This Washington Post-University of Maryland poll was conducted by telephone
February 5-8, 2015, among a random sample of 1,003 adult residents of Maryland.
Interviews were conducted by live interviewers on both conventional and
cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling
error of plus or minus four percentage points. The error margin is 5.5 points
for questions asked of a random half-sample of respondents. Sampling, data
collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI, Inc of New York, NY.
(Full methodological details appended at the end.)
* = less than .5 percent
1. Do you think things in the state of Maryland are generally going in the
right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the
wrong track?

2/8/15
2/16/14
2/24/13
10/15/12
1/26/12
10/22/10
9/26/10
5/6/10
10/20/08
10/22/07
10/26/06
6/25/06
1/7/04
10/24/02
10/22/98
6/17/98
12/19/93

RV
RV

RV
LV
RV
LV
RV

Right direction
48
48
41
48
47
46
40
39
31
46
57
44
57
42
54
53
33

Wrong track
40
43
48
44
44
48
49
49
63
47
39
50
35
51
36
34
56

No opinion
11
9
12
8
9
6
11
12
6
7
5
6
9
7
10
13
11

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Larry Hogan is handling his job as
governor of Maryland?
-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
42
18
24

2/8/15

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
24
14
10

No
op
34

48
39
41
41
36
36
33
34
37
36

11
7
10
9
9
9
11
12
10
11

Compare to: Martin O’Malley
10/5/14 RV
41
2/16/14
55
2/24/13
49
10/15/12 RV
49
1/26/12
55
10/22/10 RV*
55
9/26/10
57
5/6/10
54
10/20/08 RV
53
10/22/07
53
*“Regardless of how you

14
21
16
18
16
21
20
17
14
12
may vote…”

27
33
33
31
39
34
37
37
39
40

14
12
13
14
15
15
16
17
16
18

34
27
28
28
21
21
17
17
21
19

Bob Ehrlich
10/26/06
6/25/06
1/7/04
1/7/04

LV
RV
RV
All

55
56
64
62

30
21
23
21

25
36
41
42

42
41
29
28

1

19
21
17
17

23
20
12
11

3
3
8
10

 Parris Glendening:
10/24/02 LV
10/22/98 LV
6/17/98 LV

37
54
55

9
16
14

29
38
41

58
40
36

22
21
19

37
19
18

4
6
9

3. How confident are you that Hogan will take the state in the right direction
- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident or not confident at
all?

2/8/15

----- Confident ----NET
Very
Somewhat
58
16
42

----- Not confident -----NET
Not too
Not at all
33
21
12

No
opinion
9

4. Do you think Hogan should take the state in a more (conservative direction),
a more (liberal direction) or keep things about the same?

2/8/15

Conservative
direction
36

Liberal
direction
28

Keep things
about the same
28

No
opinion
7

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Democrats in the Maryland state
legislature are doing their job?

2/8/15

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
49
17
32

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
43
19
25

No
op
7

6. The minimum wage in Maryland is now eight dollars an hour. What do you think
it should be?

2/8/15

$8.00
or less
17

$8.01
to $9
9

$9.01
to $10
41

More than
$10
24

None
(vol.)
2

No
opinion
7

Mean
$10.15

Median
$9.80

Mean
$9.58

Median
$9.80

Compare to: The minimum wage in Maryland is now $7.25 an hour.

2/16/14

$7.25
or less
11

$7.26
to $9
20

$9.01
to $10
34

More than
$10
24

None
(vol.)
2

No
opinion
8

7. Do you or anyone else in this household belong to a labor union or to an
employee association similar to a union or not? (IF YES) Is that yourself,
someone else in your household or both you and someone else?

2/8/15

---------- Union household ---------NET
Respondent
Other in HH
Both
17
8
6
2

No one
83

No opinion
*

8. In the last five years, have you or anyone else in this household held a job
that paid the minimum wage or not? (IF YES) Is that yourself, someone else in
your household or both you and someone else?

