Voters Losing Confidence in Direction of Massachusetts and Gov. Healey
New polling indicates a sharp decline in Massachusetts voters who believe the Commonwealth is heading in the right direction.
Voters are also losing confidence in Democrat Governor Maura Healey's leadership, though Healey continues to have the support of a majority of voters.
Declining revenues, a housing shortage, a migrant crisis and an aging transportation infrastructure are just some of the problems plaguing Massachusetts.
National issues such as stubborn inflation and high gas prices don't help much, even though they are beyond Healey's control.
The poll, conducted by the Andover, Massachusetts-based Polity Research Consulting, LLC for the Retailers Association of Massachusetts asked participants:
"Do you think things here in Massachusetts are generally headed in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?"
PRC said 48 percent of respondents answered "Right Direction," 39 percent said "Wrong Track," and 12 percent said "Don't Know."
CommonWealth Beacon reported a similar poll a year ago found that 59 percent felt Massachusetts was moving in the right direction, while 29 percent said it was on the wrong track.
Governor Healey has a 54 percent "favorable" rating in the poll, down from 60 percent percent a year ago. The number of respondents with an "Unfavorable" view of Governor Healey is 32 percent, up from 21 percent a year ago, and 14 percent answered "Don't Know/Can't Rate" Healey's job performance.
The poll gives a 50 percent favorable rating to U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, with 29 percent viewing Markey unfavorably. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is viewed favorably by 52 percent and unfavorably by 40 percent.
The poll also asked, "Do you think things in the United States are generally headed in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?"
Only 29 percent of respondents said "Right Direction," while 60 percent said "Wrong Track." Eleven percent said they "Don't Know."
You can view the complete poll results here.
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