Poll: Ayotte’s approval dips; majorities opposed to budget cuts to universities, DHHS

By Ethan DeWitt /NH Bulletin

Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s approval rating has dipped in recent months, according to a new survey from the University of New Hampshire, with almost equal percentages of Granite Staters approving and disapproving of her performance.

That same survey found that majorities of respondents disapproved of some actions by the Republican-led Legislature this term — such as cuts to the University System of New Hampshire and the Department of Health and Human Services — though the moves are popular among Republicans.

According to the survey, conducted between Aug. 14 and Aug. 18, 47% of respondents approved of Ayotte’s performance in office and 46% disapproved.

The results suggest that Granite Staters’ longstanding tradition of giving bipartisan support to its governors may be fading, with Ayotte’s approval ratings hewing much closer to party breakdowns.

Of those who approve, 15% said it was because of Ayotte’s handling of education — the highest percentage for any category, followed by 14% who said it was because her handling of immigration, 12% who pointed to her handling of LGBTQ+ issues, and 11% who said it was because of her handling of the state budget and state finances.

Of those that disapproved, a plurality, 29%, did so because of her handling of education, 16% cited her handling of LBGTQ+ issues, and 11% said it was because of her support for President Donald Trump.

The survey did not ask respondents about specific actions taken by Ayotte in any of those areas. But Ayotte has signed bills removing “sanctuary cities” and requiring law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, establishing a “parental bill of rights” in public schools, banning gender-affirming medication and surgeries for minors, and making education freedom accounts available to students of all income levels.

The results show a drop in the governor’s overall approval rating, which was 53% in June, and an increase in her disapproval rating, up from 34% in February. Those changes have happened as more Granite Staters appear to have made up their minds about the governor: The percentage of respondents who did not know whether they support or oppose Ayotte has dropped from 15% to 7%.

Ayotte’s razor-thin approval ratings are a contrast to the last Republican governor, Chris Sununu, who maintained approval ratings between 50% and70% throughout his four terms. Former Gov. Maggie Hassan had an approval rating of 55 percent in February 2015, her last term in office.

The UNH survey also found that several of Republican lawmakers’ accomplishments this year do not have a majority of support in the state.

The Legislature’s move to cut $51 million from the Department of Health and Human Services in the budget — one opposed by Ayotte — was supported by 26% of respondents, with 62% of respondents opposed.

The two-year, $29 million funding cut to the University System of New Hampshire in New Hampshire, is also not popular, with 53% of respondents opposing it, 34% supporting it, and 12% neutral.

Respondents narrowly opposed a bill that allows landlords to end leases at the end of the lease period and initiate eviction proceedings against those who don’t leave, without needing to point to a specific reason. In the survey, 42% of respondents supported that law and 48% opposed it.

And the elimination of state motor vehicle inspections in the bill is nearly evenly split among respondents: 44% support it while 45% oppose it.

In each of those issues, Democratic respondents were strongly opposed while Republican respondents were in support.

Some of the legislation that passed this year was more popular. Overall, 49% approved a new law allowing cities and towns to create “social districts” where adults 21 and older can purchase alcohol from licensed establishments and consume in public, with 30% opposed and 19% neutral.

And one of Ayotte’s biggest priorities, requiring public schools to create a “bell-to-bell” ban on cell phones in schools, has high support, with 71% supportive, 18% opposed, and 11% neutral.

Even on that issue, there were differences between parties. Among Democrats, 56% approved of that law, while 89% of Republicans did.