A recent poll conducted by Bowling Green State University shows where Ohioans stand on the presidential race, Senate race and Issue 1.


What You Need To Know

  • Former President Donald Trump still has the majority of Ohio voters, poll results show

  • As for the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown is keeping ahold of his seat so far ahead of his opponent, Republican Bernie Moreno

  • Of the respondents, 60% said they’ll vote “yes” for Issue 1 and 20% said they’ll vote “no”
  • As for topics that Ohio voters may care about most, the economy (22%) came out on top from 15 total options

The poll was conducted between Sept. 18 and Sept. 27 and had 1,000 likely Ohio voters participate.

With Election Day less than a month away, here’s what the poll found.

Ohio staying red

Former President Donald Trump still has the majority of Ohio voters, poll results show.

When asked who likely voters would support if the election were held today, 51% said Trump, compared to 44% who said Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, Harris has a more favorable rating among the likely voters. For Trump, 46% of respondents viewed him as favorable whereas 49% viewed him as unfavorable.

Overall though, out of the public figures used in the poll, Harris has the highest unfavorable rating.

Brown ahead of Moreno

As for the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown is keeping ahold of his seat so far ahead of his opponent, Republican Bernie Moreno.

Brown, who is seeking his 4th term, is currently leading 49% to 45%. Additionally, Brown had the highest favorability rating among respondents, whereas Moreno had the lowest.

 

Voters back Issue 1

Issue 1, which has stemmed from the result of multiple Ohio Supreme Court decisions and backlash over congressional maps, will be on November’s ballot.

The amendment aims to change the way Ohio draws its congressional districts. If it passes, it’ll create a citizen-led commission to help draw the maps rather than politicians.

Of the respondents, 60% said they’ll vote “yes” for Issue 1 and 20% said they’ll vote “no.” However, another 20% said they aren’t so sure yet.

According to the poll, 82% of Democrats, 41% of Republicans and 57% of Independents support the measure.

As for educating the public on what Issue 1 is, many Ohioans still aren’t sure what it’s supposed to do. The poll shows 51% of likely voters said they heard a little about Issue 1, 22% said they heard a lot and 8% said they haven’t heard anything at all.

The poll also highlighted how many may not be familiar with the current redistricting process, as 25% said they are “not sure” of who is primarily responsible for redistricting in Ohio.

When asked who voters think should be responsible for the process, the majority (45%) said “an Ohio redistricting commission.” Majority of respondents also said they are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with how redistricting is being handled, but there were more likely voters who said they were very dissatisfied compared to very satisfied.

 

What’s important to Ohio

As for topics that Ohio voters may care about most, the economy (22%) came out on top from 15 total options.

Behind it was inflation (20%) and threats to democracy (17%).

For the most part, the majority of respondents say the economy has stayed about the same over the past year when thinking about their own economic situation.

As for the nation, they felt the economy has gotten much worse.

 

Exhausting political environment

When it comes to the political environment, respondents said they’re exhausted. More than 80% said they believe the current political atmosphere is “as toxic as it has ever been in their lifetimes.”

However, 85% also feel it’s important to make different opinions known and to talk about them.

The respondents also showed worry surrounding the current political environment, with many having concerns it could lead to increased violence, thoughts that U.S. has weakened on the world state and that there are serious threats to democracy.