Healthier Colorado 2020 Coronavirus Survey Political Observations

Survey Goals and Objectives:

The primary objective of this research project was to measure and understand the concerns, needs, experiences, and viewpoints of Coloradans regarding the coronavirus pandemic. This addendum focuses specifically on the differences in responses and opinions among self-identified Republican, Democratic, and unaffiliated respondents.

Key Findings:

• Among all Coloradans, 35% feel the worst of the coronavirus is behind us, 43% feel the worst is yet to come, and 21% are unsure or do not have an opinion. There is a significant difference in opinion between Democratic and Republican respondents, with 53% of Republicans believing the worst is behind us compared to only 20% of Democrats and 33% of unaffiliated respondents thinking the worst is behind us.
• Republican respondents were evenly divided on the policy question of keeping businesses closed (44%) vs. opening up businesses (49%). Among Democratic respondents, 80% prefer to keep businesses closed, as do 68% of unaffiliated respondents. Among one of the most high-risk population subgroups, seniors aged 65 or older, an overwhelming 70% prefer to keep businesses closed.
• Among all respondents, only 37% think the federal government’s response to the coronavirus has been excellent (12%) or good (25%). A closer look at the responses to this question finds significant differences by party affiliation, with 67% of Republicans rating the federal government’s handling as excellent or good, compared to only 20% of Democratic and 30% of unaffiliated respondents.
• The rating for the state government’s response to the virus was strong, with 62% of respondents saying their response was excellent or good. The state rating was 25 points higher than the federal government, 62% to 37%, respectively.
• Among Republican respondents, 26% thought President Donald Trump was extremely trustworthy in providing accurate information about the coronavirus, and another 38% thought he was very trustworthy. Only 10% of Republican respondents thought the president was untrustworthy, and 26% said somewhat trustworthy. Among seniors aged 65 and older, 61% thought the president was not trustworthy in providing accurate information about the coronavirus.

 

Is the Worst of Coronavirus Behind Us, or is the Worse Yet to Come?

Among all Coloradans, 35% feel the worst of the coronavirus is behind us, 43% feel the worst is yet to come, and 21% are unsure or do not have an opinion. The responses to this question correlate to how much the coronavirus has disrupted a respondent’s way of life regarding income, job security, and financial well-being. In other words, if the respondents still have jobs and can pay their bills, they will likely say that the worst is behind them. If the respondent has lost their job and their way of life has been significantly impacted, they are likelier to believe the worst is yet to come. There is a significant difference in opinion between Democratic and Republican respondents to this question, with 53% of Republicans believing the worst is behind us compared to only 20% of Democrats and 33% of unaffiliated respondents.

Opinion of Coronavirus Policy and Safety Measures

Respondents were presented with two different viewpoints on policies to slow the coronavirus and then asked which they preferred. Among all respondents, 64% preferred a policy to slow the coronavirus’s spread until more widespread testing became available, even if that meant many businesses would have to stay closed. Only 29% of respondents preferred a policy that would ease up on measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus to open businesses and get the economy going again, even if that meant more people would get coronavirus and could die.

One interesting and powerful finding is that 64% of Coloradans who lost their jobs or income or had reduced paid hours due to the coronavirus preferred a policy that keeps businesses closed. This data makes it plainly clear that a significant majority of Coloradans, including individuals who have been harmed the most economically, are putting safety ahead of financial security.

The responses to this question show Republicans evenly divided, with 44% preferring Option A to keep businesses closed and 49% preferring Option B to allow businesses to open. Among Democratic respondents, 80% prefer to keep businesses closed, as do 68% of unaffiliated respondents. Among one of the most high-risk population subgroups, seniors aged 65 or older, and an overwhelming 70% prefer Option A and wish to keep businesses closed.

Opinion of the Federal Government Response to Coronavirus

Among all respondents, only 37% think the federal government’s response to the coronavirus has been excellent (12%) or good (25%).  A closer look at the responses to this question finds significant differences by party affiliation, with 67% of Republicans rating the federal government’s handling as excellent or good, compared to only 20% of Democratic and 30% of unaffiliated respondents.

