Story perspectives

Orange County Poll Shows 35% Trump Support, Hotlines Expand

5/7/2026

Left

Immigrant-rights Expand

Immigrant-rights groups in Orange County say the poll validates their outreach and will expand legal-help hotlines.
A UC Irvine poll shows 35% of Orange County voters approve President Donald Trump, with six-in-ten disapproving his immigration crackdown.
Seventy percent and 63% respectively oppose school and hospital immigration enforcement and reject military deportations.
Demographers note rising Asian American and Latino voter shares reshaping Orange County away from Trump.

Right

Trump Restarts Pipeline

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sable Offshore to restart Santa Barbara pipeline despite injunction and an $18 million fine.
The last Middle-East oil tanker arrived at Long Beach on May 1, possibly the final Strait of Hormuz shipment for now.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned California’s bases and the $4.1 trillion GDP rely on imported oil.
The Santa Ynez pipeline restart should lift in-state oil output 15 percent, replacing 1.5 million barrels monthly.

Center

Democrats: Curse Trump

Democratic contenders openly cursed President Donald Trump while defending California during the CNN gubernatorial debate.
Seven governor candidates debated at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, covering living costs, immigration, and President Donald Trump.
Steve Hilton claimed gas could drop to $3 a gallon, claim Matt Mahan called false.
A SurveyUSA poll after the debate gave Hilton 20% support, edging billionaire Tom Steyer’s 18%.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasized the SurveyUSA poll that placed Republican commentator Steve Hilton at 20 % support, edging out billionaire Tom Steyer, and highlighted his claim about lowering gas prices to $3 a gallon.
Left coverage gave less weight to this primary-race poll and Hilton’s gas-price claim, and Right coverage gave less weight to those details as well.

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Immigrant-rights Expand

Immigrant-rights groups in Orange County say the poll validates their outreach and will expand legal-help hotlines.
A UC Irvine poll shows 35% of Orange County voters approve President Donald Trump, with six-in-ten disapproving his immigration crackdown.
Seventy percent and 63% respectively oppose school and hospital immigration enforcement and reject military deportations.
Demographers note rising Asian American and Latino voter shares reshaping Orange County away from Trump.

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