BWU Ohio Primary Poll
BWU Ohio Primary Poll
BWU Ohio Primary Poll
BEREA, Ohio— A poll of Ohio registered voters conducted by the Community Research
Institute at Baldwin Wallace University finds that many are still undecided about who they
will vote for in Ohio’s May 8 primary. The survey of 811 voters was conducted April 24 –
May 2.
“It is surprising that this close to the primary there are still large percentages of identified
Republican and Democratic voters who are still undecided,” said Tom Sutton, Director of
the Community Research Institute. “86% of respondents told us they intend to vote, while
only 3.3% have sent an early ballot. In the 2016 primary, about 20% voted early.”
U.S. Senate
More than half (55%) of respondents who identified as Republican said they remain unsure
of how they might vote in the U.S. Senate primary. Among candidates already favored by
those surveyed, Congressman Jim Renacci leads with 25%, while businessman Mike
Gibbons is at 11%, businesswoman Melissa Ackinson at 4%, financial planner Dan Kiley at
4%, and former Dayton fiscal analyst Elijah Eckhart at less than 1%.
Ohio Governor
In the primary for governor, more Republicans have made up their minds. Just one in four
(25%) of Republicans remain unsure, while 52% favor Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine,
and about one quarter (25%) prefer Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor.
On the Democratic side, 41% are unsure, while 31% favor former head of the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau Richard Cordray, 15% support former Congressman Dennis
Kucinich, 7% are for State Senator Joe Schiavoni, and 6% choose former Ohio Supreme
Court Justice Bill O’Neill.
Ohio Treasurer
The only other contested statewide primary is for Ohio Treasurer. On the Republican side,
54% of respondents identifying as GOP voters are unsure, while 29% favor State
Representative Robert Sprague and 17% support former Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra
O’Brien.
Some 63% of Democratic respondents are unsure about the Treasurer’s race, while 24%
favor attorney Rob Richardson, and 12% prefer businessman Neil Patel.
Survey Methodology
The Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute conducted an online panel
survey of 811 self-identified registered voters across the five regions of Ohio (NE, SE, NW,
SW, Central). Based on stratification of respondents for gender, region and age, the survey
has an estimated error of + 3.5%, with higher error estimates for subgroups (e.g., party ID).
The survey was fielded by Qualtrics, LLC during the period of April 24 – May 2, 2018.
Response percentages for each question are followed by cross-tabulations for respondent
gender, age, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity (see pp. 51-52 of full report for
survey demographics).
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Community Research Institute
Baldwin Wallace University
Ohio 2018 Primary Poll
The Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute conducted an online panel survey of 811
self-identified registered voters across the five regions of Ohio (NE, SE, NW, SW, Central). Based on
stratification of respondents for gender, region, and age, the survey has an estimated error of + 3.5%, with
higher error estimates for subgroups (e.g., party ID). The survey was fielded by Qualtrics, LLC during the
period of April 24 – May 2, 2018. Response percentages for each question are followed by cross-
tabulations for respondent gender, age, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity (see pp. XX for survey
demographics).
Part III: Hypothetical 2020 Presidential election match-ups and 2016 voting p.30
Part IV: Respondent Opinions about Issues and the Economy p.43
1. How often do you pay attention to what's going on in government and politics?
# Percentage
1 Never 1.5%
5 Always 19.9%
Total 811
2. Thinking about politics these days, how would you describe your own political
viewpoint?
# Percentage
2 Liberal 16.6%
3 Moderate 35.5%
4 Conservative 25.8%
Total 811
# Percentage
1 Republican 38.2%
2 Democrat 40.9%
3 Independent 19.5%
4 Other 1.5%
6
4. (For respondents choosing Democrat): Would you call yourself a strong Democrat or a
not very strong Democrat?
# Percentage
1 Strong 61.1%
Total 450
Estimated error: +5%
5. (for respondents choosing Republican): Would you call yourself a strong Republican or
not a very strong Republican?
# Percentage
1 Strong 61.4%
Total 420
Estimate error: +5%
# Percentage
1 Republican 25.2%
2 Democratic 35.7%
3 Neither 39.1%
Total 230
Estimated error: +6.5%
10
# Percentage
5 No change 81.6%
Total 811
# Percentage
1 Yes 8.8%
2 No 90.6%
3 Unsure 0.6%
Total 811
8a. Gender crosstabs:
# Percentage
3 Unsure 6.5%
Total 811
9a. Gender crosstabs:
10. Which ballot will you most likely use to vote in the May 8th primary?
# Percentage
Total 713
10a. Gender crosstabs:
11. (for self-identified Republican respondents): Which of the following candidates are
you considering voting for in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate?
