Two new polls released this week showed a tight race between Democratic Governor Tony Evers and his GOP rival Tim Michels.
The poll from Spectrum news/Siena College showed Evers had the support of 49% of likely voters while Michels was backed by 44%. The telephone poll of 651 likely voters was conducted September 14-15 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%. The poll also showed Evers’ overall favorability was +4%, with 47% of respondents saying they viewed the governor favorably while 43% viewed him unfavorably. Michels on the other hand was 32% favorable and 43% unfavorable for a -9% overall favorability rating. 24% of likely voters did not register an opinion on Michels.
Other insights from the poll include:
- 33% said Wisconsin is headed in the right direction, while 48% said it’s on the wrong track.
- 72% said the state should have a new law on abortion, while 22% supported keeping the existing 1849 statute in place.
- 43% said economic issues including inflation and cost of living were the most important issue in determining who they will vote for in November. “Threats to our democracy” was the second most important issue at 19%, followed by “abortion” at 8%, and “climate change” at 8%.
FiveThirtyEight rates Siena College an A pollster.
The poll from Emerson College found 45% of likely voters backed Evers while 43% supported Michels. The poll of 860 likely voters was conducted September 16-18 using cell phone interviews, text to web response, automated calls over landlines, web survey via email and an online panel, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.27%. The poll also showed Evers’ overall favorability was -2%, with 47% of respondents saying they viewed the governor favorably while 49% viewed him unfavorably. Michels on the other hand was 46% favorable and 44% unfavorable for a +2% overall favorability rating. Nearly 11% of likely voters did not register an opinion on Michels.
FiveThirtyEight rates Emerson College as an A-minus pollster.
