A new poll shows that Republican Karin Housley is within three points of incumbent Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) who is running in her first election since replacing Al Franken.
According to Change Research, 43 percent of likely voters support Housley in the special election while 46 percent said they support Smith. However, when respondents were asked who they would vote for if the election “were today,” both Housley and Smith received 42 percent of the vote.
Republican Jim Newberger is gaining some ground in his race against Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), but still trails the incumbent by nine points.
Additionally, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson trails Democratic opponent Tim Walz by just three points at 44 percent to 47 percent, and tied Walz at 25 percent in favorability ratings. Meanwhile, 20 percent of respondents viewed the Republican party “very favorably,” compared to 16 percent who said the same of the Democratic Party.
Minnesotans ranked health care as the most important issue heading into the midterms, but were split on the best path forward. 37 percent of respondents said that Obamacare should be repealed, while another 37 percent thinks that Minnesota should adapt a single-payer health care system.
On the issue of immigration, 33 percent of Minnesotans support opening a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the country, while 21 percent believe that all illegal immigrants should be deported and the federal government should significantly cut down on illegal immigration.
The Trump administration is still struggling in the ordinarily-blue state, with 46 percent of respondents saying the current administration is “much more” corrupt than the previous one, compared to 32 percent who believe the Obama administration was “more” corrupt.
Of those surveyed, 44 percent said that they “strongly oppose” President Donald Trump, while 28 percent “strongly support” him.
Change Research polled 1413 Minnesotans in its online survey, with 40 percent identifying as registered Democrats and 35 percent affiliating with the Republican Party.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
