California’s two United States Senators today are at or near their lowest approval ratings in nearly three years of monthly SurveyUSA tracking.

Dianne Feinstein today has a 48% approval rating and a 43% disapproval rating, for a Net Job Approval of Plus 5, her lowest since tracking began in May of 2005. Three months ago, Feinstein was at Plus 18. Her  previous low, a Plus 7, was reached twice in 2007, in both June and November. Her highest Net Job Approval was a Plus 26, in March of 2006; her Net Job Approval, determined by subtracting disapproval from approval, has never been negative.

Junior Senator Barbara Boxer today is at Plus 1, with a 46% approval and 45% disapproval rating. Like Feinstein, Boxer has seen a significant drop over the past two months; in February, she was at Plus 19, essentially tied with Feinstein. Boxer has been here before; her approval rating also dipped to Plus 1 in September of 2007 and January of this year, and she was even, with a 46% approval and disapproval rating, five months ago.

California context:  President Bush today has a Minus 45 Net Job Approval in the Golden State; Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was as high as Plus 13 four months ago, today is at Minus 13, with a 42% approval and 55% disapproval rating. Like the Democratic U.S. Senators, the Republican governor has also had a relatively bad two months; in February, he was at Minus 6.

Research conducted for KABC-TV Los Angeles, KPIX-TV San Francisco, KGTV-TV San Diego, and KFSN-TV Fresno.