Baltimore—The Goucher Poll asked Maryland residents about their opinions toward Governor Larry Hogan; the most important issue facing the state; perceptions toward state government structure and process; the post-Labor Day start to Maryland public schools; concern toward the Zika virus; and hydraulic fracturing. The Goucher Poll surveyed 668 Maryland residents from September 17-20 and has a margin of error of +/-3.8 percent.
Residents Supportive of Governor Hogan and Optimistic on Direction of the State
When asked about the most important issue facing the state, residents chose education (22 percent), economic growth and development (13 percent), and jobs and unemployment (10 percent). The trend of optimism about the direction of the state continues; 65 percent think the state is heading in the right direction.
Governor Larry Hogan remains popular in Maryland. Seventy percent approve of the job he is doing as governor, 12 percent disapprove, and 17 percent don’t know. Residents were also probed on the main reason why they either approve or disapprove of the job Hogan is doing.
Top reasons for approval among those who approve:
- 41 percent say his leadership and/or how he runs the government
- 12 percent say they like him personally or his personal attributes
- 11 percent say he either has or will lower taxes/tolls/fees
Top reasons for disapproval among those who disapprove:
- 33 percent say he hasn’t done enough or the right things
- 26 percent say his handling of education or education-related issues
- 11 percent say his handling of public transportation or transportation issues
Hogan’s public decision not to endorse or vote for presidential candidate Donald Trump appears to be a good move in the eyes of many Marylanders. Forty-four percent of Marylanders say his decision not to vote for Trump changes their opinion of the governor for the better, 50 percent say it makes no difference, and only 5 percent say it made their opinion of Hogan worse.
Cooperation and Divided Government
When there is a lack of cooperation in state politics, the majority of residents (67 percent) hold both Governor Hogan and the Democratic leadership in Maryland equally responsible. Eight percent say they typically hold Hogan responsible and 18 percent say they hold the Democratic leadership in Maryland responsible.
Fifty percent of residents think government works better when the governor is from the same political party that controls the state legislature and 21 percent of residents think that government works better if the governor is from a different party than the one which controls the state legislature. Seventeen percent volunteered that it either “doesn’t make a difference” or “it depends on the party.”
Executive Orders and the Post-Labor Day Start
On August 31, Governor Hogan signed an executive order moving the official start date of Maryland public schools until after the Labor Day Weekend. The Goucher Poll has asked about this issue in previous polls, when it was a proposal spearheaded by Comptroller Peter Franchot.
Fifty-four percent of residents think that governors should rarely or never use executive orders to put regulations into effect without approval from the state legislature; 41 percent think governors should use them sometimes or frequently.
Respondents were randomly assigned different versions of a question gauging opinions toward starting school after Labor Day. One version informed the respondent that the official move to a post-Labor Day start was the result of an executive order and the other did not. There was no statistical difference between the results of the two questions.
67 support the executive order that moved the official start date to Maryland public schools until after Labor Day Weekend.
68 support the move of the official start date to Maryland public schools until after Labor Day Weekend.
“Nearly a month after Governor Hogan’s executive order and heightened public criticism from key lawmakers and education advocates, as well as recent questions concerning the legality of the executive order from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, a post-Labor Day start for Maryland public schools remains popular with the general public.” said Dr. Mileah Kromer, Director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center. “This issue highlights larger questions concerning executive control and power during a time of divided government in Maryland.”
Fracking
In 2017, the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Maryland is set to expire. The Maryland General Assembly may consider a measure to place a permanent ban on the natural gas extraction method during the upcoming legislative session.
Half of Marylanders indicate they have heard “some” or “a lot” about hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, while 47 percent say they have heard “nothing” or “only a little” about it.
Individuals who indicated they had heard at least “a little” about fracking were asked whether the state should ban the drilling practice in the state. Residents were divided on the issue—43 percent support a ban, 32 oppose it, and 24 percent don’t know whether the state should ban fracking.
Concerns over the Zika Virus
Thirty-six percent of Maryland residents are “not at all” or “a little” concerned over an outbreak of a disease like the Zika virus and 64 percent are “somewhat” or “very” concerned. In October 2014, the Goucher Poll found similar levels of concern when residents were asked about Ebola—66 percent were “very” or “somewhat” concerned over the outbreak of a disease like Ebola.
President Barack Obama and Congress
President Obama’s job approval ratings among Marylanders have remained consistent during the final stretch of his time in office. Sixty-six percent of Maryland residents approve of the job he is doing, while 29 percent disapprove. Marylanders continue to express their disapproval with Congress; 80 percent disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job.
Click here to download the complete poll, including methodology, question design, and detailed results.
Mileah Kromer, the director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center, will be available for comment. She can be reached directly at mileah.kromer@goucher.edu.
About the Goucher Poll
To ensure all Maryland citizens are represented, the Goucher Poll is conducted using random digit dialing (RDD) of a stratified random sample of landline and cellular telephone numbers. The Goucher Poll is conducted under the auspices of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center, which is housed in the Center for People, Politics, and Markets at Goucher College. Directed by Dr. Mileah Kromer, the Goucher Poll conducts surveys on public policy, economic, and social issues in Maryland. The Goucher Poll is fully funded by the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center endowment and does not take additional funding from outside sources. The Goucher Poll seeks to improve public discourse in the state by providing neutral and unbiased information on resident perceptions and opinions. For additional information, including results of previous polls, please see: www.goucher.edu/poll.