Governor Baker – Year 2

SUPRC

5/2 – 5/5

FINAL MAY MASS LIKELY VOTERS
GeoCode
(N=500)
n
Worcester / West------------------------------------------------ 118
Northeastern ----------------------------------------------------- 170
Suffolk --------------------------------------------------------------- 47
Se Mass / Cape ------------------------------------------------- 165

%
23.60
34.00
9.40
33.00

***********************************************************************************************************
Hello, my name is __________ and I am conducting a survey for Suffolk University and I
would like to get your opinions on some issues of the day in Massachusetts. Would you be
willing to spend five minutes answering some questions so that we can include your opinions?
{IF YES PROCEED; IF NO, UNDECIDED, GO TO CLOSE}
{BY OBSERVATION}
1.
Gender
(N=500)
n
Male ---------------------------------------------------------------- 239
Female ------------------------------------------------------------ 261

%
47.80
52.20

4. How likely are you to vote in the upcoming general election for President this November?
(N=500)
n
%
Very likely --------------------------------------------------------- 459
91.80
Somewhat likely --------------------------------------------------- 41
8.20

2. What is your age category?
(N=500)
n
18-25 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 28
26-35 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 88
36-45 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 89
46-55 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 96
56-65 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 97
66-75 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 55
Over 75 Yrs. -------------------------------------------------------- 43
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 4

%
5.60
17.60
17.80
19.20
19.40
11.00
8.60
0.80

3. Are you currently registered as a Democrat, Republican, or Unenrolled/Independent?
(N=500)
n
%
Democrat --------------------------------------------------------- 183
36.60
Republican --------------------------------------------------------- 50
10.00
Independent/ Unenrolled -------------------------------------- 250
50.00
Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8
1.60
Not registered ------------------------------------------------------- 9
1.80
{3.3}
3a. Although you are registered unenrolled, what primaries – Democratic or Republican - do
you tend to vote in? (Do you “think of yourself” as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent?)
(N=250)
n
%
Democrat ----------------------------------------------------------- 75
30.00
Republican --------------------------------------------------------- 90
36.00
Independent/ Unenrolled ---------------------------------------- 63
25.20
Other ----------------------------------------------------------------- 22
8.80

MA Likely General Election Voters

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+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 Governor Baker – Year 2

SUPRC

5. For statistical purposes only, can you please tell me what your ethnic
background / ancestry is?
(N=500)
n
White/Caucasian ------------------------------------------------ 394
Black/African-American ----------------------------------------- 30
American Indian / Alaska Native ------------------------------- 7
Asian ------------------------------------------------------------------ 6
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander --------------------- 2
Hispanic/Latino ---------------------------------------------------- 30
Other ----------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Refused ------------------------------------------------------------- 14

5/2 – 5/5

%
78.80
6.00
1.40
1.20
0.40
6.00
3.40
2.80

6.
Overall, do you think Massachusetts is heading in the right direction or is on the wrong
track?
(N=500)
n
%
Right Direction --------------------------------------------------- 285
57.00
Wrong Track ----------------------------------------------------- 119
23.80
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 96
19.20
Great, I’m going to read you a list of individuals in state and local politics. For each, please tell
me if your opinion of them is generally favorable or generally unfavorable. If you are
undecided or if you have never heard of someone, just tell me that. First take Charlie Baker.
Would you say your opinion of Charlie Baker is generally favorable or generally unfavorable?
{Next name, “How about...” etc.} {RANDOMIZE 8-14}
(N=500)

NEVER HEARD FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE HOF/UNDECIDED

