Raleigh, N.C. – Washington Gubernatorial candidates Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna are tied with 42% each, with 16% of voters undecided, a new survey of Washington voters from Public Policy Polling finds. About 1/3 of voters still don’t know enough about each candidate to form an opinion of them, with 36% holding a favorable opinion of Inslee, 28% unfavorable, and 36% not sure. Rob McKenna sees a 39% favorable rating, 29% unfavorable, and 32% not sure. Last May, our polling found the race in a similar position with 38% supporting Inslee, 40% supporting McKenna and 22% not sure.
The Attorney General’s race looks similarly close, with 34% supporting Republican Reagan Dunn, 32% supporting Democrat Bob Ferguson and 34% undecided.
Voters say if there was a referendum on the new law legalizing same-sex marriage, they would vote to uphold it rather than repeal it, 50%-46%. Only 20% of voters say they feel there should be no legal recognition of same-sex couples at all, with 46% supporting legal gay marriage and 32% supporting civil unions but not gay marriage.
Washington Initiative 502, which would legalize and allow for the sale and regulation of marijuana, looks headed for passage if the election were today. 47% of voters support the initiative while 39% oppose it.
“Washington appears to be headed for a close state election this fall,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The Governor’s race, gay marriage repeal, and marijuana legalization issue all appear to be things voters are pretty evenly divided about. That should compensate for the lack of a competitive Presidential race in the state.”
Senator Patty Murray holds a positive job approval rating with 50% approving and 43% disapproving.
PPP surveyed 1,264 Washington voters between February 16th and 19th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-2.76%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Christine Gregoire’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 40%
Disapprove………… 53%
Not sure ……………. 7%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jay Inslee?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 36%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Rob McKenna?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%
Q4 If the candidates for Governor this fall were
Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob
McKenna, who would you vote for?
Jay Inslee……………………………………………….. 42%
Rob McKenna …………………………………………. 42%
Undecided………………………………………………. 16%
Q5 If the candidates for Attorney General this fall
were Republican Reagan Dunn and Democrat
Bob Ferguson, who would you vote for?
Reagan Dunn………………………………………….. 34%
Bob Ferguson …………………………………………. 32%
Undecided………………………………………………. 34%
Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Patty
Murray’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .50%
Disapprove…………. .43%
Not sure …………….. . 7%
Q7 If there was a referendum on the new law
legalizing same-sex marriage, would you vote
to uphold the law, or would you vote to repeal
it?
Would vote to uphold the law…………………….. 50%
Would vote to repeal it ……………………………… 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q8 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal …………………. .49%
Illegal ………………… .44%
Not sure …………….. . 7%
Q9 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should
be allowed to legally
marry…………………..46%
Gay couples should
be allowed to form
civil unions but not
marry…………………..32%
There should be no
legal recognition of
a gay couple’s
relationship ………….20%
Not sure …………….. . 2%
Q10 Washington Initiative 502 would license and
regulate marijuana production, distribution, and
possessions for persons over 21; remove state
-law criminal and civil penalties for activities
that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and
earmark marijuana-related revenues. If the
election was today, would you vote yes or no
on Initiative 502?
Yes………………………………………………………… 47%
No …………………………………………………………. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q11 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 39%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 8%
Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 14%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 20%
Moderate………………………………………………… 28%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q14 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 36%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 32%
Q15 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 89%
Other……………………………………………………… 11%
Q16 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 49%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