2/8/15

------- Minimum wage household -----NET
Respondent
Other in HH
Both
31
13
14
5

2

No one
68

No opinion
*

 9. Thinking about this year’s legislative session in Annapolis, which of the
following issues do you want the governor and state legislature to work hardest
on: (the state budget), (the state economy), (public education),
(transportation and infrastructure), (drug abuse), (taxes) or something else?
2/8/15
26
18
16

Public education
Taxes
The state economy
Transportation
and infrastructure
The state Budget
Drug abuse
Something else
No opinion

12
10
9
9
1

10. As you may know, the Maryland government is expected to have an $800
million budget shortfall in the coming year. Overall do you think the budget
situation is a big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem or not
a problem for the people of Maryland today?
----- Problem ------- Less of problem---No
NET
Big
Somewhat
NET
Not much
At all
opinion
2/8/15
87
54
33
10
6
4
3
1/26/12**
91
58
33
7
4
3
2
5/6/10
RV 95
66
29
5
3
2
1
10/20/08 RV 97
76
21
2
1
1
1
10/22/07*
93
59
34
6
3
3
1
**2012-2008: “the state projects a large budget deficit next year.”
*“the state projects a one point seven billion dollar budget deficit”

11. If cuts have to be made to the Maryland state budget, in what area do you
think the LEAST amount of cuts should be made? (transportation), (health care),
(public safety), (Kindergarten through 12th grade education), (higher
education) or (environmental services)?

K-12 education
Environmental services
Public safety
Transportation
Health care
Higher education
Multiple/other (vol.)
No cuts (vol.)
No opinion

2/8/15
32
12
12
12
10
11
6
3
2

12. (Half sample) Would you support or oppose a two-percent across the board
cut in spending by state government agencies as a way to reduce Maryland’s
budget shortfall?

2/8/15

Support
68

Oppose
27

No opinion
5

13. Would you support or oppose cancelling a two percent raise for state
government employees as a way to reduce Maryland’s budget shortfall?
Support

Oppose

No opinion

3

 2/8/15

51

44

5

14. (Half sample) Would you support or oppose reducing payments for doctors in
the state who accept Medicaid as a way to reduce Maryland’s budget shortfall?

2/8/15

Support
40

Oppose
53

No opinion
7

15. There is a proposal to slow down planned increases in spending on public
schools in Maryland as a way to reduce the state’s budget shortfall. Do you
support or oppose this proposal?

2/8/15

Support
27

Oppose
69

No opinion
4

16. Would you support or oppose eliminating automatic increases in the state’s
gasoline tax used to fund roads and transportation?

2/8/15

Support
46

Oppose
52

No opinion
3

17. Would you support or oppose eliminating state income taxes on retired
people who served in the military, police or as firefighters?

2/8/15

Support
52

Oppose
46

No opinion
2

18. Would you support or oppose eliminating the requirement that counties
impose a business tax on property and equipment worth less than $10,000?

2/8/15

Support
44

Oppose
50

No opinion
6

19. What do you think is the higher priority in Maryland right now - (reducing
taxes on businesses and individuals to help boost Maryland’s economy) or (using
revenues to pay for rising costs in education and transportation)?

2/8/15

Reduce taxes to
boost economy
48

Use revenues to pay
for education and trans.
46

Both
(vol.)
3

Neither
(vol.)
1

No
opinion
3

20. Homeowners in some parts of Maryland pay a stormwater management fee,
sometimes called the rain tax, which raises money for cleaning the Chesapeake
Bay. Would you support or oppose lowering this fee?

2/8/15

Support
65

Oppose
32

No opinion
3

21. Thinking about energy needs and environmental concerns in Maryland, would
you support or oppose the use of fracking, a drilling method that uses highpressure water and chemicals to extract oil and natural gas from underground
rock formations?

2/8/15

Support
36

Oppose
56

No opinion
8

4

 22. Compared with other problems facing Maryland, do you think the use of
heroin is a big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem or not a
problem in the state today?

2/8/15

----- Problem ----NET
Big
Somewhat
82
57
24

----- No Problem ----NET
Not much
At all
13
8
5

No
opinion
5

23. Since 2008, voters have approved of expanding casino gambling in Maryland.
Overall, do you think this has been a (good) thing or a (bad) thing for the
state?

