From the Q Poll:
Democratic incumbent Governor Ned Lamont leads Republican challenger Bob Stefanowski 51 – 43 percent in Connecticut’s gubernatorial race, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in Connecticut released today. This poll was conducted from May 19th – 23rd.
Democrats support Lamont 92 – 6 percent, while Republicans back Stefanowski 89 – 9 percent. Independents are divided with 47 percent supporting Lamont and 43 percent supporting Stefanowski. Women back Lamont 59 – 35 percent, while men back Stefanowski 52 – 42 percent.
“Governor Lamont, propelled by strong support from women and enjoying a positive job approval rating from Connecticut voters, leads in a rematch with Bob Stefanowski, but it’s certainly not a lock,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Doug Schwartz.
FAVORABILITY RATINGS
Fifty percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Ned Lamont, while 36 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 11 percent haven’t heard enough about him.
Thirty-seven percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Bob Stefanowski, while 22 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 38 percent haven’t heard enough about him.
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE
The economy tops the list as the most important issue to voters in deciding who to vote for in the election for governor. Thirty-five percent of voters say the economy is the most important issue, followed by taxes (15 percent) and abortion (11 percent).
Among Republicans, the top issues are the economy (45 percent) and taxes (25 percent), with no other issue hitting double digits.
Among Democrats, the top issues are the economy (25 percent), abortion (16 percent), and taxes (10 percent).
Among independents, the top issues are the economy (37 percent) and taxes (16 percent).
JOB APPROVALS
Fifty-two percent of voters approve of the way Ned Lamont is handling his job as governor, while 38 percent disapprove. This compares to a 65 – 26 percent job approval rating in a Quinnipiac University poll in May 2020 during the height of the initial wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Seventy-one percent of voters approve of the way Lamont is handling the response to the coronavirus, while 23 percent disapprove. In May 2020, Lamont received a 78 – 17 percent approval rating for his handling of the response to the coronavirus.
On Lamont’s handling of the state budget, voters are split with 43 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving.
Voters give Senator Chris Murphy a 45 – 37 percent job approval rating. This is his lowest score in a Quinnipiac poll since taking office in 2013.
Voters give Senator Richard Blumenthal a 45 – 43 percent job approval rating. This is his lowest score in a Quinnipiac poll since taking office in 2011.
Voters give President Joe Biden a negative 40 – 54 percent job approval rating.
ECONOMY
Forty percent of voters say the state of Connecticut’s economy is either excellent (3 percent) or good (37 percent), while 57 percent say the state of Connecticut’s economy is either not so good (34 percent) or poor (23 percent). This is the most positive rating of Connecticut’s economy from voters in a Quinnipiac University poll since April 2005.
Only 13 percent of voters think Connecticut’s economy is getting better, while 45 percent of voters think it’s getting worse, and 40 percent think it’s staying about the same.
Fifty-eight percent of voters say they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, while 25 percent say they are better off, and 15 percent say they are the same.
“A somewhat gloomy financial self-assessment from voters comparing this year to last,” added Schwartz.
ABORTION
Voters support 66 – 26 percent a Connecticut law designed to protect out-of-state patients who seek abortion services in Connecticut from legal action taken by states that have outlawed abortion. This law also protects in-state abortion providers and others involved.
The vast majority of voters (68 percent) think abortion should be legal in all cases (37 percent) or most cases (31 percent), while 23 percent think abortion should be illegal in most cases (18 percent) or all cases (5 percent).
Voters support 67 – 25 percent amending the state constitution to guarantee that women in Connecticut have access to abortion services.
Voters support 70 – 24 percent requiring parental notification before anyone under 16 years old could get an abortion.
1,660 registered voters in Connecticut were surveyed from May 19th – 23rd with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
