MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin voters are showing widespread malaise, angst and anger toward politicians, with low name identification for most candidates running for office and broadly negative views of major figures and institutions, a new Marquette University Law School Poll found.
The poll released Tuesday also revealed a striking lack of enthusiasm for next month’s April 7 Supreme Court election, with majorities of registered voters still undecided less than three weeks before the vote.
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Among registered voters, liberal Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Chris Taylor led conservative Waukesha County Circuit Judge Maria Lazar 23 percent to 17 percent in the Supreme Court race. But 53 percent remained undecided and 7 percent said they would not vote.
Among likely voters, Taylor led Lazar 30 percent to 22 percent, with 46 percent undecided.
More than 60 percent of registered voters said they had not heard enough about either candidate to form a favorable or unfavorable opinion. Only 12 percent said they had heard a lot about the race.
The poll, conducted March 11-18 among 850 registered voters, showed similar patterns of low recognition and negative sentiment across other races and figures.
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul had a name identification of 43 percent, with 25 percent rating him favorably and 18 percent unfavorably. His likely Republican opponent, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, had a name identification of just 23 percent, with 12 percent favorable and 11 percent unfavorable.
In hypothetical primaries for governor, support was tepid. Among Republican primary voters, 40 percent backed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and 6 percent chose Andy Manske, with 54 percent undecided. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Francesca Hong drew 14 percent and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes 11 percent, with 65 percent undecided.
Approval ratings for sitting officials were lukewarm at best. Gov. Tony Evers received 47 percent approval for the job he is doing, down slightly from 49 percent in February, with 47 percent disapproval. Approval of the Wisconsin Legislature stood at 39 percent, down from 41 percent in February, while disapproval rose to 48 percent from 44 percent.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court had 46 percent approval and 37 percent disapproval, down from 49 percent approval in February but still net positive.
Favorable and unfavorable opinions of politicians and parties underscored the negative views.
Evers drew 46 percent favorable and 46 percent unfavorable ratings. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin had 43 percent favorable and 47 percent unfavorable. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson received 36 percent favorable and 44 percent unfavorable.
President Donald Trump had 42 percent favorable and 57 percent unfavorable. Vice President JD Vance drew 40 percent favorable and 51 percent unfavorable.
The Republican Party was viewed favorably by 42 percent and unfavorably by 52 percent. The Democratic Party had 35 percent favorable and 58 percent unfavorable. The MAGA movement received 38 percent favorable and 56 percent unfavorable.
Full results of the poll and information on methodology are at the Marquette Law School website.
