Marquette Law School May Wisconsin Poll, May 20-21, 2026

(Percentages are rounded to whole numbers for reporting of results. Frequencies have been rounded to whole numbers but percentages are calculated based on non-integer weighted sample sizes.)

Results for survey items among all respondents are presented here (unless otherwise indicated). Please note that some questions may only be asked of particular groups of respondents. In these instances, the row NAs includes the number and percent of total respondents omitted from the question. These omitted cases are ignored when calculating the Valid and Cumulative percent columns.

Support/Oppose bill

On May 11, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders announced an agreement on a bill that would have used $1.8 billion of the projected $2.5 billion state budget surplus to increase funding for special education, reduce school property taxes by about 5%, and send rebate checks of $300 to individuals, $600 to married couples, who paid state income taxes. It would also have eliminated taxes on tips and overtime. Do you think the state legislature (should have passed the bill), or (should it have defeated the bill)?
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Should have passed the bill 362 80% 80% 80%
Should have defeated the bill 51 11% 11% 91%
Don't know 41 9% 9% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Delay funding

Some have argued that the bill was fiscally irresponsible for spending a projected surplus now that might lead to a deficit in future budgets. Would it be better to delay providing special education funding, property tax reductions, and rebate checks until next year, or would it be better to provide them now, even if it might affect the budget next year?
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Better to delay special education funding, property tax reductions, and rebate checks until next year 96 21% 21% 21%
Better to provide special education funding, property tax reductions, and rebate checks now 315 69% 69% 91%
Don't know 43 9% 9% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Dem Opposition

How do you feel about Democratic candidates for governor opposing the bill?
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
That was the right thing for them to do 86 19% 19% 19%
That was the wrong thing for them to do 245 54% 54% 73%
Don't know 123 27% 27% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Tiffany Opposition

How do you feel about Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany opposing the bill?
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
That was the right thing for him to do 83 18% 18% 18%
That was the wrong thing for him to do 241 53% 53% 71%
Don't know 130 29% 29% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Evers support

How do you feel about Democratic Gov. Tony Evers supporting the bill?
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
That was the right thing for him to do 294 65% 65% 65%
That was the wrong thing for him to do 68 15% 15% 80%
Don't know 93 20% 20% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Issue importance

How important are the positions taken by candidates on this bill for your vote in November for governor and for state legislature?
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very important 115 25% 25% 25%
Somewhat important 216 48% 48% 73%
Not too important 97 21% 21% 94%
Not at all important 26 6% 6% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Party ID

Party ID, leaners as independents
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 149 33% 33% 33%
Independent 163 36% 36% 69%
Democrat 142 31% 31% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Sex

Gender
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Male 221 49% 49% 49%
Female 225 50% 50% 98%
Another gender 3 1% 1% 99%
Skipped/Ref 4 1% 1% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Age

Age
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
18-29 78 17% 17% 17%
30-44 110 24% 24% 41%
45-59 107 24% 24% 65%
60+ 159 35% 35% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Education

Education
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than HS 7 2% 2% 2%
HS graduate 155 34% 35% 36%
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates 132 29% 29% 65%
Bachelor's degree 98 22% 22% 87%
Post grad study/professional degree 57 13% 13% 100%
(Missing) 5 1% NA NA
Marquette University Law School Poll

Income

Household income
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k 94 21% 21% 21%
$30k to less than $50k 59 13% 13% 34%
$50k to less than $75k 66 14% 14% 48%
$75k to less than $100k 72 16% 16% 64%
$100k or more 161 36% 36% 99%
DK/NA/Ref 2 1% 1% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Race

Race/ethnicity
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
White (Non-Hispanic) 368 81% 81% 81%
Black (Non-Hispanic) 19 4% 4% 85%
Hispanic 29 6% 6% 92%
Other (Non-Hispanic) 33 7% 7% 99%
Don't know/Refused/Prefer not to answer 5 1% 1% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Reg Voter

Voter registration status
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Yes 423 93% 93% 93%
No 31 7% 7% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Ideology

Ideology
WI adult sample fielded May 20-21, 2026
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Conservative 181 40% 40% 40%
Moderate 126 28% 28% 67%
Liberal 146 32% 32% 100%
Skipped/Ref 2 0% 0% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll

Region

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Milwaukee city 42 9% 9% 9%
Rest of Milwaukee media market 139 31% 31% 40%
Madison media market 82 18% 18% 58%
Green Bay/Appleton media market 87 19% 19% 77%
North and west media markets 104 23% 23% 100%
Marquette University Law School Poll