7. Charlie Baker

26
5.20

328
65.60

62
12.40

84
16.80

8. Elizabeth Warren

17
3.40

259
51.80

164
32.80

60
12.00

9. Edward Markey

74
14.80

178
35.60

129
25.80

119
23.80

10. Maura Healey

111
22.20

175
35.00

72
14.40

142
28.40

11. Donald Trump

2
0.40

144
28.80

315
63.00

39
7.80

12. Ted Cruz

13
2.60

68
13.60

358
71.60

61
12.20

13. Hillary Clinton

1
0.20

235
47.00

217
43.40

47
9.40

14. Bernie Sanders

1
0.20

276
55.20

160
32.00

63
12.60

MA Likely General Election Voters

2 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 SUPRC

Governor Baker – Year 2

5/2 – 5/5

{3.1 or 3a.1}
15. Earlier you said you think of yourself as a Democrat. Which candidate – (ROTATE)
Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders is your personal choice to be the Democratic Party’s
nominee?
(N=258)
n
%
Clinton ------------------------------------------------------------- 139
53.88
Sanders ----------------------------------------------------------- 107
41.47
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 11
4.26
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 1
0.39
{FOR 15.2, Sanders voters}
16.
If Bernie Sanders loses the nomination, what will you do in November – vote for Hillary
Clinton, vote for the Republican nominee, seriously consider a third party candidate, or stay
home and not vote?
(N=107)
n
%
Vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton --------------- 57
53.27
Vote for Republican nominee ----------------------------------- 9
8.41
Seriously consider third-party candidate -------------------- 12
11.21
Stay home and not vote ------------------------------------------ 8
7.48
Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 0
0.00
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 21
19.63

{3.2 or 3a.2}
16a. Earlier you said you think of yourself as a Republican. Which candidate –
(RANDOMIZE) Ted Cruz, John Kasich, or Donald Trump is your personal choice to be the
Republican Party’s nominee?
(N=140)
n
%
Ted Cruz ------------------------------------------------------------ 14
10.00
John Kasich -------------------------------------------------------- 26
18.57
Donald Trump------------------------------------------------------ 85
60.71
Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1
0.71
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 14
10.00
{FOR 16a.1 or 16a.2, Cruz or Kasich voters}
16b.
If (insert name) loses the nomination, what will you do in November – vote for
Donald Trump, vote for the Democratic nominee, seriously consider a third party candidate, or
stay home and not vote?
(N=40)
n
%
Vote for Republican nominee Donald Trump -------------- 11
27.50
Vote for Democratic nominee ----------------------------------- 7
17.50
Seriously consider third-party candidate -------------------- 12
30.00
Stay home and not vote ------------------------------------------ 4
10.00
Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 0
0.00
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 6
15.00
17.
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing as
President?
(N=500)
n
%
Approve ----------------------------------------------------------- 287
57.40
Disapprove ------------------------------------------------------- 179
35.80
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 32
6.40
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 2
0.40

MA Likely General Election Voters

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+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 Governor Baker – Year 2

SUPRC

5/2 – 5/5

18.
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job that Charlie Baker is doing as
Governor?
(N=500)
n
%
Approve ----------------------------------------------------------- 354
70.80
Disapprove --------------------------------------------------------- 54
10.80
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 87
17.40
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 5
1.00

19.

What is the most important issue facing Governor Baker {RANDOMIZE}?
(N=500)
n
%
State Budget ------------------------------------------------------- 37
7.40
Taxes ---------------------------------------------------------------- 23
4.60
Healthcare ---------------------------------------------------------- 40
8.00
Illegal Immigration ------------------------------------------------ 36
7.20
Jobs ------------------------------------------------------------------ 81
16.20
Education ----------------------------------------------------------- 59
11.80
Crime ---------------------------------------------------------------- 20
4.00
Drugs/Opioids------------------------------------------------------ 67
13.40
MBTA ---------------------------------------------------------------- 27
5.40
Infrastructure Repairs -------------------------------------------- 47
9.40
Other ----------------------------------------------------------------- 32
6.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 29
5.80
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 2
0.40