# Percentage
4 Unsure 55.4%
Total 323
19
6 Financial planner and former CEO Dan Kiley 21.4% 35.7% 28.6% 14.3% 14
7 former Dayton fiscal analyst Don Elijah Eckhart 0.0% 33.3% 66.7% 0.0% 3
12. (for self-identified Republican respondents): Which of the following candidates are
you considering voting for in the Republican primary for Ohio governor?
# Percentage
4 Unsure 24.5%
Total 323
1 Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine 8.3% 30.4% 38.1% 23.2% 168
13. (for self-identified Republican respondents): Which of the following candidates are
you considering voting for in the Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer?
Which of the following candidates are you considering voting for in the Republican primary for
# Percentage
Ohio Treasurer?
4 former Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O’Brien 17.3%
6 Unsure 54.2%
Total 323
23
4 former Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O’Brien 3.6% 25.0% 35.7% 35.7% 56
14. (for self-identified Democratic respondents): Which of the following candidates are
you considering voting for in the Democratic primary for Ohio Governor?
Which of the following candidates are you considering voting for in the Democratic primary for
# Percentage
Ohio Governor?
1 former Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray 31.2%
5 unsure 41.1%
Total 333
1 former Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray 51.9% 48.1% 104
3 former State Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill 25.0% 40.0% 20.0% 15.0% 20
15. (for self-identified Democratic respondents): Which of the following candidates are
you considering voting for in the Democratic primary for Ohio Treasurer?
Which of the following candidates are you considering voting for in the Democratic primary for
# Percentage
Ohio Treasurer?
1 Businessman Neil Patel 12.3%
3 unsure 63.4%
Total 333
16. State Issue 1 is on the ballot. If approved, this will amend the Ohio Constitution to
change the process for drawing Congressional district lines to require that splitting
counties and municipalities be minimized, and provides a stronger voice for the minority
party in approving a new district map. Do you expect to vote on Issue 1, and if so, how
do you think you will vote?
State Issue 1 is on the ballot. If approved, this will amend the Ohio Constitution to change the
process for drawing Congressional district lines to require that splitting counties and
# Percentage
municipalities be minimized, and provides a stronger voice for the minority party in approving a
new district map. Do you expect to vote on Issue 1, and if so, how do you think you will vote?
1 I will likely vote in favor of Issue 1 53.7%
Total 538
1 I will likely vote in favor of Issue 1 14.2% 24.6% 37.0% 24.2% 289
4 I am unsure about how I will vote 12.1% 24.8% 42.3% 20.8% 149
29
Part III: Hypothetical 2020 Presidential election match-ups and 2016 voting
14. If the 2020 U.S. presidential election were today, would you vote for President
Trump, the Democratic Party's candidate, or a third-party candidate?
If the 2020 U.S. presidential election were today, would you vote for President Trump, the
# Percentage
Democratic Party's candidate, or a third-party candidate?
1 Would definitely vote for President Trump 29.7%
7 Unsure 9.1%
Total 811
3 Would definitely vote for the Democratic Party candidate 40.1% 59.9% 227
4 Would probably vote for the Democratic Party candidate 38.0% 62.0% 129
1 Would definitely vote for President Trump 9.5% 23.7% 37.8% 29.0% 241
2 Would probably vote for President Trump 13.7% 16.8% 51.6% 17.9% 95
3 Would definitely vote for the Democratic Party candidate 15.4% 23.8% 40.1% 20.7% 227
4 Would probably vote for the Democratic Party candidate 14.7% 32.6% 34.1% 18.6% 129
5 Would definitely vote for a third-party candidate 16.7% 44.4% 33.3% 5.6% 18
6 Would probably vote for a third-party candidate 18.5% 22.2% 33.3% 25.9% 27
15. If the 2020 U.S. presidential election were today, and Governor John Kasich was the
Republican Party's nominee, would you vote for John Kasich, the Democratic Party's
candidate, or a third-party candidate?
