a speed bump in his path, trying to get him to think things through, but he wouldn’t listen. “It takes a fool to learn!

“Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel and didn’t want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes. When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me,” – “and I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, they will not find me, because they hated knowledge…  and they would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way” – [Proverbs 1:23-31].

Return, oh backsliding children, for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you a shepherd [Jeremiah 3:14-15].

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

Black Americans were already in the midst of two disasters this year – the disproportionate toll of the COVID-19 pandemic and a spate of horrifying incidents of police brutality — when fire season in California started early. Wildfires have burned over 3.1 million acres in California since the beginning of the year, breaking the record for the deadliest year of wildfires in the state, according to CalFire. 

Though Black communities are disproportionately vulnerable to and impacted by disasters, Black households are less likely to be prepared for disasters than White households, according to the NAACP. 

This September, which is Emergency Preparedness Month, some Black activists as well as community-based organizations have been partnering with Listos California, an emergency preparedness campaign anchored in the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). These partnerships are aimed at getting the word out about emergency preparedness to diverse communities through more accessible and impactful means, such as artwork and person-to-person conversation.  

“Listos California awarded $50 million in local assistance grants to non-profit organizations throughout the state to build resiliency in vulnerable communities and connect residents to culturally and linguistically competent support — a whole community approach that fosters critical networks that can save lives. This month, I urge all Californians to learn about how they can help keep their loved ones and communities safe during an emergency,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in his declaration for Emergency Preparedness Month. 

For Aliyah Sidqe, a Sacramento-based artist who depicts Black life in America, it’s important for the Black community to be prepared to fend for themselves, she says, in an emergency situation. 

“The Black community is already subject to a lot, and we’re not thought about all the time. It’s important for us to take matters into our own hands and really be prepared for what’s to come because sometimes we’re not considered in the game plan as far as what the world needs to do,” Sidqe said. 

According to a poll of California residents living in zip codes at risk of floods, wildfires or earthquakes, conducted by EMC Research, 88 % of vulnerable residents agree that preparing for a disaster is important. However, those respondents admitted to not taking action to prepare because they think doing so is scary (63%), expensive (61%) or time-consuming (54%). 

“I think a portion of people don’t take certain things seriously, or they’re not really thinking about all that is going on right now. It’s easier just to kind of push that to the back of your mind. But I think the fact that we’re already marginalized makes it super important for us to really be ready to take care of ourselves and be prepared for anything,” Sidqe said. 

Since partnering with Listos California, Sidqe has started conversations with family members and friends about what they would do during emergencies.  

“Before I really hadn’t thought too much about it, but it did kind of spark that, for my partner and me — conversations like where would we go if we did have to evacuate. Actually, in our area, there was a fire really close to us and a few neighborhoods had to evacuate. So, we did put a plan in place of where we would go in case that would happen.” 

The Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, a nonprofit serving youth in San Bernardino County, has been sharing information about emergency preparedness alongside their ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts. During their relief events, which include twice-a-month drive-thru distribution of essential items, CEO Terrance Stone and the Young Visionaries staff inform community members about the importance of being prepared.  

“I’ve been introducing the program like this: I always ask if somebody came and knocked at your door right now, and told you that you have five minutes to pack your necessities and go, are you going to be able to get what you need within those five minutes? It’s an eye opener for everybody, because then they’re like, wait, like what do I actually need,” said Jennifer Rosales, Administrative Assistant at Young Visionaries.  

“I tell everybody, it doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to go out and spend $200, $300 to try to get a go-bag or a ready bag. I think the number one thing is this: Just look at your basic needs, something that you need every day, and then just start that way. It’s important to know that it doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money to keep your family and your friends safe,” said Rosales. 

El Sol Neighborhood Education Center is coordinating outreach activities with 11 community groups from different parts of San Bernardino County.  

“We have developed specific strategies to target specific communities. We have to bring cultural brokers or cultural speakers so that they understand the language, the culture and the lived experiences of each target community. We partner with agencies and churches — African American, Asian American, Latino and Native American partners. Each group knows how to best reach the people in their own communities”, says Alex Fajardo, El Sol’s executive director.  

