A recent poll reveals that Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania are receiving a mixed bag of voter sentiment.
Despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s steady popularity among residents, Democrats in Pennsylvania are facing challenges, with President Joe Biden holding a lead over Donald Trump. However, the situation is not entirely favorable for the party.
According to the most recent quarterly poll conducted by the Commonwealth Foundation, Attorney General Shapiro enjoys a commendable approval rating of 62%. Additionally, the poll reveals that in Pennsylvania, President Biden holds a narrow lead over former President Trump, with a margin of 44% to 41%. However, it is concerning that only 35% of Pennsylvanians believe that the state is currently heading in the right direction. Furthermore, the poll indicates that President Biden has a disapproval rating of 54% within the state.
Incumbent Sen. Bob Casey holds a 17-point lead over presumptive Republican challenger Dave McCormick in the U.S. Senate race, according to the latest poll. However, it is worth noting that 23% of poll respondents remain undecided between the two candidates.
The polling data indicates a sense of disillusionment among voters, rather than a clear Democratic or Republican advantage. A notable portion of Pennsylvania voters, both at the state and national level, express dissatisfaction with the current political landscape and the options presented by the two major parties.
According to a recent survey, a significant majority of respondents, around 60%, expressed their dissatisfaction with the presidential candidates for the 2024 election. The level of discontent among the participants was categorized as either “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied.” This discontentment with the presidential candidates could potentially extend to state races as well.
Erik Telford, the senior vice president of public affairs for the Commonwealth Foundation, expressed concerns about incumbents polling below 50%. According to Telford, this is a significant red flag.
He mentioned that there are many variables at play, such as turnout and evolving opinions, that can greatly impact the outcome across the state. He acknowledged that there is still much that is unknown and yet to be revealed.
Pennsylvania Democrats may find more hope without any names attached.
According to Commonwealth’s poll, 43% of the participants expressed a preference for a Democratic candidate in Congress rather than a Republican one. In addition, when it comes to the presidency, the respondents also favored a Democratic candidate over a Republican, with 51% supporting the former and 44% supporting the latter. These figures indicate a significant increase of five points in support for Democrats compared to the previous quarterly poll.
Registered voters are primarily concerned about pocketbook issues. The top-ranked concern, with 22% of voters, is inflation and the cost of living. Following closely behind is the issue of crime and rising violence, which is a concern for 8% of voters. Additionally, 7% of voters are focused on the state of the economy.
Pennsylvanians considering a move were primarily concerned about the same issues: they wanted a lower cost of living, lower taxes, and better jobs and opportunities. These were the top reasons cited by respondents as to why they desired to leave the commonwealth.