2/8/15
2/8/15 RV

Good
thing
53
53

Bad
thing
38
38

Both
(vol.)
2
2

Neither
(vol.)
2
2

No
opinion
5
5

Compare to: In 2008, Maryland voters approved slot machine casinos at five
locations in the state. Overall, do you think having slot machine casinos in
Maryland has been a (good) thing or a (bad) thing for the state?

10/15/12
10/15/12
1/26/12
1/26/12
9/26/10*
* “… and

Good
Bad
Both
Neither
No
thing
thing
(vol.)
(vol.)
opinion
LV
51
28
1
5
15
RV
52
27
1
5
16
RV
54
25
1
6
13
54
27
1
5
12
56
31
4
2
7
the first facility is scheduled to open next week.”

24. Thinking about all the Maryland state government does for you – including
education, transportation and health care, do you think you get (more) value
than what you pay in state taxes, (less) value than what you pay in taxes, or
about the right amount?
Get more value than
what you pay in taxes
2/8/15
5
1/26/12
7

Get less value than
what you pay in taxes
49
52

About the
right amount
43
39

No
opin.
3
3

25. Would you say you, yourself are better off financially than you were two
years ago, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?

2/8/15

Better off
27

Not as well off
25

About the same
48

No opinion
*

26. Which best describes your family's financial situation? Do you feel as if
you (are getting ahead financially), have just enough money to maintain your
standard of living, or (are falling behind financially)?

2/8/15
10/22/07

Getting
ahead
24
25

Just enough
to maintain
56
56

Falling
behind
19
18

5

No
opinion
1
1

 27. (Half sample) In early 2014, Vermont’s Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin
signed a law to raise Vermont’s minimum wage to more than $10 per hour over
the next few years. Do you support or oppose Shumlin’s policy to raise
Vermont’s minimum wage or are you not sure?

2/8/15

-------- Support -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
54
42
12

28. (Half sample) In early 2014,
(o-MAL-ee) signed a law to raise
hour over the next few years. Do
raise Maryland’s minimum wage or

2/8/15

--------- Oppose -------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
17
5
11

Not
Sure
30

Maryland’s Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley
Maryland’s minimum wage to more than $10 per
you support or oppose O’Malley’s policy to
are you not sure?

-------- Support -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
70
61
9

--------- Oppose -------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
18
5
13

Not
Sure
12

29. In 2012, voters approved the Maryland In-State Tuition Referendum, also
known as the Dream Act, which allows undocumented immigrants to qualify for instate tuition rates at Maryland colleges as long as certain conditions are met.
Overall, do you think this has been a (good) thing or a (bad) thing for the
state?

2/8/15

Good
thing
52

Bad
thing
43

Both
(vol.)
1

Neither
(vol.)
*

No
opinion
4

30. Which of these statements comes closer to your own view – (The growing
number of immigrants threatens traditional Maryland customs and values) or
(Immigrants strengthen the diversity of Maryland)?

2/8/15

Threaten traditional
customs and values
32

Strengthen
diversity
57

Both
(vol.)
2

Neither
(vol.)
3

No
opinion
5

31. Do you think parents of young children in Maryland should or should not be
required to vaccinate their children from common diseases such as measles and
mumps?

2/8/15

Should be
required
84

Should not
be required
13

No
opinion
2

32. (IF SHOULD BE REQUIRED) What if the parents have specific religious or
medical reasons for not wanting to vaccinate their young children? In this case
do you think parents should or should not be required to vaccinate their
children? IF NOT REQUIRED: Should that be allowed only for medical reasons,
only religious reasons or both?

2/8/15

--------- Not required --------NET
Medical
Religious
Both
35
15
6
15

31/32 NET:

Should be required

2/8/15
53

6

Should still
be required
63

No
opinion
1

 Should not be required NET
At first
If medical reason
If religious reason
If both reasons
No opinion

43
13
12
5
12
4

33. Do you think the governor and legislature in Maryland pays more attention
to the needs of the region from Washington DC to Baltimore, pays more attention
to the needs of less populated parts of the state or do they pay equal
attention to all parts of the state?

2/8/15

More attention to
Wash DC to Baltimore
47

More attention to
less pop. parts
11

Equal attention
to all parts
28

No
opinion
13

34. Do you think Governor Hogan will pay more attention to the needs of the
region from Washington DC to Baltimore, will he pay more attention to the needs
of less populated parts of the state, or will he pay equal attention to all
parts of the state?