The Listos California website has Disaster Ready Guides in multiple languages if readers want to know more about what to have prepared for an emergency. 

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media  

With less than two months left before Election Day, campaigns both defending and opposing Proposition 22 — the ballot initiative that aims to keep gig company drivers classified as independent contractors — are revving up their efforts to reach out to Black voters. 

Earlier this month, Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart pumped another $70 million into their campaign to pass Prop 22. The total funds those app-based companies and others have spent on the Yes on Prop 22 public information effort is now $181 million, making it one of the most expensive California initiative information campaigns ever. 

The opposition, made up of mostly labor organizing groups, has raised about $4.8 million so far, with funding coming mostly from labor organizing groups. 

On September 3, the  Yes on 22 campaign hosted a press conference for ethnic communities in the state. At the event, community leaders spoke up about why they support the ballot initiative. They emphasized that gig companies provide an easy stream of income for their drivers, and that Prop 22 would keep those jobs in California — and in Black and Brown communities in particular.  

“Driving has been a source of relief for these people. It’s easy to sign up, start driving and earning right away, without a lot of the normal barriers that block Black and Latino Americans from working,” said Dr. Tecoy Porter Sr., President of the National Action Network Sacramento Chapter. 

Jay King, President and CEO of California Black Chamber of Commerce, said the Black community can not afford massive job losses in the wake of the pandemic.  

“One in 10 app-based drivers are Black. Many of them would lose their jobs if Prop 22 is not passed this November. When so much of our community is suffering, we need to encourage and promote new and innovative ways to make income. I encourage everyone to vote yes to save app-based jobs and services,” he said.  

On September 9, protesters from Rideshare Drivers United (RDU), an organizing group that has come out against Prop 22, gathered under an Uber billboard in Oakland that read, “If you tolerate racism, delete Uber. Black people have the right to move without fear.” Uber has launched a microsite that promotes that slogan and shares how the company plans to rid its platform of racism and investments it has made in the Black community.  

“We are condemning them on their hypocritical ballot measure that would relegate drivers to a permanent underclass without basic rights or voices or privileges. We condemn major companies like Uber and Lyft who are claiming support of a protest movement that has galvanized America, in the middle of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected Black and Brown people in their lives,” Cherri Murphy, an RDU organizer, told California Black Media. 

Murphy says there are multiple instances when Uber and Lyft exploit Black drivers and customers, alleging that those companies increase ride prices in Black and Brown neighborhoods. That claim has been supported by a June preprint study by George Washington University.  

“If you want to know whether or not Lyft and Uber are doing the right thing, you need to look at their historical measures and tactics. The most recent one is around the preliminary injunction. As opposed to following the rules, what they want to do is invoke fear and have people make a decision based on fear. So their method on threatening people to shut down wasn’t because they’re in a bind. Not a million  dollar — a billion dollar — company. Compare that to those who live check to check,” said Murphy. 

As they wait to see how Californians will vote on Prop 22, Uber and Lyft are also currently in an appeals process against the preliminary injunction that ordered them to classify their drivers as employees last August.  

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

“Justice Ginsburg devoted her extraordinary life and intellect to making the words of our nation’s founding documents more true. Throughout her historic legal career, her contributions as a jurist to the cause of equality for women and men were unmatched. Justice Ginsburg fought tirelessly for the rights of women at work, at school and in the life of our nation. She proved over and over again that sex-based discrimination harmed not just women, but men and families, and that reckoning with this inequality was required for our nation to live out its promise.

“In moving our nation forward, she inspired millions among us, including so many women and girls, to reach higher, dream bigger and dissent more passionately. Though this loss is incalculable, her legacy will live on in the fairer, more just society that she bravely ushered in and that we must, to honor her, safeguard. Our thoughts and prayers are with her colleagues, her family and all Americans in mourning.”  

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media 

America is still healing from several violent murders of unarmed Black men and women at the hands of law enforcement officers across the country. But that climate in the country, volatile and fraught with distrust and disagreement, did not stop members of the California Correctional Peace Officer Association (CCPOA) from placing a gun target on the photo of a Black lawmaker in California. 