From a political viewpoint, this measurement is not good news for President Trump, with only two-thirds of his base rating the federal government’s response as excellent or good, 20% rating it as fair, and 11% as poor. Another warning sign for President Trump is the opinion among seniors aged 65 and older, a critical subgroup that is vital to his re-election chances this November. Almost half, 49%, of seniors rate the federal government’s response to the coronavirus as poor.

Opinion of the State Government Response to Coronavirus

The rating for the state government’s response to the virus was strong, with 62% of respondents saying their response was excellent or good. The state rating was 25 points higher than the federal government, 62% to 37%, respectively.

Opinion of Federal or State Government Leading Response to Virus

Fifty-six percent of Coloradans think the states should take the lead in coordinating the response to the coronavirus compared to 35% who feel the federal government should take the lead. The responses to this question across most population subgroups, including gender, race, urban/suburban region, and income, are similar to the statewide percentages.

However, there are a few population subgroups that stand out, including individuals who are having a very difficult time paying for necessities (43% say fed should lead), single men (45% say fed should lead), 18-29 years old (split 44%/44%), people who live in rural areas (64% say state should lead), caretakers (61% say state should lead) and respondents who are not concerned at all about losing their job or income (63% state should lead).

Trustworthiness of Coronavirus Information Sources

The survey asked Coloradans to rate the trustworthiness of five different individuals and organizations when providing accurate information about the coronavirus. The two most trustworthy organizations were the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (57% extremely or very trustworthy) and the Centers for Disease Control (55% extremely or very trustworthy).  The trustworthy rating for Governor Jared Polis was 50%, for President Trump, it was 29%, and the news media received a 20% combined trustworthy rating.

Among Republican respondents, 26% thought President Donald Trump was extremely trustworthy, and another 38% thought he was very trustworthy. Only 10% of Republican respondents thought the president was untrustworthy, and 26% said somewhat trustworthy. Among seniors aged 65 and older, a whopping 61% thought the president was not trustworthy at all.

Conclusion

This survey addendum provides some political analysis of the survey’s findings. To view the full survey results, please visit www.HealthierColorado.com.

Healthier Colorado 2020 Coronavirus Survey Political Observations Addendum

This blog post is an addendum to a survey summary of 1,000 adult residents in Colorado that was conducted from April 15^th to April 21^st, 2020. The overall margin of error for the survey is 3.10% at the 95% confidence interval. Survey response data was weighted to reflect the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 estimated demographics of the adult population in Colorado. This survey was commissioned by Healthier Colorado and the Colorado Health Foundation.

View the Coronavirus Political Observations Addendeum

Survey Goals and Objectives:

The primary objective of this research project was to measure and understand the concerns, needs, experiences, and viewpoints of Coloradans regarding the coronavirus pandemic. This addendum focuses specifically on the differences in responses and opinions among self-identified Republican, Democratic, and unaffiliated respondents.

Key Findings:

• Among all Coloradans, 35% feel the worst of the coronavirus is behind us, 43% feel the worst is yet to come, and 21% are unsure or do not have an opinion. There is a significant difference in opinion between Democratic and Republican respondents, with 53% of Republicans believing the worst is behind us compared to only 20% of Democrats and 33% of unaffiliated respondents thinking the worst is behind us.
• Republican respondents were evenly divided on the policy question of keeping businesses closed (44%) vs. opening up businesses (49%). Among Democratic respondents, 80% prefer to keep businesses closed, as do 68% of unaffiliated respondents. Among one of the most high-risk population subgroups, seniors aged 65 or older, an overwhelming 70% prefer to keep businesses closed.
• Among all respondents, only 37% think the federal government’s response to the coronavirus has been excellent (12%) or good (25%). A closer look at the responses to this question finds significant differences by party affiliation, with 67% of Republicans rating the federal government’s handling as excellent or good, compared to only 20% of Democratic and 30% of unaffiliated respondents.
• The rating for the state government’s response to the virus was strong, with 62% of respondents saying their response was excellent or good. The state rating was 25 points higher than the federal government, 62% to 37%, respectively.
• Among Republican respondents, 26% thought President Donald Trump was extremely trustworthy in providing accurate information about the coronavirus, and another 38% thought he was very trustworthy. Only 10% of Republican respondents thought the president was untrustworthy, and 26% said somewhat trustworthy. Among seniors aged 65 and older, 61% thought the president was not trustworthy in providing accurate information about the coronavirus.