If the 2020 U.S. presidential election were today, and Governor John Kasich was the Republican
# Party's nominee, would you vote for John Kasich, the Democratic Party's candidate, or a third- Percentage
party candidate?
1 Would definitely vote for John Kasich 17.8%
7 Unsure 19.0%
Total 811
3 Would definitely vote for the Democratic Party candidate 34.9% 65.1% 169
4 Would probably vote for the Democratic Party candidate 38.3% 61.7% 81
1 Would definitely vote for John Kasich 15.3% 25.7% 34.7% 24.3% 144
2 Would probably vote for John Kasich 12.7% 25.5% 32.5% 29.3% 157
3 Would definitely vote for the Democratic Party candidate 15.4% 28.4% 34.9% 21.3% 169
4 Would probably vote for the Democratic Party candidate 13.6% 24.7% 39.5% 22.2% 81
5 Would definitely vote for a third-party candidate 8.0% 24.0% 52.0% 16.0% 50
6 Would probably vote for a third-party candidate 7.1% 14.3% 53.6% 25.0% 56
16. In talking to people about elections, we find that a lot of people were not able to vote
because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they just didn't have time. Did you
happen to vote in the 2016 presidential election?
In talking to people about elections, we find that a lot of people were not able to
# vote because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they just didn't have time. Percentage
Did you happen to vote in the 2016 presidential election?
1 I did not vote in the 2016 election 15.6%
1 I did not vote in the 2016 election 36.6% 25.0% 27.9% 10.5% 172
2 I thought about voting this time, but didn't 40.0% 30.0% 27.5% 2.5% 40
3 I usually vote, but didn't this time 35.1% 31.2% 24.7% 9.1% 77
5 Other 2.7%
Total 811
38
1 Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party's candidate 15.2% 27.4% 36.8% 20.5% 361
2 Donald Trump, the Republican Party's candidate 10.8% 23.2% 41.2% 24.7% 388
3 Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's candidate 16.0% 28.0% 28.0% 28.0% 25
4 Jill Stein, the Green Party's candidate 20.0% 33.3% 40.0% 6.7% 15
18. Would you say your preference was strong or not strong?
# Would you say your preference was strong or not strong? Percentage
1 Strong 74.6%
Total 811
19. How has your level of support for President Trump changed -- or not changed -- since
he was elected president?
How has your level of support for President Trump changed -- or not changed -- since he was
# Percentage
elected president?
1 President Trump has my full support 32.6%
Total 811
41
1 President Trump has my full support 10.6% 20.8% 39.8% 28.8% 264
2 President Trump has some of my support 9.3% 32.7% 41.3% 16.7% 150
4 President Trump has lost my support 16.5% 27.5% 36.1% 19.9% 346
20. Please indicate whether you support, do not support, or are unsure/have no opinion
about each of the following issues.
do not unsure/no
# Question support Total
support opinion
1 increasing state funding for K-12 public education 75.2% 13.1% 11.7% 811
2 increasing state support for charter schools 29.0% 44.0% 27.0% 811
6 increasing state funding for treatment for opioid addiction 51.9% 29.7% 18.4% 811
21. Thinking about the economy in the U.S. as a whole, would you say that over the past
12 months, the state of the economy in the US has…
Total 811
44
22. How about Ohio? Would you say that over the past 12 months, the state of the
economy in Ohio has...
Total 811
46
23. Do you think Governor Kasich's policies have helped Ohio's economy, hurt Ohio's
economy, or haven't made a difference?
1 Helped 35.8%
2 Hurt 19.5%
Total 811
24. Do you think Governor Kasich's policies have helped your personal financial situation,
hurt it, or haven't made a difference?
# Percentage
1 Helped 13.1%
2 Hurt 18.1%
Total 811
# Percentage
1 Male 41.1%
0 Female 58.9%
# Percentage
1 Under 18 0.0%
2 18 to 29 19.4%
3 30 to 44 25.8%
4 45 to 64 35.9%
5 65 or over 18.9%
# Percentage
6 Masters, Doctoral, or Professional Degree (MA, MS, MBA, PhD, JD, MD) 12.0%
Total 811
52
# Percentage
1 $0 - $25,000 16.4%
7 $150,001+ 3.9%
Total 811
29. Please choose one or more races that you consider yourself to be.
1 White 87.7%
Total 831
# Percentage
Total 811