Raleigh, N.C. – John Boehner and Mitch McConnell should not rest easy if their party trounces Democrats at the polls this fall, for their base is restless and ready to give some new blood a chance to lead potential new Congressional majorities next January.
57% of national voters who usually vote in Republican primaries want to replace the party’s current leadership in Congress, with only 21% preferring to keep Boehner, McConnell, and company.
Republicans are split over whether Boehner should be elevated to the Speakership, with a third favoring him, a third preferring someone else, and a third unsure. A third also would like someone other than McConnell to become Majority Leader in the less likely event the GOP takes charge of the Senate, but only 27% want McConnell himself.
Contrary to what one might expect, the 69% of self-labeled conservatives are actually considerably more likely to want to retain the status quo than the small minorities who call themselves liberal or moderate.
“When parties lose elections, it usually leads to a lot of fingerpointing and handwringing and often a leadership upheaval, and the Democrats may be in for that sort of thing after November,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But considering these numbers and the ongoing purging of establishment Republicans by GOP primary voters, Republicans are also in a mood for some housecleaning even if they come out on top in a month and a half.”
PPP surveyed 419 national Republican primary voters from September 10th to 13th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.8%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached, and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 If Republicans get control of Congress do you
think they should keep their current leadership
or replace it?
Keep their current leadership…………………….. 21%
Replace it……………………………………………….. 57%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q2 Do you want John Boehner to become
Speaker of the House if the Republicans get
control of Congress or would you prefer
someone else?
Boehner …………………………………………………. 33%
Someone else…………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q3 Do you want Mitch McConnell to become
Senate Majority Leader if the Republicans get
control of Congress or would you prefer
someone else?
McConnell………………………………………………. 27%
Someone else…………………………………………. 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 40%
Q4 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 5%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Conservative…………………………………………… 69%
Q5 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 48%
Man……………………………………………………….. 52%