 

Is the Worst of Coronavirus Behind Us, or is the Worse Yet to Come?

Among all Coloradans, 35% feel the worst of the coronavirus is behind us, 43% feel the worst is yet to come, and 21% are unsure or do not have an opinion. The responses to this question correlate to how much the coronavirus has disrupted a respondent’s way of life regarding income, job security, and financial well-being. In other words, if the respondents still have jobs and can pay their bills, they will likely say that the worst is behind them. If the respondent has lost their job and their way of life has been significantly impacted, they are likelier to believe the worst is yet to come. There is a significant difference in opinion between Democratic and Republican respondents to this question, with 53% of Republicans believing the worst is behind us compared to only 20% of Democrats and 33% of unaffiliated respondents.

Opinion of Coronavirus Policy and Safety Measures

Respondents were presented with two different viewpoints on policies to slow the coronavirus and then asked which they preferred. Among all respondents, 64% preferred a policy to slow the coronavirus’s spread until more widespread testing became available, even if that meant many businesses would have to stay closed. Only 29% of respondents preferred a policy that would ease up on measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus to open businesses and get the economy going again, even if that meant more people would get coronavirus and could die.

One interesting and powerful finding is that 64% of Coloradans who lost their jobs or income or had reduced paid hours due to the coronavirus preferred a policy that keeps businesses closed. This data makes it plainly clear that a significant majority of Coloradans, including individuals who have been harmed the most economically, are putting safety ahead of financial security.

The responses to this question show Republicans evenly divided, with 44% preferring Option A to keep businesses closed and 49% preferring Option B to allow businesses to open. Among Democratic respondents, 80% prefer to keep businesses closed, as do 68% of unaffiliated respondents. Among one of the most high-risk population subgroups, seniors aged 65 or older, and an overwhelming 70% prefer Option A and wish to keep businesses closed.

Opinion of the Federal Government Response to Coronavirus

Among all respondents, only 37% think the federal government’s response to the coronavirus has been excellent (12%) or good (25%).  A closer look at the responses to this question finds significant differences by party affiliation, with 67% of Republicans rating the federal government’s handling as excellent or good, compared to only 20% of Democratic and 30% of unaffiliated respondents.

From a political viewpoint, this measurement is not good news for President Trump, with only two-thirds of his base rating the federal government’s response as excellent or good, 20% rating it as fair, and 11% as poor. Another warning sign for President Trump is the opinion among seniors aged 65 and older, a critical subgroup that is vital to his re-election chances this November. Almost half, 49%, of seniors rate the federal government’s response to the coronavirus as poor.

Opinion of the State Government Response to Coronavirus

The rating for the state government’s response to the virus was strong, with 62% of respondents saying their response was excellent or good. The state rating was 25 points higher than the federal government, 62% to 37%, respectively.

Opinion of Federal or State Government Leading Response to Virus

Fifty-six percent of Coloradans think the states should take the lead in coordinating the response to the coronavirus compared to 35% who feel the federal government should take the lead. The responses to this question across most population subgroups, including gender, race, urban/suburban region, and income, are similar to the statewide percentages.

However, there are a few population subgroups that stand out, including individuals who are having a very difficult time paying for necessities (43% say fed should lead), single men (45% say fed should lead), 18-29 years old (split 44%/44%), people who live in rural areas (64% say state should lead), caretakers (61% say state should lead) and respondents who are not concerned at all about losing their job or income (63% state should lead).

Trustworthiness of Coronavirus Information Sources

The survey asked Coloradans to rate the trustworthiness of five different individuals and organizations when providing accurate information about the coronavirus. The two most trustworthy organizations were the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (57% extremely or very trustworthy) and the Centers for Disease Control (55% extremely or very trustworthy).  The trustworthy rating for Governor Jared Polis was 50%, for President Trump, it was 29%, and the news media received a 20% combined trustworthy rating.

Among Republican respondents, 26% thought President Donald Trump was extremely trustworthy, and another 38% thought he was very trustworthy. Only 10% of Republican respondents thought the president was untrustworthy, and 26% said somewhat trustworthy. Among seniors aged 65 and older, a whopping 61% thought the president was not trustworthy at all.

Conclusion

This survey addendum provides some political analysis of the survey’s findings. To view the full survey results, please visit www.HealthierColorado.com.