2/8/15

More attention to
Wash DC to Baltimore
23

More attention to
less pop. parts
13

Equal attention
to all parts
49

No
opinion
15

35. There is a national proposal to offer free community college tuition for
two years to those who qualify, with each state funding a quarter of the
expense for their residents. Would you support or oppose this plan for
Maryland?

2/8/15

Support
71

Oppose
26

No opinion
2

36. How much, if anything, have you heard about Common Core, a set of education
standards for students in grades K-12? Have you heard a lot, a little, or
nothing at all?

2/8/15

A lot
28

A little
32

Nothing at all
40

No opinion
*

37. (IF HEARD A LOT/LITTLE) From what you've read and heard, do you strongly
favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose the Common Core education standards?

2/8/15

---------- Favor --------NET
Strongly
Not strg.
42
12
30

--------- Oppose --------NET
Not strg.
Strongly
47
26
22

No
opinion
10

38. Do you support or oppose expanding the number of charter schools in
Maryland?

2/8/15

Support
62

Oppose
24

No opinion
14

39. Maryland has planned to construct a train line across the Washington DC
suburbs known as the purple line. The project would cost about $2.5 billion
dollars, and open as early as 2020. At this point, do you think the state

7

 should (go forward with construction of the purple line) or (cancel the
project)?

2/8/15

------- Go forward -----NET
Strongly
Somewhat
49
26
23

--- Cancel the project -NET
Somewhat
Strongly
43
18
26

No
opinion
7

40. If it were built, how often do you think you would use the purple line frequently, sometimes, rarely or never?
--- Frequently/Sometimes --NET
Frequently
Sometimes
2/8/15
28
10
18
DC area*
45
19
25
*Montgomery and Prince George’s counties

--- Rarely/Never --NET
Rarely
Never
71
23
47
54
20
34

No
opinion
1
1

Compare to 6/23/13: As you may know, the Metrorail is expanding to Dulles
Airport in Virginia through Tysons Corners on the new Silver Line. How often do
you think you will use this new line?

DC metro area
Northern Va.

--- Frequently/Sometimes --NET
Frequently
Sometimes
39
12
26
50
19
31

--- Rarely/Never --NET
Rarely
Never
60
32
28
49
31
18

No
opinion
1
1

On another subject...
41. (Half sample) Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Peter Shumlin is
handling his job as Governor of Vermont?

2/8/15

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
19
7
12

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
9
4
4

No
op
72

42. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Martin O’Malley handled his
job as governor?
-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
2/8/15
49
19
29
2/8/15
RV
47
19
28
10/5/14 RV
41
14
27
2/16/14
55
21
33
2/24/13
49
16
33
10/15/12 RV
49
18
31
1/26/12
55
16
39
10/22/10 RV*
55
21
34
9/26/10
57
20
37
5/6/10
54
17
37
10/20/08 RV
53
14
39
10/22/07
53
12
40
*“Regardless of how you may vote…”

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
43
15
29
47
15
32
48
14
34
39
12
27
41
13
28
41
14
28
36
15
21
36
15
21
33
16
17
34
17
17
37
16
21
36
18
19

43. Are you registered to vote in Maryland, or not?

2/8/15

Yes
87

No
13

No opinion
*

8

No
op
8
6
11
7
10
9
9
9
11
12
10
11

 44. (AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS) In talking to people about elections, we often
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. Thinking about
Maryland’s election for governor last November, which of the following
statements best describes you?

I did not vote (in the election last November)
I thought about voting this time, but didn't
I usually vote, but didn't this time
I am sure I voted
No opinion

2/8/15
11
5
15
69
*

45. (IF VOTED) And for statistical purposes only, did you vote for (Larry
Hogan) or (Anthony Brown)?

