San Joaquin Valley Speaks 2025 Survey Results

November 20, 2025

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MOVE (Mobilize, Organize, Vote, Empower) the Valley partnered with Data for Social Good (DSG) to conduct a comprehensive survey across the San Joaquin Valley. From August 23 to September 22, 2025, we reached 4,996 registered voters, yielding a margin of error of just ±1.0, from Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties. Participants completed the survey by email or phone in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi, ensuring broad community representation.

The findings reveal a region on edge: residents are deeply worried about the rising cost of living and the growing challenge of finding affordable housing. Concerns about unsafe drinking water persist, and fears surrounding immigration raids continue to weigh heavily on many households.

Themes and Key Issues

In the 2025 San Joaquin Valley Speaks poll, respondents were asked about what issues were most important to them, as well as what issues negatively impacted their household the most. While there was some overlap between answers for these questions, the poll also revealed some key differences.

The first question was a free response, asking respondents to identify three issues that are important to them right now. Since there was variation in the way the answers were submitted, we analyzed individual word frequency. For example, respondents can say: “housing costs”, “cost of housing”, “housing”, “rent prices”, etc. In this example, the words “housing” and “rent” would go to the housing category, and “cost” and “prices” would be in cost of living.

Across the San Joaquin Valley, the top three issues most important to respondents, as mentioned by them, are:

  • Cost of Living: Mentioned by 928 respondents
  • The Economy: Mentioned by 450 respondents
  • Homelessness: Mentioned by 381 respondents

Following this question, we asked respondents to identify what single issue from a list provided had the largest negative impact on their household. The top three main issues that had the largest negative impact on the respondents’ households were:

  • Affordable housing (37.8%): Generally referring to affordable housing, particularly among Latino and Black respondents, women, those between the ages of 29-44, and respondents residing in Sacramento County.
  • Lack of opportunities for the youth and young adults (19.0%): A sentiment expressed particularly by black respondents, those aged 18-28, and respondents from Merced County.
  • Healthcare (17.7%): Referring to healthcare accessibility and affordability, especially among Asian respondents, those aged 80+, and from Merced County.

With residents who are most concerned about affordable housing:

  • 49.9% stated that rents are too high
  • Strong concern over high rent prices was expressed particularly by Asian respondents (59.2%), those aged 18-28 (54.7%), and Kern County respondents (55%).

Among respondents concerned with the lack of opportunities for the youth and young adults:

  • 38% believe their community does not provide enough entry-level jobs for the youth and young adults.
  • This sentiment was strongly expressed amongst male respondents (40%), those in the age group 18-28 (45.5%), Democrat respondents (42.4%), and respondents residing in Merced County (44%).

When it comes to San Joaquin Valley residents concerned with their healthcare :

  • 43.9% state they have healthcare; however, it is too expensive.
  • Concern about healthcare affordability was most strongly expressed by Asian respondents (54.8%) and those residing in Fresno (46%), Kings (56%), Sacramento (58%), and San Joaquin(52%) counties.

Immigration

The 2025 poll also asked respondents about their thoughts on immigration and ICE in their communities.

  • The majority of respondents (51.4%) worry about someone they know being deported by ICE.
    • Latino and Female respondents strongly expressed this worry.
  • 61.4% of respondents DO NOT believe increased ICE presence has made their communities safer.
    • In contrast, 62.4% of respondents feel safe when interacting with law enforcement in their neighborhoods.
  • 75% of San Joaquin Valley respondents would support policies to make legal immigration a simpler process. 42.2% support simplifying a path to citizenship for those who were brought to the U.S. as children (including Dreamers), and 33.2% support investing resources to reduce the immigration application backlog (visas, green cards, asylum seekers, etc).

Government

San Joaquin Valley respondents shared their opinions on government issues, such as the economy, federal cuts, and Prop 50.

  • 66.4% of respondents believe the economy has worsened over the past 6 months
  • When asked about Federal government cuts, 66.5% of respondents know someone or have been directly affected:
    • Directly impacted (26.2%)
    • Have a family member who has been affected (22.1%)
    • Know someone else who has been affected (31%)
  • When it came to their support for Proposition 50, respondents remained split:
    • 33.7% expressed their support for Prop 50
    • 28.3% opposed Prop 50
    • 38.1% neither supported nor opposed Prop 50

Interested in reading this study? We’ll send you a copy!