The CCPOA, in a two-minute political video, clearly displayed an image of a “crosshair” symbol over the face of State Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) at the 1-minute-20-second mark of the clip, which was widely circulated before it was deleted. 

“From what I saw, there were no Black correctional officers in the video, no Black representation,” the Rev. Jonathan E.D. Moseley, president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Action Network, told California Black Media (CBM). 

“It was a despicable piece of propaganda. It was not just targeting elected officials, it targeted an elected Black official,” he continued. 

Glen Stailey, a correctional officer and CCPOA’s state president, posted the video on Facebook. CCPOA is supporting a candidate who is running against Jones-Sawyer in the November General Election. 

The crosshair symbol is commonly used figuratively to connote that someone or something is being targeted. Whether it’s a sniper, police officer, or a citizen practicing at a range, shooters rely on actual crosshairs in firearm viewfinders to mark the object of their impending gunfire, before they squeeze the trigger. 

“It is unconscionable that the president of a peace officer’s association would use such a scare tactic that could incite someone to take action and cause harm,” said Jones-Sawyer, who has asked the Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms for additional security. He has also requested that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra investigate. 

In the video, Stailey is shown staring at a wall lined with photos. Other individuals are standing by him. He is specifically pointing his finger at the photo of Jones-Sawyer, which is covered by the crosshairs target symbol. 

“CCPOA is prepared to take the lead and speak the loudest. We are going to demand that the increased violence and assault on peace officers are addressed and the perpetrators are held accountable to the highest degree,” Stailey says in the video, pointing to Jones-Sawyer’s photo. 

Alice Huffman, president of the California-Hawaii branch of the NAACP, watched the video. She told California Black Media (CBM) that it was “heartbreaking.” 

“This is hurtful and despicable,” she said. “At its best, this video shows a violation of the trust that we place in our law enforcement authorities. At its worst, this is a dangerously suggestive, racist, calculated and terrifying act perpetrated by people who should know better. These are people we count on to protect us – not to use symbols we all can identify to instill fear in us,” said Brown. “An apology just doesn’t cut it.” 

After a slew of comments on Twitter and Facebook reacting to the video, most of them in opposition, the CCPOA deleted the video. 

“The CCPOA posted a video that showed we are ‘targeting’ several legislative districts,” Stailey said in a statement. “It would require a great stretch of the imagination to believe that we meant anything other than our clear intent, which was to demonstrate that we are mounting political campaigns against certain legislators. However, to put this controversy to rest, we are moving the video from our official channels and editing it.” 

Jones-Sawyer is the chairperson of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. 

“This is unacceptable. Putting crosshairs on a sitting Assemblymember with whom you have political 

disagreements crosses a line big time. Reggie Jones-Sawyer is a great leader for CA, particularly on criminal justice & prison reform,” State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), wrote on his Twitter account. 

After two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were shot at close range while sitting in a patrol vehicle on Sept. 13 in Compton, Jones-Sawyer called the crime “cowardly.” 

The two deputies survived the ambush. 

“I’m against police violence,” Jones-Sawyer told a Southern California radio station on Monday, Sept. 14. “And that’s not only police violence when it involves African Americans or Latinos, but also when violence goes against law enforcement officers. That act was a cowardly act.” 

Jones-Sawyer, who represents the 59th Assembly District, is currently in a fight to hold on to his seat. He trailed Efren Martinez, also a Democrat, in the primary election, which forced a runoff in the Nov. 3 General Election. 

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, established in 1957 as the California Correctional Officers Association, has over 30,000 members. The labor union advocates for enhancement of wages and other benefits for its members. 

By Lou Coleman

“…From day to day, as we live we have to make decisions, and when we make those decisions, things don’t always turn out the way we’d like them to or want them to. No matter what we feel or what seems real, things change. We don’t have a crystal ball to look into, to know what our future is going to be, or what it gonna be…” [Whatever We Had, We Had…Barry White].  But when we look at the Word of God. God tells us about the future. He tells us what is coming. [Matthew 24].

