A survey conducted by Indy Politics and ARW Strategies of likely voters in Indiana between September 25th and 26th shows Hoosiers disapproving of both President Joe Biden and Governor Eric Holcomb’s job performance. Voters are also split on abortion rights but overwhelmingly support at least partial legalization of marijuana.
A majority of Indiana voters (55%) disapprove of the job Joe Biden is doing as president, while 42% approve. Most noteworthy is that nearly half (49%) don’t just disapprove, but they strongly disapprove of the job Biden is doing as president.
Among Independents, Biden is 14-points underwater, with 40% approving and 54% disapproving of his job performance. Noteworthy, again, is that 45% of Independents strongly disapprove, and just 7% strongly approve.
Governor Eric Holcomb is also lagging with his job approval numbers, as 47% disapprove of the job he’s doing, while 44% approve.
Holcomb’s numbers are largely driven by younger voters, women, and Independents. Among 18-34-year-olds, 27% approve and 60% disapprove, while with 35-49-year-olds, 32% approve and 65% disapprove of the job he’s doing. With women, 41% approve and 48% disapprove, and with Independents, 40% approve and 48% disapprove of his job performance.
“President Biden’s job approval is nearly identical to the 2020 presidential results, where he lost to President Donald Trump 41% to 57%, seemingly indicating that voters’ views on the president are long set in stone and not a lot are willing to change their opinion on him,” said Andrew Weissert of ARW Strategies.
Abortion Rights
Abortion was front-and-center this summer as the legislature banned nearly all abortions with narrow exceptions. In response, 51% of voters say they’re more likely to vote for a candidate in State Senate and State House races this fall who supports abortion rights. Just 35% say they’re more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes abortion, while 14% say it makes no difference.
While Democrats overwhelmingly support abortion rights, with 91% more likely to support a candidate who supports abortion rights, Republicans aren’t quite as unified in their opposition to abortion. Just under two-thirds (63%) say they’re more likely to support a candidate who opposes abortion, while one in five (20%) say they’re more likely to support a candidate who supports abortion rights. Among Independents, 51% are more likely to support a candidate who supports abortion rights, and just 25% favor a candidate who opposes abortion.
In the metro area surrounding Marion County, 54% favor a candidate who will support abortion rights, while 30% favor a candidate who opposes abortion.
“While the Election Day ramifications on the new abortion law aren’t clear yet, it looks like there is some blowback from voters. The governor’s job approval has flipped upside-down – although barely – and just over a majority (51%) say they’re more likely to vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights. I think it’s important to remember, though, that it means that almost half (49%) either oppose abortion or the issue doesn’t matter. So, at best, this is probably 50-50 issue that splits voters and seems more likely to motivate Democrats than swing an election with Independents,” said Andrew Weissert of ARW Strategies.
Marijuana Legalization
Voters overwhelmingly support the legalization of marijuana in Indiana, with a majority (53%) supporting full legalization. 24% support legalization for medicinal use only, while just 15% oppose legalization of any kind.
Support for legalization is strong throughout the entire state, with the largest opposition coming from Seniors and Republicans. Even among those, however, just 24% of Seniors and 25% of Republicans oppose the legalization of any kind.
“There is massive support for at least some form of marijuana legalization, but a majority of voters favor full legalization across the board,” Weissert noted. This looks like a no-brainer issue that the state legislature could take up in the future and have broad bipartisan support. Even among segments of the electorate that you’d expect to oppose legalization, there just isn’t that widespread opposition. Marijuana isn’t nearly as controversial an issue as it once was.”
The poll surveyed 600 likely voters and had a margin of error of +/-4 percent.
Tomorrow we look at whether Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett should run for a third term.
