New poll asks Pa. voters about biggest issues, personal finances
THE WEEKEND COMING UP IN MY FULL FORECAST. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, CHRISTINE. THIS MORNING NEW THIS MORNING WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE LATEST FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE POLL. THESE RESULTS JUST PUBLISHED THIS MORNING. THE POLL ASKED PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS HOW YOU’RE FEELING ABOUT THE ECONOMY. FEDERAL AND STATE POLITICS AND ISSUES OF THE DAY, INCLUDING ICE ENFORCEMENT AND DEMOCRACY. THE POLL IS POSTED ON WGAL.COM. IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT ALL THE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, WE’LL DIVE INTO THE STATE NUMBERS THAT WE’RE ASKED. THE POLL ASKED VOTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA IF THE STATE IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT OR THE WRONG DIRECTION. NOW, A MAJORITY OF VOTERS HAS NOT SAID THAT THE STATE IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR AT LEAST SIX YEARS. SO THE VIEW GENERALLY IS QUITE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THIS. RIGHT NOW, THE RIGHT TRACK, 39%, THE WRONG TRACK, 44%, THE RIGHT TRACK NUMBER IS UP TWO POINTS. SINCE THIS POLL WAS ASKED LAST IN OCTOBER, BUT DOWN THREE POINTS FROM A YEAR PRIOR. SO IS THAT MOOD WEIGHING NOW ON GOVERNOR SHAPIRO’S APPROVAL NUMBERS AMONG VOTERS YOU SEE HERE? NOT REALLY. 50% SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING AN EXCELLENT OR GOOD JOB, 44% SAYING HE’S DOING A FAIR OR POOR JOB. THAT NUMBER THAT SPLIT FAIRLY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT SHAPIRO’S TIME AS GOVERNOR. AND WITH THOSE NUMBERS IN MIND, IF THE ELECTION TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR HELD UP, THAT WE’RE EXPECTING THE MATCHUP BETWEEN GOVERNOR SHAPIRO AND THE STATE TREASURER, STACY GARRITY, AGAIN, THE PRIMARY HASN’T EVEN HAPPENED YET. BUT THESE ARE THE TWO MAIN CANDIDATES HERE. SHAPIRO LEADING BY 20 POINTS AMONG THIS POLL, 48 TO 28%. NOW HE DOESN’T HIT THE 50% MARK, AND 24% OF VOTERS SAID THAT THEY WOULD EITHER VOTE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE OR THEY DON’T KNOW WHO THEY WOULD VOTE FOR. BUT AT LEAST THIS GIVES US A SNAPSHOT, A
New poll asks Pa. voters about biggest issues, personal finances
The new Franklin and Marshall Poll asked Pennsylvanians what the biggest issues are right now and how they feel about their personal finances.F&M Poll results: Big issuesTop issue: The economy is voters’ top concern, driven by issues like jobs, housing costs, and higher gas and utility prices.Among voters citing economic problems, Democrats lead Republicans on who can handle it best: 45 to 25 percent.F&M Poll results: Personal financesPersonal finances:36 percent say they’re worse off financially than a year ago, 20 percent say they’re better off.More expect to be worse off (25 percent) financially next year than better off (23 percent).The poll sampled 353 Democrats, 347 Republicans and 134 independents from Feb. 18 through March 1.Link: Full Franklin & Marshall College Poll March 2026
The new Franklin and Marshall Poll asked Pennsylvanians what the biggest issues are right now and how they feel about their personal finances.
F&M Poll results: Big issues
Top issue: The economy is voters’ top concern, driven by issues like jobs, housing costs, and higher gas and utility prices.
- Among voters citing economic problems, Democrats lead Republicans on who can handle it best: 45 to 25 percent.
F&M Poll results: Personal finances
Personal finances:
- 36 percent say they’re worse off financially than a year ago, 20 percent say they’re better off.
- More expect to be worse off (25 percent) financially next year than better off (23 percent).
The poll sampled 353 Democrats, 347 Republicans and 134 independents from Feb. 18 through March 1.