More than a quarter of Mainers feel that the most important problem facing the state right now is the political left, according to the Pine Tree States Poll, a States of Opinion Project, conducted by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Survey Center.
In recent years, only two other issues have reached this level of significance for Mainers: housing and the cost of living.
Currently, housing is the second most commonly cited concern (12 percent), followed by national issues (11 percent), the state budget (9 percent), and the economy (9 percent).
Only 7 percent of respondents mentioned the political right as the most important problem the state is facing right now.
Respondents were also asked about their approval of Gov. Janet Mills (D), revealing support from 52 percent of Mainers and opposition from 46 percent.
Among those who support the governor, 56 percent said the most important decision she made that contributed to their approval is her opposition to President Donald Trump (R).
Meanwhile, Gov. Mills’ “handling of LGBTQ issues” was cited by 51 percent of those opposing her as the primary reason for their lack of approval.
Given that this poll conducted between April 17 and April 21 of this year, this likely refers in part to Mills’ position on the participation of biological males in female athletics.
Age, however, factored predominately into respondents’ likelihood of citing this as a reason for their position.
More than two-thirds, or 70 percent, of those age 65 and over cited her “handling of LGBTQ” issues as the most determinative issue driving their disapproval, compared to just 19 percent of those 18 to 34.
The vast majority of younger Mainers cited an unspecified “other” reason for their opposing Mills, with the second largest share pointing toward her opposition to Trump.
This Pine Tree State Poll also revealed that a majority of Mainers from across the political spectrum do not believe that Sen. Susan Collins (R) deserves to be reelected. This finding tracks more broadly with how Americans in general feel about Congress, including how many currently think about their own representative, according to recent nation-wide surveys by Gallup.
71 percent of respondents overall expressed opposition to her reelection, and among Democrats that rose to 84 percent, and among Independents it fell slightly to 67 percent, while just over half, or 57 percent, of Republicans currently oppose another term for Collins, respondents told UNH. Independents were also the most likely to unsure whether or not Sen. Collins should be reelected in the future.
The poll also asked Mainers to weigh in on two state policies: the housing of transgender inmates in prisons and public school vaccine requirements.
Respondents were largely divided by political affiliation with respect to the topic of transgender prisoners, with 76 percent of Democrats expressing support for allowing them to select the facility of their choice and 93 percent of Republicans opposing it.
Independents, however, were more likely to express opposition allowing inmates to be housed in the facility aligned with their gender identity rather than their biological sex. While 56 percent of Independents opposed this policy, just 31 percent supported it.
Although there is widespread agreement among Mainers of all political leanings that public school vaccination requirements should not be repealed entirely, there is less unanimity regarding the restoration of religious exemptions.
60 percent of Republicans expressed support for restoring religious vaccine exemptions, compared to just 8 percent of Democrats.
Independents are more divided on this issue, however, with 61 percent opposing their restoration and 36 percent supporting it.
This poll was conducted via an online survey between April 17 and April 21. 911 Pine Tree State panel members participated in this survey.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="38565 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=38565">26 Comments
The REAL IDIOTS are the 56% who support Mills because of her opposition to Trump .
These are the fools who don’t know not to bite the hand that feeds them .
They are about to learn .
Disappointing that so few Maine residents realize what is destroying Maine.
hy
The WSJ today is trumpeting in an article purporting all the Republican town hoaals that are getting chummed by radical lefties, trying to say the right is destroying the country…. How about republicans in this state rising up against the democrats organized crime operation? Apparently, and amazingly, people are not freaking mad enough yet.
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Hey Robert
You want to see idiots ? LOL
Go to the Damariscotta – Newcastle Bridge some Friday afternoon .
See the real problem that is now facing Maine .
Idiots who think they know what is good for you . Idiots who want to control your life . Idiots that you can not reason with . Idiots .
It’s alot more than 26% folks.
So 74% of residents should lose their drivers’ licenses
They’re blind
Fake polls.
54%, we have that many people dependant on government for their job and funding?
Good article. The corporation, “State of Maine” has got to be the most greedy despicable entities in the former United States, (Israel hijacked it and is now bragging about this) I feel bad for those who still live there being owned by this corporation that considers you nothing more than a commodity. Look around and explain to me how this is not true. Everything they do is for more control and exploitation for their own gain, never yours.
Complain because your underage child is being groomed in Maine school? Expect a visit from CPS, because vindictive is just the way Maine operates against any of the slaves speaking out. Remember you and your children are the property of the corporation, “State of Maine” and you must obey your masters or the henchmen will be summoned to capture you and extort money from you.
If you live in Maine and have a plastic card that says so, you are considered by them to be their property. That is just the reality of living in Maine today.
Most of the other states do not target it’s people the way Maine does. I moved to a state with cities with more people than in the entire state of Maine.
The difference? These states don’t have to target the poor and vulnerable like Maine has just to pay their lavish salaries and endless perks you are forced to pay for.
The drawbacks? I live where police actually help people not prey on them. I may have to worry about getting robbed by desperate people like drug addicts. I can deal with this and protect myself if needed. So far no issues there, knock on wood. Living in Maine your going to be continuously robbed by the state with no way to protect yourself and that’s it.
Wish I figured all that out 30 years ago, I wouldn’t have PTSD from living in Maine still to this day. .
Trump and Elion have saved my retirement.
People need to remember that that pole that they’re quoting from is very left-leaning poll University of New Hampshire at kind of strange questions. I was a part of it for years. I finally dropped out of it because I just didn’t think they were asking the right questions anymore.. I realize that’s a personal opinion. But the people that take that pole tend to be more less leaning also so don’t be surprised that some of the results aren’t stronger than what you see in that pole for people that think freely and believe in freedom.
Rule of thumb. Posts more than a few sentences will not be read by over 99%, just saying.
Problem is that people on the right work and if they protest, they will be arrested. I truly believe that leos are afraid to arrest the left and if they do they will not be prosecuted. \
The fact that only 26% know this is frightening. Time to pull up stakes and get OUT of this state. It is truly lost……
Pine Tree Polls, imho, is a bunch of liars. Prove me wrong.
better get rid of “ranked voting”
Otherwise you’ll never get rid of the cheaters.
We need a referendum before radical Democrats ban referendums like they are doing in Colorado.
Maybe the best hope for Maine is if Trump gets “ranked voting” BANNED in Federal elections, as it should be.
I read all of the comments below and what a disappointment. Most of you have little idea of what you are talking about. Half of you cannot spell or write. Most of you do not know how to read a POLL or inquire about its legitimacy. Only 911 respondents make this poll worthless because it is way too small to e representative of the state of Maine. The whole discussion about LGBTQ+ folks is probably the most accurate given that it is broken down by age and younger folks are far more tolerant of difference. Those making negative comments about the Governor just use trumpers speaking points that have little validity. And these folks are generally fairly selfish concerned with just what inconveniences them versus the good of the whole. The Trans argument is based on 2 individuals while there is no concern of trans men playing sports because folks are ignorant of the process in general and those two trans women specifically. Remember this, it has been the left that have championed all the rights and benefits the rest of Maine, and the nation benefit from.
I see Nolan sniffed a rainbow this morning… 🙄 the corruption in August’s is blatant, all you have to do is want to see it!
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Craig, show the proof of such blatant corruption. Second you had nothing to say about what I wrote factually, just that I sniffed some rainbow.
I see the major problem with one sided poll!
It states a 52% approval for mills.
Here the problem with this poll “ 911 Pine Tree State panel members participated in this survey.”
In short Maine state workers they can’t put their job in jeopardy.
It was a fixed poll!! End of story!