{"id":49407,"date":"2013-04-15T09:56:20","date_gmt":"2013-04-15T14:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2013\/04\/15\/state-govermnents-viewed-favorably-as-federal-rating-hits-new-low\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:10:33","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:10:33","slug":"state-govermnents-viewed-favorably-as-federal-rating-hits-new-low","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2013\/04\/15\/state-govermnents-viewed-favorably-as-federal-rating-hits-new-low\/","title":{"rendered":"State Governments Viewed Favorably as Federal Rating Hits New Low"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/h2>\n\n

Even as public views of the federal government in Washington have fallen to another new low, the public continues to see their state and local governments in a favorable light. Overall, <\/p>\n\n

\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

63% say they have a favorable opinion of their local government, virtually unchanged over recent years. And 57% express a favorable view of their state government \u2013 a five-point uptick from last year. By contrast, just 28% rate the federal government in Washington favorably. That is down five points from a year ago and the lowest percentage ever in a Pew Research Center survey.<\/p>\n\n

The percentage of Democrats expressing a favorable opinion of the federal government has declined 10 points in the past year, from 51% to 41%. For the first time since Barack Obama became president, more Democrats say they have an unfavorable view of the federal government in Washington than a favorable view (51% unfavorable vs. 41% favorable). Favorable opinions of the federal government among Republicans, already quite low in 2012 (20% favorable), have fallen even further, to 13% currently.<\/p>\n\n

The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted March 13-17 among 1,501 adults, finds positive ratings across party lines for state and local governments overall. But the partisan makeup of the state government matters: Republicans give more positive ratings to GOP-led state governments, while Democrats rate Democratic-led state governments more highly.<\/p>\n\n

Notably, politically divided state governments get positive ratings from members of both parties. In the 13 states with divided governments \u2013 those in which the governor and a majority of state legislators are from different parties \u2013 majorities of both Republicans and Democrats express favorable opinions of their state governments.<\/p>\n\n

A sizable majority of Americans (69%) say that their state is currently facing budget problems. However, assessments of state budgets were even more negative two years ago; in February 2011, 81% said their state was encountering budget problems. And while just 30% say that economic conditions in their state are excellent or good, that is nearly double the percentage expressing a positive view of the national economy (16% excellent or good).<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>Partisan Views of Government<\/h3>\n\n

Currently, 41% of Democrats say they have a favorable opinion of the federal government, compared with 27% of independents and just 13% of Republicans. By contrast, state and local <\/p>\n\n

\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

governments are viewed favorably across-the-board.<\/p>\n\n

Nearly identical percentages of Democrats (56%), Republicans (57%) and independents (59%) have a favorable opinion of their state\u2019s government. Similarly, local governments receive positive ratings from 67% of Democrats, 63% of Republicans and 60% of independents.<\/p>\n\n

While there is partisan agreement in overall ratings of state governments, these opinions differ markedly depending on which party controls the government.<\/p>\n\n

\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Fully 71% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who live in Republican-led states (those with a GOP governor and state legislature) have a favorable opinion of their state government. But just 30% of Republicans living in Democratic-led states view their state governments favorably.<\/p>\n\n

Democrats and Democratic leaners in Democratic-led states express positive views of their state governments (64% favorable). But unlike Republicans, Democrats do not have unfavorable opinions of state governments led by the opposing party. Among Democrats living in Republican-led states, as many have a favorable (50%) as unfavorable (46%) opinion of their state government.<\/p>\n\n

Politically divided state governments receive about the same ratings from Democrats and Democratic leaners (64% favorable) as from Republicans and Republican leaners (58% favorable).<\/p>\n\n

Views of State Governors<\/h3>\n\n
\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Overall, state governors received a positive rating from the public: 55% rate their state\u2019s governor favorably, compared with 30% who hold an unfavorable view. Views of state governors in states with a Republican officeholder (55% favorable) are nearly identical to views in states with Democratic governors (56%).<\/p>\n\n

