She's the Difference: California Results
Posted on 02/21/24
by Priscilla Orpinela-Segura
En español | She’s the Difference: California is a statewide survey that examines the priorities and concerns of women voters ages 40-plus. Conducted in late 2023 with 1,611 participants, the survey explores views on voting and electoral priorities, housing, long-term care, financial security and federal programs such as Medicare and Social Security. These are the results. | Read the Detailed Findings She’s the Difference California Survey Summary Fact Sheet |
On Voting Women voters ages 40-plus want their voices heard. Nearly 80% are highly motivated to vote and are driven by a desire for change and new leadership, a range of issues and to make their voice heard. California women are concerned over a number of issues. · Threats to democracy (85%) · Voting rights (84%) · Jobs and the economy (84%) · Education (83%) · Division in the country (82%) | |
On Candidates When evaluating a candidate, women have key considerations. 92 percent say a candidate’s values are very important, followed by experience (77%), and political party or ideology (75%). Fewer than half say that a candidate’s family, personal attributes, and religion are very important factors. | |
On Financial Stability and Retirement Women voters express widespread financial unease with 49% say they are less financially secure than they expected at this age and 31% are worried about being able to afford their home in the coming year. The most helpful financial support now and in the future includes lowering the cost of food (92%), protecting Social Security (89%), lowering the cost of utilities (87%), decreasing taxes (86%), and lowering the cost of healthcare (82%). Few say Social Security, savings and retirement will fully cover their financial needs, yet a majority of women voters expect to rely on these sources of income. Only 25% say Social Security will fully cover their expenses, while 48% say it will partially cover them. | |
On Aging In the context of aging, women voters are concerned about healthcare and financial stability. 71 percent are concerned about affordable healthcare and 68% are worried about access to affordable long-term care and only 15% are confident about their ability to pay for it. | |
Methodology On behalf of AARP, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates conducted a survey of 1,611 California women voters ages 40 and over regarding election, policy, and social issues in California. This survey has a margin of error of ± 3.1 percent and includes oversamples of LGBTQ+ voters, Latina voters, Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, and African American voters. She’s the Difference: California builds upon ongoing AARP national research that explores the attitudes, fears, and hopes of over 2,000 women voters across the country. | |
For media inquiries, contact Priscilla Orpinela-Segura at porpinelasegura@aarp.org. |