Wisconsin voters hold a negative perception of both the state and national economy, and their opinion of state lawmakers is even more unfavorable.
According to the most recent Marquette University Law School Poll, the majority of Wisconsin voters express concern about the state’s current direction and admit to facing difficulties.
According to pollsters, Democrats are optimistic about the state’s future, with a majority believing that Wisconsin is headed in the right direction. On the other hand, a majority of Republicans and independents express concerns, stating that the state is on the wrong track. The overall sentiment among registered voters leans towards pessimism, as 59% believe that Wisconsin is heading in the wrong direction, while 41% remain hopeful about its future.
In January, the Marquette Poll revealed that 57% of individuals believed that Wisconsin was on the wrong track, while 42% believed it was headed in the right direction. These numbers have slightly worsened compared to the previous poll.
Voters are expressing dissatisfaction with the state, and one possible reason for this sentiment is the state of the economy.
According to the poll, a majority of Wisconsin voters, 66%, believe that the national economy is either not so good or poor. Only a small percentage, 5%, view the national economy as excellent, while another 28% consider it to be good.
Voters have shown a slight increase in optimism towards the Wisconsin economy, although the change is not significant.
According to the survey, a majority of voters, specifically 56%, expressed their dissatisfaction with the current state of the Wisconsin economy, describing it as either “not so good” or “poor.” On the other hand, only a mere 6% of voters regarded the economy as excellent, while a more optimistic 48% considered it to be good. These findings shed light on the varying perspectives among Wisconsin residents regarding the state’s economic condition.
According to pollsters, respondents perceive that voters’ family financial situation has slightly worsened in April compared to January. Among registered voters, 45% claim to be living comfortably, which is a 4-point decrease from January. On the other hand, the percentage of voters who report “just getting by” has increased by 2 points to 40%, while the percentage of those who indicate they are “struggling” has also increased by 2 points to 15%.
Wisconsin Democrats generally perceive the state’s economy as thriving, while Republicans are more inclined to view it as less favorable.
According to the poll, a majority of independents in Wisconsin, 59% to be precise, believe that the state’s economy is either not so good or poor.
Wisconsin’s economy is not being blamed solely on Governor Tony Evers.
According to the MU poll, Governor Evers’ approval rating remains largely consistent. Currently, 52% of voters approve of the job he is doing, while 44% disapprove. These numbers are similar to his 51% approval rating in January and 53% approval rating last fall.
The favorability rating of the Wisconsin legislature has remained unchanged, with only 34% of voters holding a favorable view of lawmakers, which is the same as in January. Similarly, the approval rating of the liberal-majority Supreme Court has also remained unchanged, with 46% of the public expressing approval. However, this is a slight decline from the 51% approval rating recorded in the fall of 2023.
The most recent survey took place from April 3-10, 2024, and involved interviews with 814 registered voters from Wisconsin. The margin of error for this sample is +/-4.8 percentage points. Out of the total respondents, 736 identified themselves as likely voters who are absolutely certain to cast their vote in November. The margin of error for this subgroup is +/-5 percentage points.
