News
Trump still favored by Mississippi voters but support weaker than 2016
The spring quarterly Millsaps College/Chism Strategies State of the State Survey examined voter preferences heading into the 2020 presidential election in addition to gauging the response to COVID-19.
Overall, 49% of Mississippi voters intend to back President Donald J. Trump, 38% back former Vice President Joe Biden, 7% favor someone else and 7% are unsure at this time.
Trump’s support is considerably weaker than his 2016 electoral performance in Mississippi where he received 58% of the vote against Hillary Clinton, who received just 40% in the Magnolia State. Biden’s level of support statewide is already close to the mark hit by Clinton in November 2016.
Over 70% of voters are concerned about disruptions in the upcoming November elections due to the outbreak and the electorate strongly favors transitioning to a vote-by-mail system for November. 54% support moving to vote-by-mail while just 30% are opposed.
Other Key Findings:
- 47% believe the state is heading in the right direction, 30% say it is moving in the wrong direction and 23% are unsure.
- Making healthcare more accessible is the top priority for voters at this time, with 27% saying this is what they would like to see Mississippi’s elected leaders working on in Jackson. 19% say their top priority is more funding for public schools, 16% back fixing our state’s roads and bridges, 16% favor protecting traditional family values, 4% support increasing funding for universities and colleges and 3% back reducing the size of state government.
- The Mississippi Legislature—currently on hiatus from Session due to the coronavirus outbreak—is underwater with the voters. 39% disapprove of legislators’ performance, 26% approve and another 35% are unsure.
- A plurality of voters (45%) say the Mississippi state government has responded appropriately to the pandemic, 42% say the state has not gone far enough to respond and 8% believe state government has gone too far.
