Governor Baker – Year 1

SUPRC

11/19 – 11/22

FINAL NOVEMBER LIKELY VOTERS
GeoCode
(N=500)
n
Worcester / West------------------------------------------------ 118
Northeastern ----------------------------------------------------- 178
Suffolk --------------------------------------------------------------- 41
Se Mass / Cape ------------------------------------------------- 163

%
23.60
35.60
8.20
32.60

*************************************************************************************************************************************

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

2.

(N=500)
n
Male ---------------------------------------------------------------- 241
Female ------------------------------------------------------------ 259

%
48.20
51.80

What is your age category?
(N=500)
n
18-25 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 23
26-35 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 81
36-45 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 99
46-55 Yrs. --------------------------------------------------------- 102
56-65 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 73
66-75 Yrs. ----------------------------------------------------------- 63
Over 75 Yrs. -------------------------------------------------------- 39
Refused ------------------------------------------------------------- 20

%
4.60
16.20
19.80
20.40
14.60
12.60
7.80
4.00

3.
Are you currently registered as a Democrat, Republican, or Unenrolled/Independent?
{Terminate if not registered}
(N=500)
n
%
Democrat --------------------------------------------------------- 183
36.60
Republican --------------------------------------------------------- 56
11.20
Independent/ Unenrolled -------------------------------------- 253
50.60
Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8
1.60
4.
Although you are an independent, will you vote in the Democratic Primary for President,
Republican Primary, or will you skip the party primaries altogether?
(N=253)
n
%
Democratic Primary ---------------------------------------------- 67
26.48
Republican Primary ---------------------------------------------- 82
32.41
Skip primaries / Just independent ---------------------------- 68
26.88
Refused ------------------------------------------------------------- 36
14.23

Massachusetts Voters

1 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 Governor Baker – Year 1

SUPRC

11/19 – 11/22

5.
For statistical purposes only, can you please tell me what your ethnic background /
ancestry is?
(N=500)
n
%
White/Caucasian ------------------------------------------------ 402
80.40
Black/African-American ----------------------------------------- 42
8.40
American Indian / Alaska Native ------------------------------- 2
0.40
Asian ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5
1.00
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander --------------------- 1
0.20
Hispanic/Latino ---------------------------------------------------- 33
6.60
Refused ------------------------------------------------------------- 15
3.00
6.
Overall, do you think Massachusetts is heading in the right direction or is on the wrong
track?
(N=500)
n
%
Right Direction --------------------------------------------------- 319
63.80
Wrong Track ------------------------------------------------------- 93
18.60
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 88
17.60
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 8-11}

(N=500)

NEVER HEARD FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE HOF/UNDECIDED

7. Charlie Baker

17
3.40

350
70.00

74
14.80

59
11.80

8. Elizabeth Warren

8
1.60

268
53.60

170
34.00

54
10.80

9. Edward Markey

39
7.80

235
47.00

140
28.00

86
17.20

10. Maura Healey

77
15.40

214
42.80

71
14.20

138
27.60

43
8.60

269
53.80

76
15.20

112
22.40

11. Marty Walsh

12.
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job that Charlie Baker is doing as
Governor?
(N=500)
n
%
Approve ----------------------------------------------------------- 351
70.20
Disapprove --------------------------------------------------------- 61
12.20
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 86
17.20
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 2
0.40

13.

Is Charlie Baker a better Governor than Deval Patrick – yes or no?
(N=500)
n

Massachusetts Voters

2 of 6

%

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 Governor Baker – Year 1

SUPRC

11/19 – 11/22

Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 214
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 119
Same----------------------------------------------------------------- 69
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 95
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 3
14.

42.80
23.80
13.80
19.00
0.60

What is the most important issue facing Governor Baker {RANDOMIZE}?
(N=500)
n
State Budget ------------------------------------------------------- 59
Illegal Immigration ------------------------------------------------ 59
Drugs ---------------------------------------------------------------- 56
Infrastructure Repairs -------------------------------------------- 53
Jobs ------------------------------------------------------------------ 48
MBTA ---------------------------------------------------------------- 41
Healthcare ---------------------------------------------------------- 37
Education ----------------------------------------------------------- 35
Taxes ---------------------------------------------------------------- 33
Crime ---------------------------------------------------------------- 26
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 52
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 1

%
11.80
11.80
11.20
10.60
9.60
8.20
7.40
7.00
6.60
5.20
10.40
0.20

15.
Twenty-five state governors, including Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, have
said that they do not want to accept Syrian refugees in their states in the wake of the recent
terrorist attacks in Paris. Do you agree or disagree with this stance?”
(N=500)
n
%
Agree -------------------------------------------------------------- 237
47.40
Disagree ---------------------------------------------------------- 200
40.00
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 63
12.60
16.
Which statement comes closest to your view: (ROTATE) 1>Massachusetts should
accept Syrian refugees who have been properly vetted by the federal government for
resettlement in the commonwealth OR 2>Massachusetts should not accept any Syrian
refugees because there is too great a risk of a terrorist slipping through the screening process.
(N=500)
n
%
Accept Syrian refugees who have been properly
vetted --------------------------------------------------------- 255
51.00
Do not accept Syrian refugees because it’s too
great of a terrorist risk ------------------------------------ 202
40.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 43
8.60
The following four questions concern repealing or reforming mandatory minimum drug
sentences for non-violent drug offenders. {RANDOMIZE 17-20}
17.
Over 20 states have either repealed or reformed their drug mandatory minimum
sentencing laws for drug offenses. Do you think Massachusetts should repeal its drug
mandatory minimums – yes or no?
{Information embargoed for future release}