You know, the Apostle Paul wrote Timothy a letter while he was in prison in Rome.  He wrote Timothy to tell him that difficult, troublesome, violent, threatening and dangerous days were just around the corner.” Don’t be naive. Don’t think that everything is going to be okay. Its not going to be okay! The “Last Days” will be fierce, violent, dangerous and frightening. [Scripture – Psalms 2 & Timothy 3:1-11]. What we are seeing all around us is a society on the brink of collapse! This is proven by the 18 characteristics of the last days presented by Paul. And the Bible does not leave us guessing about what is going to happen, it speaks very clearly, very simply, very straightforwardly. Therefore, “As the World Turns,.” as our world seems to be going its own way, doing its own thing, I implore you, to decide today, to repent and to give your life to Christ. Jesus is our only hope!

Hear the call God is giving you today. There is an urgency in our world that has never existed before. Warnings of Imminent Dangers! DO NOT trifle with your soul’s salvation, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” [James 4:14].  The Urgency of Today [Proverbs 29:1]. The Insistence of God – [Proverbs 1: 24-28]. Know that “TODAY” may be the very last time you may be exposed to the Gospel of the grace of God. Don’t blow it! “NOW,” “TODAY,” repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior. For the Bible declares, “Behold, “NOW” is the acceptable time; behold, “NOW” is the day of salvation.” “NOW” is Mercy offered. “NOW” is the invitation from God, reaching down from Heaven. Know that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]. 

The time is now for you to discern this time, this age and period in which we live, and understand what God is doing among the nations. His purpose is being fulfilled according to plan, and His Kingdom is coming. Do not be deceived!  God is not mocked. “Unless ye REPENT ye shall likewise perish” [Acts 2:39].

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword [war], and with hunger [famine], and with death and with the beasts of the earth [Revelation 6:8]

Now you can deny the fact that Jesus is coming soon if you want too, but you can’t change the truth of it. Jesus is coming, and He is coming soon. And when He comes, it will be with “sudden destruction” [2Thessalonians]. This world is preparing itself for the fulfillment of God’s prophecies. The signs are everywhere. I beg you, don’t take it lightly; your eternity is at stake. Jesus says, “Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. [Isaiah 1:18]. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteousness man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:7]. “As the World Turns,” how will you respond?

End Times Signs… [Daniel 12:4] [Zechariah 12:3;] [Matthew 13:25-30] [Matthew 24:6-14,24] [Luke 21:25-26] [1 Thessalonians 5:3]  [1Timothy 4:3-4] [2 Timothy 3:1-5] [2 Timothy 4:4] [2 Peter 2:1-3] [2 Peter 3:3-6].

One-third of all registered voters say jobs and the economy is their most important issue in deciding which presidential candidate to vote for, the latest USC Dornsife Daybreak poll shows. 

When asked which candidate they trust more to handle jobs and the economy, registered voters give President Donald Trump a 4 percentage-point advantage over former Vice President Joe Biden. But on uniting the country and healing racial divisions, and on COVID-19 response, Biden has an advantage of 22 points and 14 points, respectively.

The poll also found that nearly 3 out of 5 voters have an unfavorable opinion of Trump; nearly half have an “extremely unfavorable” opinion. Voters are more evenly split over Biden. Half rated him either “somewhat favorable” or “extremely favorable” and 47% rated him unfavorably, including more than a third who have an “extremely unfavorable” opinion.

Voters were asked if they feel discomfort in discussing their choice of presidential candidates with family, friends, acquaintances and pollsters, an issue that was significantly associated with late deciders for Trump in the 2016 Daybreak poll. Pollsters found very little difference in the comfort levels of Trump and Biden voters.

“In 2016, the Daybreak poll found Trump voters to be significantly less comfortable with discussing their candidate choice than Hillary Clinton voters, particularly among acquaintances and if contacted by a telephone poll,” said Jill Darling, Survey Director of the Daybreak Poll. “This year, we see very little difference between Trump voters and Biden voters. The undecided voters are more reticent, but very few voters remain truly undecided.” 

