Poll: Hogan Approval Rating At 70 Percent

Gov. Larry Hogan tours the Old City of Jerusalem, during a trade mission to Israel over the weekend. Credit: Governor's Office

A new poll indicates Gov. Larry Hogan's approval rating is still high.

The Goucher College poll of 668 Maryland residents finds that 70 percent either strongly approve, or approve of the job Hogan is doing.

The poll found that 12 percent either disapprove or strongly disapprove of Hogan.

A Goucher Poll in February found Hogan with a 63 percent approval rating. Earlier this month, an OpinionWorks poll gave Hogan a 71 percent approval rating. Goucher Poll Director Mileah Kromer told WBAL NewsRadio 1090 that Hogan remains popular among Democrats, whose voters outnumber Republicans in Maryland by a 2-to-1 margin.

"Larry Hogan remains really popular in the state. He’s at 70 percent," Kromer said. "It makes him one of the most popular governors in the country."

The poll finds Hogan's approval rating among Democrats at 69 percent, and among Republicans at 85 percent. Kromer said that Hogan’s continued high approval ratings will make it tough for any potential Democratic challenger in the 2018 election. He is only the third Republican governor in Maryland in the last half-century.

“The Democrats will have to find a candidate that is particularly strong to go against Larry Hogan. With this sort of approval rating, it’s hard to beat any incumbent, in any state with a 70 percent approval rating,” Kromer said.

Among those who approve of the job Hogan is doing, 41 percent say his leadership style is the reason for their approval; 12 percent say it’s his personality; and 11 percent say it’s his efforts to lower taxes or tolls.

Of those who disapprove of Hogan, 33 percent said he has not done enough, or the right things as governor. Another 26 percent say they disapprove because of how he handles education issues.

Hogan has been criticized by Democrats, and teachers unions for his commitment to funding education and for an executive order he signed last month that will require public schools to begin the school year after Labor Day.

On the issue of starting schools after Labor Day, 68 percent either supported it, or strongly supported it, while 19 percent opposed it, or strongly opposed it.

On the issue of using executive orders to bypass the legislature, 48 percent of those polled say the governor should rarely use that tool while 33 percent said he should use it sometimes be used, 8 percent said it should frequently be used, and 6% say it should never be used.

“People are really right around that middle, so if there is ever a time to issue an executive order, it most likely around something that is popular,” Kromer said.

The poll found that Hogan’s decision not to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has impacted his popularity. Five percent of those polled said Hogan’s decision not to endorse Trump changed their opinion of him for the worse, while 44 percent said it changed their opinion for the better, and 50 percent said it had not difference in their opinion.

Kromer noted Hogan’s decision not to endorse Trump was good for Hogan politically.

“Regardless of why he did it, it’s a savvy political move on the part of the governor,” Kromer said.

Hogan faces a legislature controlled by Democrats. The poll asked Marylanders about that divided government.

Asked who is more to blame for a lack of state government action, 8 percent said Governor Hogan was more to blame, 18 percent said the Democratic leadership, and 67 percent said both were equally responsible.

Asked if state government works better when the governor and legislature are in the same party, or they are from a different party, 50 percent said it works better if both the governor and legislature are from the same party, 21 percent said it works better if they are from different parties, while 17 percent said it makes no difference.

The poll of 668 Maryland residents was conducted over a four day period that ended on Tuesday.

The margin of error was plus-or-minus 3.8 percent.