The following questions are about Massachusetts statewide issues and upcoming ballot
questions...
20.
Currently there are public accommodations bills before the Massachusetts legislature
that protect the civil rights of transgender people, including their right to use the restroom that
conforms to their gender identity. Do you support or oppose the passage of such a bill?
(N=500)
n
%
Support ------------------------------------------------------------ 266
53.20
Oppose ------------------------------------------------------------ 150
30.00
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 75
15.00
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 9
1.80
22.
Charter schools are schools that receive government education funding but operate
completely independently from the public school system. Some people say charter schools
take valuable financial resources away from underfunded public schools. Others say that
charter schools provide better options for students and parents. Which comes closest to your
view?
(N=500)
n
%
Charter schools take resources away from public
schools ------------------------------------------------------- 159
Charter schools offer better options for students
and parents ------------------------------------------------- 247
Both ----------------------------------------------------------------- 22
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 62
Refused ------------------------------------------------------------- 10

MA Likely General Election Voters

4 of 6

31.80
49.40
4.40
12.40
2.00

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 SUPRC

Governor Baker – Year 2

5/2 – 5/5

23.
Currently there is a ballot question that would lift the cap on the number of charter
schools in Massachusetts, allowing additional charter schools in areas where standardized
test scores have been the lowest. Do you approve or disapprove of this measure?
(N=500)
n
%
Approve – lift cap and add charter schools where
scores are lowest ------------------------------------------ 248
49.60
Disapprove – Keep the number of charter schools
the same ----------------------------------------------------- 167
33.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 80
16.00
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 5
1.00
24.
This November a ballot measure may appear that would legalize the sale of
recreational marijuana to anyone over the age of 21, just like for alcohol. It would allow for the
opening of licensed dispensaries, as well as for people to grow their own. Would you support
or oppose this ballot measure?
(N=500)
n
%
Support ------------------------------------------------------------ 215
43.00
Oppose ------------------------------------------------------------ 229
45.80
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 55
11.00
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 1
0.20
25.
On just the issue of growing marijuana, do you think people should be able to grow their
own marijuana?
(N=500)
n
%
Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 201
40.20
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 250
50.00
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 48
9.60
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 1
0.20
26.
The state legislature is considering a “millionaires tax” that would raise the state tax by
an additional four percentage points on income over one million dollars per year. Do you
support or oppose this proposal?
(N=500)
n
%
Support ------------------------------------------------------------ 349
69.80
Oppose ------------------------------------------------------------ 118
23.60
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 31
6.20
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 2
0.40
27.
When you think about Charlie Baker, do you view him as a liberal, moderate, or
conservative governor?
(N=500)
n
%
Liberal --------------------------------------------------------------- 50
10.00
Moderate ---------------------------------------------------------- 261
52.20
Conservative ------------------------------------------------------- 92
18.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 90
18.00
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 7
1.40

MA Likely General Election Voters

5 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 Governor Baker – Year 2

SUPRC

5/2 – 5/5

The next question is about the upcoming general election for president.

28.
If the general election for president was held today and the candidates were (ROTATE)
Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump, for whom would you vote (or lean
toward)?
(N=500)
n
%
Hillary Clinton ---------------------------------------------------- 274
54.80
Donald Trump---------------------------------------------------- 157
31.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 56
11.20
Refused ------------------------------------------------------------- 13
2.60

THE FINAL TWO QUESTIONS WILL HELP US CLASSIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
OTHERS TAKING THE SURVEY

29.

Do you currently have children in the school system?
(N=500)
n
Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 119
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 381

30.

%
23.80
76.20

Are there any members of your household who are union members?
(N=500)
n
Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 117
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 378
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 3
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 2

%
23.40
75.60
0.60
0.40

31.
Are you willing to be interviewed by a Boston Globe reporter for an upcoming article,
please give me your name and verify best phone number?
(N=500)
n
Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 154
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 334
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 12

%
30.80
66.80
2.40

[THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A NICE DAY/EVENING.]

MA Likely General Election Voters

6 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points