New Poll from The Illinoize Shows Pritzker Nearing Approval, Re-election Majorities
A new independent poll commissioned by The Illinoize shows Governor JB Pritzker with a 50% approval rating, down from a year ago, but still in a strong position heading into the 2022 election.
In an exclusive statewide poll, conducted on behalf of The Illinoize, Democratic Governor JB Pritzker appears in strong position to win re-election with about one year before the 2022 general election.
The automated poll was conducted last Monday through Wednesday by McHenry-based firm Victory Geek. It contained around 800 responses adequately representing population, age, and political preferences of residents across all regions of the state.
Here is the pdf file of the poll.
Pritzker, who is seeking re-election next year, has a job approval of 50%, according to the survey. 45% disapprove of the job he is doing. 5% of those surveyed are undecided.
When surveyed against a generic Republican candidate in the 2022 general election, 49% of voters chose Pritzker, 41% chose a Republican, and around 10% (due to rounding) are undecided.
“50% approval, 40% disapproval when Democrats are polling at historically low numbers is pretty, pretty good for JB,” said one Democratic operative who reviewed the poll results. “He gets re-elected with these poll numbers.”
Another Democratic operative agreed.
“[The Governor is in] a strong position a year out,” the operative said.
Pritzker’s job approval actually decreased from this time last year. In a similar poll conducted by The Illinoize late last October, Pritzker had a 64% job approval rating.
Some Republicans say that shows Prtizker’s support is “soft.”
“Pritzker can be beaten and is not invincible, but someone is going to have to step up and do it,” said one longtime GOP operative. “The current field of candidates won’t.”
While Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a stir in many parts of the state, voters generally support the state’s response to COVID concerns.
61% of voters polled responded they approved of the state’s response to COVID-19. 37% disapproved, while 2% remain undecided. Even in central and southern Illinois, where much of the backlash to mask mandates and business closures has been centered, greater than 50% of voters polled in each area of the state approve of the state’s handling of the pandemic.
But it wasn’t all good news for Illinois Democrats. 51% of respondents believe Illinois is on the “wrong track,” while 35% say the state is headed in the “right direction.” 14% of respondents were unsure.
67% of respondents say they disapprove of the way the state is handling crime issues. 27% approve of the job the state is doing to address crime.
60% of voters disapprove of the way state government handles tax issues. 31% approve of handling of tax issues.
20% of voters say taxes are their top issue headed into 2022. Another 20% called the economy their most important topic. 17% of respondents say crime is their top issue and 11% said social issues are most important. Just 6% of voters said COVID-19 issues were their top concern.
In the same poll last year, 55% of respondents said they would vote to re-elect Pritzker. A year later, that number has fallen to 49%.
Republicans know their only chance against an incumbent with nearly unlimited resources is to drive Pritzker’s approval rating down.
The question is: will any of them have the resources to do it?