The national probability poll was conducted by the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) among 4,580 registered voters who are members of  its Understanding America Study panel. The poll has a +/- 2 percentage point overall margin of sampling error.

Partisan differences in how voters ranked issues tell a more nuanced story

Half of Republican voters and those who say they’re voting for Trump, and just under half the voters who lean toward voting Republican, chose jobs and the economy as their top issue.

In contrast, Democrats were more divided on their top issue. “Uniting the country and healing racial divisions” was chosen by a third of those identifying as Democrats and Biden voters, and by just under a quarter of those who lean Democrat. That issue ranked second among all registered voters, as well as among GOP leaners, Independents and undecided voters.

“People are sharply divided on lines of partisanship, not only about what candidate they favor, but what issues are most important to them,” said Robert Shrum, director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.

Law enforcement and criminal justice was picked second most often by Trump voters and Republicans in general. “The Trump campaign’s focus on riots and protests as problems in the cities are resonating among Trump voters and Republicans,” said Darling. “However, potential swing voters are more concerned about uniting the country around racial unrest.”

In contrast, immigration, which dominated the 2016 presidential race headlines with Trump supporters’ chants to “build the wall,” barely registered among any category of voters as the top priority. Neither did climate change and US-China relations. 

The poll was conducted before Trump visited California where massive wildfires have magnified the issue of climate change.

Although jobs and the economy took the top spot among all registered voters and among Republicans and Trump voters, uniting the country was the top issue for nearly 1 in 5 voters who lean Republican, and a similar percentage of independents and undecided voters.

“The poll results reveal that Biden has an issue that everybody, including Republicans, cares about: uniting and healing,” said Mike Murphy, co-director of the Center for the Political Future. “It’s a very clear roadmap for Biden. If he can make it more germane and move it further up the importance scale, that’s pure gain for him.”

It’s (not just) the economy, stupid

Pollsters also asked voters who they trusted more to deal with these issues.  While voters gave Trump the edge by 4 percentage points on jobs and economy, they trusted Biden more on all of the other issues — many of them by double digit margins.

“It’s clear that Biden owns ‘uniting and healing’ — as well as climate change —  for the small percentage of people who chose that as their most important issue,” said Darling. “But he also has a 10-point advantage on health care — an issue that ranked high in importance for swing voters.”

“What’s amazing to me about this poll is Trump’s lead on the economy has steadily eroded,” said Shrum. “And the president is campaigning heavily on law enforcement and criminal justice — an issue where Biden actually has a four-point advantage.”

Results show that nearly half of all registered voters (47%) have an extremely unfavorable opinion of Trump, compared to one third who have an extremely unfavorable opinion of Biden.

Biden has an overall favorable impression among half of the voters, while only 40% of voters have a somewhat or extremely favorable opinion of Trump.

Independents have a net negative impression of both candidates, by similar margins, but they are four times as likely to say they haven’t heard enough about Biden to form an opinion.

On a related issue, Biden voters were more likely than Trump voters to say their choice was motivated by opposition to the other candidate. Among Biden voters, 53% say they are supporting their candidate, while 47% say they are voting mainly to oppose Trump.

“Trump continues to be the unwitting get-out-the-vote machine for Democrats,” said Shrum.

A much larger majority of Trump voters are voting for him: 85% say they are supporting their candidate and only 15% are voting mainly against Biden. 

About the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll

The USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll 2020 was conducted Aug. 25-Sept. 13, 2020 among 5,272 members of the Understanding America Study probability-based internet panel. The sample included 4,580 registered voters.

Overall margin of sampling error for the sample of registered voters is +/- 2 percentage points. Margin of sampling error for subgroups included in this analysis may vary, and are provided in the associated methodology and topline document.

The survey is conducted by the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR), in partnership with the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future. It is funded in part by USC Dornsife with additional funding from research grants. The tracking poll is updated daily at election.usc.edu. Press releases, graphics, toplines and other documents are available from the Center for the Political Future and from CESR’s elections data page, which also provides access to data, and additional surveys and information.