California Donor Table

Unequal Voices, Part II shows that racial disparity trends in participation beyond voting continue. Using original telephone survey data from 2016, we analyzed the rates at which Californians contact public officials, contribute money to campaigns, attend public meetings, protest, engage in consumer activism, and sign petitions in person or online.

Amidst the flurry of this presidential election year, the attention on states is often more focused on short-term swings. This tends to narrow investments in states that may be "tipping"—ready to go in one political direction or another. This can also lead to neglect of the in-depth infrastructure and capacities needed to develop and deploy the kind of power that leads to change that improves people’s lives. PERE's report offers a three-part framework—conditions, arenas, and capacities—for determining pathways to progressive governance.