A new poll found 52% of Marylanders approve of the job being done by Gov. Wes Moore (D). While partisanship was key to those results, the survey said that while more independents approved of Moore’s performance than not in November, those numbers reversed by February. (File photo by Danielle Brown / Maryland Matters)
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore continues to enjoy majority approval of his job performance even as he loses ground with independent voters, a new poll shows.
The poll released Tuesday by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, found 52% of Marylanders surveyed said they approved of Moore’s job performance.
“It’s a solid overall approval rating,” said Mileah Kromer, a pollster and director of the Institute of Politics. “He’s still really popular among Democrats.”
In Maryland, Democrats hold a roughly 2-1 registration advantage over Republicans.
While Moore, a first-term Democrat, remains above 50% there are some signs of drag.
A UMBC poll in November found 24% of those surveyed said they strongly approved of Moore’s performance. Another 30% said they approved. Moore enjoyed a 22-point cushion between the total number that approved of his efforts compared to those who did not.
In the latest survey, the number of those who said they strongly approved of his job performance fell to 20%. Those who merely approved rose to 32%. Meanwhile, 40% said they disapprove or strongly disapprove — up 8 points from the November survey.
The 52% who said they approved of Moore’s job performance was 12 points higher than the number who did not approve in the latest poll, but that was almos half the cushion of the November poll.
“We’re in the middle of a tough budgetary session,” Kromer said. “Right now, in the state, we’re facing a considerable budget deficit and there’s going to have to either be increases in taxes and fees, or cuts to government services and programs to fix it. Anytime those two possibilities are on the table, oftentimes the governor is going to be held accountable for that because he’s the highest-profile politician and the leader of the state.”
The latest UMBC Poll surveyed 803 Maryland adults, including 769 who said they were registered voters, from Feb. 11-15. It has an overall margin of error of 3.5%. The margin of error among registered voters is 3.5%.
This is the second poll this year to show a softening of intensity for Moore’s performance. A January poll by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media had found Moore enjoyed 61% job approval. That poll, however, also found wavering support.
The poll released this week found Moore’s popularity with Democrats remains statistically flat compared to November. His support among Republicans — 16% in the current survey — is statistically similar to November. The number of Republicans who said they disapproved grew 7 points to 76%.
“This reflects the really polarized nature of American politics — just in miniature here in Maryland,” Kromer said. “Democrats really like the job Moore is doing. Republicans don’t and there’s been a shift in independent or unaffiliated voters.”
Three months ago, the UMBC institute reported that 47% of independent voters approved of Moore’s performance, compared to 41% that did not — a 6-point advantage for Moore. Today, Moore’s approval numbers with independents are underwater: 37% of independents said they approve of Moore’s performance — 10 points lower than November — while, his disapproval numbers among independents grew 12 points, to 53%.
Marylanders concerned about budget, economy
Moore’s approval numbers remain positive even as the poll found Marylanders are growing concerned about the budget and the economy.
In the Tuesday poll, 42% said the state is heading in the right direction. Another 49% said the state is on the wrong track. Three months ago, 46% said the state was headed in the right direction compared to 39% who said it was on the wrong track.
Additionally, more than two-thirds of those surveyed rated economic conditions in the state as “poor” or “fair.” Just 31% rated the state economy as “excellent” or good.”
More than six in 10 people surveyed said they would prefer a tax system where people with higher incomes pay a higher rate than those with lower incomes. Three in 10 said they’d prefer a system where the rate is the same across income levels.
Moore proposed a fiscal 2026 budget plan that includes changes to the tax code. The governor said roughly 60% will pay less in state taxes under his plan and another 22% would see no change, while nearly two in 10 — high-income earners — would pay more, as he sets two new tax brackets and proposes a surcharge on capital gains.
Leaders in the Senate last week said they are eyeing changes to the proposal and on Monday night, House Majority Leader Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery) told Maryland Matters the House will likely consider changes of its own.
Kromer’s poll found that 45% of those surveyed wanted to address the $3 billion budget deficit with a combination of taxes and cuts. Another 37% called for reducing the gap only or mostly with cuts in spending. Twelve percent said they favored a solution of only or mostly increased taxes and fees.
“People want to see a balanced approach of services and programs and maybe a modest increase in taxes and fees,” Kromer said.
Effect of Trump’s cuts loom large
Marylanders are also concerned about how the state will be affected by budget actions in Washington. For the last month Trump and his administration have acted on campaign promises to reduce spending and slash the number of federal employees.
Maryland stands to be substantially impacted by the moves. Roughly 160,000 Marylanders work for the federal government. That number does not include employees at NSA or other classified agencies, nor does it include contractors or those impacted by federal grants.
In the UMBC poll, 61% of those surveyed said Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce will have “a mostly negative impact” on the state. Twenty-four percent said the impact would be “mostly positive” while 10% said it would have “no real impact.”
Marylanders hold dim view of state government, dimmer of federal
The poll also found that while those surveyed trust the state government more than the federal government, that’s not saying much.
More than three-quarters of those surveyed said they can trust the federal government “never” or “some of the time.” Another 19% said they trust the federal government “just about always” or “most of the time.
When it comes to Maryland government, 56% said they can trust the government “never” or “some of the time.” Another 41% said they trust the state government “just about always” or “most of the time.
Kromer said all of the potential impacts of federal job and budget cuts loom large over those who responded to the poll.
“I think that certainly people are on edge,” she said.
Crime, education and pocketbook issues top concerns
The poll also asked respondents to rank issues they considered the highest priorities.
Seven issues came in with more than 50% support including:
- Reducing crime/improving public safety — 77%
- Quality of K-12 education — 74%
- Cost of health care — 67%
- Cost of household energy bills – 65%
- Cost and availability of housing — 63%
- Taxes and fees — 62%
- Economic growth and development — 59%
The results were less positive for those who support environmental protections, better roads and highways and improved public transportation. All three were below 50%;
- Protecting the environment — 49%
- Quality of roads and highways — 42%
- Availability and quality of public transportation — 34%