Poll: Martinez’s approval rating up
Sens. Heinrich, who is seeking re-election, Udall see numbers fall
A recent poll shows New Mexicans are taking a slightly more favorable view of outgoing Republican Gov. Susana Martinez but are souring on their two Democratic senators on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is running for re-election this year, saw his approval rating among registered voters decline from 46 percent at the end of 2017 to 41 percent. Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Udall saw his approval rating decline from 49 percent to 44 percent. The results have a 3 percent margin of error.
Part of a nationwide quarterly survey by the market research firm Morning Consult, the results include registered voters surveyed from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Martinez continues to rank among the five least popular governors in the country, with 53 percent of registered voters surveyed in the state disapproving of her job performance.
But she saw her approval rating climb from 33 percent to 37 percent over the last quarter.
The boost follows a relatively peaceful 30-day legislative session that led to increased funding for education and pay raises for state employees, while avoiding the sort of brinkmanship that has characterized the Roundhouse in recent years. For example, Martinez vetoed funding for higher education in 2017 and forced a special session as the statestruggled through a financial crisis.
The relative calm in Santa Fe contrasts with the gridlock that
has characterized Washington, D.C., however.
Morning Consult’s polling found that the average senator’s approval rating fell by 6 percentage points last year.
And the firm said Udall and Heinrich saw some of the biggest net drops in support of any senator over the last quarter.
In that time, the Republicancontrolled Congress shut down the federal government, failed to resolve the status of so-called Dreamers and sputtered on gun control. But Republicans have touted tax cuts, which have been vociferously opposed by Democrats, that are starting to affect workers’ paychecks.
Morning Consult’s polling shows Vermonters are most satisfied with one of their senators, giving Sen. Bernie Sanders a 72 percent approval rating.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell ranked as the least popular in the country, with 52 percent of registered voters surveyed in his state disapproving of his job performance.