Governor Kate Brown takes a tour of Sitton Elementary in Portland, Oregon, on March 5, Brown’s approval numbers were low in a recent DHM Research survey, although her effort to bring Oregon students back to classrooms class was well received.
Photo of Eder Campuzano / Piscina via Oregonlive / The Oregonian
It is a pandemic year and Oregon has managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 better than most states in the country.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in Oregon, Governor Kate Brown has issued strict policies to stem the spread of the virus.
However, a recent survey conducted by DHM Research from March 7 to 14 released this week revealed that only 11% of respondents had a “very positive” impression of the governor and 26% of respondents had a “somewhat positive” impression of her. But 57% had a “somewhat negative” or “very negative” impression of Brown.
“I am surprised that the numbers have dropped so much, but the broader context is that it has never been particularly popular,” said John Horvick of DHM, who conducted the research. “She has been polarizing. She’s as hated by Republicans as Democrats don’t like Donald Trump. ”
DHM is an independent, non-partisan organization that has conducted research as a community service. The online survey surveyed 600 people in Oregon over the age of 18. The margin of error is about 4%.
Brown’s pass numbers are low, although many of his decisions related to COVID-19 are widely welcomed, especially the effort to bring Oregon students back to class.
“She scores well on her big, bold decisions around schools, but that doesn’t show up in her popularity,” said Horvick.
As a point of comparison, the survey showed that President Joe Biden had a 28% “very positive” rating; Les Schwab Tires had a “very positive” impression rate of 36%; Oregon Public Broadcasting had a “very positive” impression of 31%; public school teachers had a 31% “very positive” impression and unions representing public school teachers had an 18% “very positive” rating.
The survey asked Oregon residents to weigh their impressions of key leaders, but also of legislative policies and issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccinations and reopening schools.
Overall, 40% of respondents thought the state was going in the right direction and 45% thought it was going in the wrong direction, while 15% said they were not sure.
COVID-19
The Oregon Health Authority recently told OPB that all Oregon residents will be eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by May 1. But even with the light at the end of the tunnel, about 60% of respondents are still very concerned or a little concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in the community. About 48% of respondents were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the vaccine implantation in the state.
One of the governor’s most controversial decisions was to prioritize the vaccination of teachers and school staff before the elderly. Respondents were almost divided on how they felt about this decision, with 46% agreeing with the decision and 45% disagreeing with their choice.
On March 5, the governor asked all public schools in Oregon to return to hybrid or full-time education. The requirement comes into force at the end of this month for elementary school students and on April 19 for elementary and high school students. An overwhelming majority of 65% of respondents agreed with Brown’s order to require elementary schools to offer hybrid or face-to-face learning by March 29, and 61% approved that elementary schools do the same by April 19. At the same time, 67% felt the decision about how and when schools would reopen should be a decision left to local school districts.
The majority of respondents, 52%, strongly disapprove or disapprove of the way Brown responded to the outbreak in general.
Legislative session
The 2021 Oregon legislative session is underway. And while lawmakers have a myriad of crises to contend with – from the pandemic to forest fires, unemployment and racial justice – the problem that Oregon residents interviewed see as the most urgent is the continuing homeless crisis.
After the issues of poverty and homelessness, Oregon residents surveyed want legislators to address: environmental and climate change issues; COVID-19 and vaccinations; the economy; education and sending children back to school; taxes and budget; and jobs and unemployment.
One of the big considerations in Salem in this session has a lot of support from the interviewees: 60% support the idea of eliminating the mandatory minimum prison sentences for non-violent crimes.
If Measure 11, which creates mandatory minimum sentences, is in the vote today, it will be difficult to pass, Horvick said.
“But reversing the status quo is difficult,” he added.
Another idea circulating in the state capitol that gained support in the research is an effort to allow school districts, state and local governments and other public entities to prohibit firearms in their buildings, with 59% of respondents supporting the idea.
Allowing prisoners to vote while incarcerated, however, does not have much support. Oregon would become the third state in the country to allow prisoners to vote on some proposals being considered at this session. Among the 600 people interviewed, 53% were opposed to the idea.
Here is a look at some of the other legislative issues that Oregon residents were asked about:
| Response category – sample size 600 | Support strongly | Support a little | Oppose a little | Strongly oppose | I do not know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibit the police from using pepper spray unless riots are officially declared | 23% | 21% | 17% | 30% | 8% |
| Requiring employers with fewer than 25 employees to provide 12 weeks of protected leave for employees to care for a newborn, address a serious health problem or other qualified family and medical reasons | 36% | 28% | 12% | 11% | 11% |
When it comes to housing, the Oregon residents interviewed overwhelmingly supported the extension of the COVID-19 eviction moratorium through September 1, 2021, with 60% strongly or in some way supporting it. More than 70% of respondents support the creation of a tax credit for homeowners who have lost their rent due to the inability of tenants to pay during the pandemic.
The idea of raising the state’s minimum wage to $ 17 an hour across the state by July 1, 2022, received support, with 51% of respondents saying they agree with the idea.
Here are some of the other major legislative topics being considered and that DHM asked Oregon residents to give their opinion:
| Response category – sample size 600 | Support strongly | Support a little | Oppose a little | Strongly oppose | I do not know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Require 100% of the electricity sold to Oregon customers to be from clean energy sources by 2035 | 31% | 29% | 13% | 17% | 11% |
| Require the State Highway Fund to increase minimum spending on pedestrian and cyclist projects from 1% to 5% | 18% | 27% | 21% | 19% | 16% |
| Require producers to share with customers the cost of handling and recycling their products and packaging | 18% | 35% | 13% | 11% | 23% |
| Increase taxes on beer, cider and wine to fund behavioral health and substance abuse programs | 26% | 26% | 16% | 28% | 5% |
House Democrats recently unveiled big proposals to deal with air pollution and carbon emissions from diesel in Oregon. An idea would end up with the sale of diesel oil in the state. Republican lawmakers and industry groups are not the only ones to back down the idea: 44% of respondents were in some way or strongly opposed the ban on diesel sales.
Redistricting
The process that takes place once every decade to design new district maps, known as redistricting, will take place this year. The process comes with a lot of responsibility, as it can help to dictate which political party will have power in the next decade.
This year will be particularly crucial, as Oregon is expected to win an additional seat in the US House of Representatives. There are currently four Democrats and a Republican representing Oregon in the United States House.
DHM polls asked respondents what they think should be the most reasonable party composition after the new lines are drawn and elections are held and 37% said that three Democrats and three Republicans should fill the seats.
And finally, when respondents were asked what they expected when the pandemic ended, the ability to stop wearing masks was at the top of the list, followed by the ability to travel, spend time with family and friends, live without fear and having the possibility to go to the cinema again, were also listed, among others.