Unlike views of state governments, neither Republicans nor Democrats offer highly negative ratings of their governor, even in cases where the opposing party holds office.<\/p>\n\n

Overall, 43% of Republicans and Republican leaners in states with a Democratic governor rate their state governor favorably, while 48% have an unfavorable view. Opinions among Democrats and leaners in states with an opposing party governor also are mixed: 43% of Democrats in states with a Republican governor express a favorable view of their state governor, 44% an unfavorable one.<\/p>\n\n

Both Republicans and Democrats offer a highly favorable view of their governor in states where their own party is in control (73% of Republicans and Republican leaners, 68% of Democrats and Democratic leaners).<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>Modest Improvement in Views of State Budgets<\/h3>\n\n
\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Nearly seven-in-ten Americans (69%) say their state is experiencing budget problems, down from 81% two years ago. The percentage saying their state does not face budget problems has nearly doubled, from 12% to 21%, during this period.<\/p>\n\n

The percentage saying their state\u2019s budget problems are very serious also has dipped, from 36% in February 2011 to 31% currently.<\/p>\n\n

State economic ratings also have shown modest improvement. Three-in-ten (30%) say economic conditions in their state are excellent (3%) or good (27%), up from 23% two years ago.<\/p>\n\n

Ratings of state economic conditions are more positive than national economic ratings. Just 16% describe national economic conditions <\/p>\n\n

\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

as excellent or good; this compares with 30% who describe the economy of the state they live in as excellent or good in the current survey.<\/p>\n\n

Respondents in states with a Republican governor offer slightly better economic ratings than those living in states with a Democratic governor. About a third (34%) of those in states with a GOP governor describe economic conditions as excellent or good, compared with 24% of those in states with Democratic governors. Similarly, fewer in Republican-governed states say their state is currently experiencing budget problems (66%) than those in Democratic-governed states (73%).<\/p>\n\n

Federal Government\u2019s Declining Favorability<\/h3>\n\n
\"4-15-13<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Favorable ratings for the federal government rose dramatically after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but have declined substantially since then. In November 2001, 82% had a favorable opinion of the government and in December 2002, 73% viewed the federal government favorably.<\/p>\n\n

Positive opinions of the government declined through the remainder of George W. Bush\u2019s presidency and have continued to fall during the Obama administration. Currently, 28% have a favorable impression of the federal government while 65% have an unfavorable view.<\/p>\n\n

Partisan views of the federal government have shifted depending on which party controls the White House. Currently, Democrats have a more favorable impression of the federal government than do Republicans; during the Bush administration, Republicans expressed more favorable opinions.<\/p>\n\n

However, there has been a steep decline in the share of Democrats expressing a favorable opinion of the federal government since Obama took office, from 61% in July 2009 to 41% currently. Favorable opinions also have fallen among Republicans over this period, from 24% to 13% \u2014 the lowest ever favorable rating among members of either party.<\/p>\n\n

Appendix: Party of Governors and State Legislatures<\/h3>\n\n

States with Republican governors:<\/span><\/p>\n\n

AL, AK, AZ, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MI, MS, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY<\/p>\n\n

States with Democratic governors:<\/span>\nAR, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, KY, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NH, NY, OR, VT, WA, WV<\/p>\n\n

Republican governors and Republican majorities in both state House and Senate:<\/span>\nAL, AK, AZ, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, LA, MI, MS, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY<\/p>\n\n

Democratic governors and Democratic majorities in both state House and Senate:<\/span>\nCA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, MD, MA, MN, OR, VT, WA, WV<\/p>\n\n

Mixed party control of governorship, state House and state Senate:<\/span>\nAR, IA, KY, ME, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, RI<\/p>\n\n

Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even as public views of the federal government in Washington have fallen to another new low, the public continues to see their state and local governments in a favorable light. Overall, 63% say they have a favorable opinion of their local government, virtually unchanged over recent years. And 57% express a favorable view of 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