2/8/15

Larry
Hogan
49

Anthony
Brown
44

Someone else
(vol.)
5

No
opinion
3

46. (IF VOTED) Thinking about your vote for governor, what was the single most
important issue in deciding your vote? (taxes), (public education), (jobs),
(immigration), (health care) or something else (specify)?
2/8/15
10/5/14 LV*
Taxes
23
30
Public education
19
20
Jobs
12
12
Health care
9
11
Immigration
3
3
Partisan/ideological views (vol.)
6
NA
Change/different from O’Malley (vol.)
4
NA
Liked, disliked Brown/Hogan (vol.)
3
NA
Social issues/environment (vol.)
4
NA
Economy in general (vol.)
1
NA
Something else
12
14
No opinion
3
1
*”What is the single most important issue in deciding your vote for governor
this year”

47. Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the choice of
candidates for governor in Maryland last November – were you very satisfied,
somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied?

2/8/15

----- Satisfied ----NET
Very
Somewhat
64
14
50

--- Dissatisfied ---NET
Somewhat
Very
32
20
13

No
opinion
4

Compare to: 2/16/14 Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the
choice of candidates for the Democratic/Republican nomination for governor this
year
----- Satisfied ------- Dissatisfied ---No
NET
Very
Somewhat
NET
Somewhat
Very
opinion
Lean Dems
69
10
59
18
14
5
12
Lean Reps
54
4
50
26
21
5
20

48. Do you remember if you voted in Maryland’s election for governor in 2010
when Martin O’Malley ran against Bob Ehrlich? IF YES: And for statistical
purposes only, did you vote for (Martin O’Malley) or (Bob Ehrlich)?

9

 2/8/15

--------- Voted in 2010 ----------NET
O’Malley
Erlich
Other vol.
57
34
22
1

Did not
vote
39

No
opinion
4

49. (NOT REGISTERED OR DID NOT VOTE) If you had voted in the election for
governor last fall, would you have voted for (Larry Hogan, the Republican
candidate) or (Anthony Brown, the Democratic candidate)?

2/8/15

Larry
Hogan
35

Anthony
Brown
46

Someone else
(vol.)
3

Would not
vote (vol.)
6

No
opinion
10

PARTYID. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as:

2/8/15
10/5/14
2/16/14
2/24/13
10/15/12
1/26/12
10/22/10 RV
9/26/10
5/6/10
10/20/08 RV
10/22/07
10/26/06 RV

Democrat
46
43
42
45
46
44
49
46
44
50
48
50

Republican
18
17
18
18
20
19
21
21
22
24
19
28

Independent
29
29
31
31
25
30
25
25
27
25
26
20

Other
5
7
4
4
5
3
4
5
4
1
7
2

No opinion
2
4
5
2
5
2
1
4
3
*
1
*

*** END ***

METHODOLOGICAL DETAILS
This poll was jointly sponsored and funded by The Washington Post and The
University of Maryland. The poll includes interviews in English and Spanish.
This questionnaire was administered with the exact questions in the exact order
as appears in this document. If a question was asked of a reduced base of the
sample, a parenthetical preceding the question identifies the group asked.
Questions that contain parenthetical phrases indicate clauses that were
randomly rotated for respondents. Trended references to results with “LV” or
“RV” indicate results among likely voters or registered voters.
A dual frame landline and cell phone telephone sample was generated using
Random Digit Dialing procedures by Survey Sampling International (SSI). The
survey was conducted with 602 respondents reached on landline phones, 401
reached on cellular phones including 160 who are cell phone-only.
Interviewers called landlines and asked to interview the youngest male or
youngest female who is at home at the time, with the male requested 75 percent
of the time. Interviewers calling cellular phones interviewed the respondent if
they were eligible to participate.
This survey uses statistical weighting procedures to account for deviations in
the survey sample from known population characteristics, which helps account
for differential survey participation and random variation in samples. The
landline and cell phone samples were combined using a weight that accounts for
their differing chances of cell phone-only, landline-only and dual-service
respondents.

10

 The overall adult sample is weighted using a raking procedure to match the
demographic makeup of the population by sex, region, age, education,
race/ethnicity and the share of cell phone only/landline only/dual service
household.
Sources for weighting targets include the 2013 American Community Survey
(demographics), the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (telephone use,
results projected to 2014).
All error margins have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect,
which is 1.47 in this survey. The design effect is a factor representing the
survey’s deviation from a simple random sample, and takes into account
decreases in precision due to sample design and weighting procedures. Surveys
that do not incorporate a design effect overstate their precision.
Contact polls@washpost.com for further information about how The Washington
Post conducts polls.

11