18.
Massachusetts has been collecting data on mandatory minimum sentences for drugs
for over 20 years. Do you think Massachusetts should conduct a new study or go ahead and
vote to repeal drug mandatory minimums now?
{Information embargoed for future release}

Massachusetts Voters

3 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 SUPRC

Governor Baker – Year 1

11/19 – 11/22

19.
Would you be more or less likely to support candidates for state office who voted to
repeal mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders?
{Information embargoed for future release}
20.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:
“Massachusetts spends too much money on locking up nonviolent drug offenders and should
shift that funding to other priorities, like drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs
that could reduce the likelihood that prisoners will reoffend”.
{Information embargoed for future release}
The following questions are about Governor Baker’s recent anti-addiction proposals:
21.
To help combat opioid addiction, Governor Baker has filed legislation that would allow
hospitals, based on the recommendations of doctors and health professionals, to hold patients
suffering from substance abuse for up to 72 hours against their will. Do you support or oppose
this proposal?
(N=500)
n
%
Support ------------------------------------------------------------ 324
64.80
Oppose ------------------------------------------------------------ 109
21.80
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 67
13.40
22.
Another part of the legislation would limit first-time opioid prescriptions for any patient to
a three-day supply. Do you support or oppose this part of the proposal?
(N=500)
n
%
Support ------------------------------------------------------------ 271
54.20
Oppose ------------------------------------------------------------ 152
30.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 77
15.40
{FOR 3.1}
23.
Earlier you said you were registered as a Democrat. Thinking about the Massachusetts
Democratic Primary election for President next March, how likely are you to vote in the
Primary – very likely, somewhat likely, 50-50, or not likely to vote in the primary?
(N=183)
n
%
Very likely --------------------------------------------------------- 147
80.33
Somewhat likely --------------------------------------------------- 23
12.57
50-50 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 4
2.19
Not likely ------------------------------------------------------------- 3
1.64
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 6
3.28
{FOR 3.2}
24.
Earlier you said you were registered as a Republican. Thinking about the
Massachusetts Republican Primary election for President next March, how likely are you to
vote in the Primary – very likely, somewhat likely, 50-50, or not likely to vote in the primary?
(N=56)
n
%
Very likely ----------------------------------------------------------- 39
69.64
Somewhat likely --------------------------------------------------- 10
17.86
50-50 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3
5.36
Not likely ------------------------------------------------------------- 3
5.36
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 1
1.79
{FOR 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 4.2}
25. If the Republican Primary for President of the United States were held today, who would be
your first choice to win the Republican nomination? {RANDOMIZE LIST}
(N=134)
n
%
Jeb Bush ------------------------------------------------------------ 10
7.46
Ben Carson ---------------------------------------------------------- 7
5.22
Chris Christie-------------------------------------------------------- 6
4.48

Massachusetts Voters

4 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 Governor Baker – Year 1

SUPRC

Ted Cruz ------------------------------------------------------------ 14
Carly Fiorina--------------------------------------------------------- 6
Lindsey Graham ---------------------------------------------------- 0
Mike Huckabee ----------------------------------------------------- 0
John Kasich --------------------------------------------------------- 3
George Pataki ------------------------------------------------------ 0
Rand Paul ----------------------------------------------------------- 2
Marco Rubio-------------------------------------------------------- 24
Rick Santorum ------------------------------------------------------ 0
Donald Trump------------------------------------------------------ 43
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 19

11/19 – 11/22

10.45
4.48
0.00
0.00
2.24
0.00
1.49
17.91
0.00
32.09
14.18

{FOR 25.1 - 25.15, Respondents With a First-Choice}
26A.1
If I added Mitt Romney to this list, would you switch your support to him?
(N=115)
n
%
Yes ------------------------------------------------------------------- 53
46.09
No--------------------------------------------------------------------- 59
51.30
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 3
2.61
{FOR 25.16, Respondents Undecided in First-Choice Question}
26B.1
If I added Mitt Romney to this list, would you vote for him?
(N=19)
n
Yes ------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
No---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 1

%
68.42
26.32
5.26

{FOR 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 4.1}
27.
If the Democratic Primary for President was held today, and the candidates were
{RANDOMIZE} Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, or Bernie Sanders, for whom would you vote
or lean toward?
(N=241)
n
%
Hillary Clinton ---------------------------------------------------- 129
53.53
Martin O’Malley ----------------------------------------------------- 7
2.90
Bernie Sanders ---------------------------------------------------- 70
29.05
Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5
2.07
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------------- 30
12.45

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

28.

29.

Do you currently have children in the school system?
(N=500)
n
Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 118
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 382

%
23.60
76.40

Are there any members of your household who are union members?
(N=500)
n
Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- 109
No------------------------------------------------------------------- 386
Undecided ----------------------------------------------------------- 4
Refused -------------------------------------------------------------- 1

%
21.80
77.20
0.80
0.20

{THAT CONCLUDES THE SURVEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. DO
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?}

Massachusetts Voters

5 of 6

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points

 SUPRC

Massachusetts Voters

Governor Baker – Year 1

6 of 6

11/19 – 11/22

+ / - 4.4 Percentage Points