{"id":29155,"date":"2020-04-01T12:21:28","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T17:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/?p=29155"},"modified":"2020-04-01T13:29:02","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T18:29:02","slug":"coronavirus-pandemic-breaks-through-wisconsins-partisan-divide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/2020\/04\/coronavirus-pandemic-breaks-through-wisconsins-partisan-divide\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus pandemic breaks through Wisconsin\u2019s partisan divide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pollsters and political observers of all stripes in the Trump era have grown used to the strong role party identification plays in shaping Americans\u2019 perceptions of reality. To give one example, in October 2016 just 14% of Wisconsin Republicans said the economy had gotten better over the previous year. Just a few months later, after Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration, 59% said it had. The proposed border wall with Mexico, the Mueller Report, Ukraine, impeachment\u2013all have had the same bifurcated public response.<\/p>\n

The current coronavirus pandemic is different. Majorities of all Wisconsin\u2019s partisan groups are following the outbreak closely, are very concerned about the epidemic, and support the steps taken by state and local leaders thus far. There is a gap between Democrats and Republicans, but compared to the issues mentioned above, the gap is small.<\/p>\n

The discussion below combines data from the Marquette Law School Poll conducted March 24-29 along with open-ended responses from 200 online panelists selected to match Wisconsin\u2019s demographic makeup. These responses were collected over the same time period as the telephone poll. You can view all of the results from both surveys at https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/poll\/category\/results-and-data\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Concern about the virus\u2019 spread<\/h2>\n

Ninety-nine percent of Republicans, 97% of Independents, and 100% of Democrats are following the coronavirus outbreak at least \u201csomewhat closely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nHow closely are you following the news about coronavirus?
\n<\/caption>\n
\nParty ID\n<\/th>\n\nVery closely\n<\/th>\n\nSomewhat closely\n<\/th>\n\nNot very closely\n<\/th>\n\nNot following at all\n<\/th>\n\nn\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\nRepublican\n<\/td>\n\n74\n<\/td>\n\n25\n<\/td>\n\n1\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n236\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nIndependent\n<\/td>\n\n70\n<\/td>\n\n27\n<\/td>\n\n2\n<\/td>\n\n1\n<\/td>\n\n316\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nDemocrat\n<\/td>\n\n87\n<\/td>\n\n13\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n255\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Democrats are the most likely to be \u201cvery concerned\u201d about an epidemic in the United States, but Republicans and Independents aren\u2019t dismissing the risk either. Ninety percent of Republicans are at least \u201csomewhat concerned,\u201d compared with 92% of Independents and 99% of Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nHow concerned are you about a coronavirus epidemic here in the United States?
\n<\/caption>\n
\nParty ID\n<\/th>\n\nVery concerned\n<\/th>\n\nSomewhat concerned\n<\/th>\n\nNot very concerned\n<\/th>\n\nNot concerned at all\n<\/th>\n\nDon\u2019t know\n<\/th>\n\nn\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\nRepublican\n<\/td>\n\n56\n<\/td>\n\n34\n<\/td>\n\n8\n<\/td>\n\n3\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n236\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nIndependent\n<\/td>\n\n61\n<\/td>\n\n31\n<\/td>\n\n6\n<\/td>\n\n2\n<\/td>\n\n1\n<\/td>\n\n316\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nDemocrat\n<\/td>\n\n87\n<\/td>\n\n12\n<\/td>\n\n1\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n255\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Democrats are also the most worried about personally experiencing COVID-19. But again, Independents and Republicans still express high levels of concern; 64% of each group are at least \u201csomewhat concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nTaking into consideration both your risk of contracting it and the seriousness of the illness, how worried are you personally about experiencing coronavirus?
\n<\/caption>\n
\nParty ID\n<\/th>\n\nVery worried\n<\/th>\n\nSomewhat worried\n<\/th>\n\nNot very worried\n<\/th>\n\nNot worried at all\n<\/th>\n\nDon\u2019t know\n<\/th>\n\nn\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\nRepublican\n<\/td>\n\n28\n<\/td>\n\n36\n<\/td>\n\n20\n<\/td>\n\n17\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n236\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nIndependent\n<\/td>\n\n22\n<\/td>\n\n42\n<\/td>\n\n24\n<\/td>\n\n11\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n316\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nDemocrat\n<\/td>\n\n44\n<\/td>\n\n42\n<\/td>\n\n10\n<\/td>\n\n4\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n255\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Nearly every month, the Marquette Poll asks about 200 Wisconsinites to answer some free response questions online. Often we ask, \u201cwhat do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?\u201d Usually, responses vary widely but not this time. More than 2\/3rds of respondents volunteered something about the current pandemic, including equal shares of Democrats and Republicans.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of their responses<\/p>\n

an under-30 woman from Waukesha County, Independent<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Most important problem:<\/strong> \u201cRight now I think the important problem that this country is facing is the Corona virus.\u201d<\/p>\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cWell all of the part time workers in my family has been laid of temporarily so there\u2019s no income from some of our family members.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cHonestly I can\u2019t even say what they should do\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a woman in her 40s from Milwaukee County, Democrat<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Most important problem:<\/strong> \u201cCoronavirus and the confusion of how to handle it\u201d<\/p>\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cMy daughter and I have been in the house since [redacted] because I am a teacher and she is a student where schools have been closed. We have done what we needed to do to live. We only shop for necessities once a week. I watch the updates on CNN everyday. I am concerned about returning to work and sending my daughter back to school in weeks since the doctors (experts) don\u2019t share the same mindset as the one currently overseeing the US.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cThe state and local government should continue to pay attention to data and make decisions based on data and not notions from the federal government\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a woman in her 60s from Ozaukee County, leans Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Most important problem:<\/strong> \u201cThe effects of the Covid-19 on people and the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cWe are self isolating and making minimal trips to stores.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cDelay the spring primary in WI. Can\u2019t limit gatherings to 10 people and then have a primary where hundreds of people will come plus exposure to the poll workers. WI governor has been a leader in sheltering in place. But, can\u2019t have it both ways with sheltering in place AND a primary election.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a man in his 60s from Waukesha County, Independent<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Most important problem:<\/strong> \u201cA lack of civility = a lack of God individually and as a society\u201d<\/p>\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cOnly not being able to meet together with other family members and with other believers.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cNot restrict the financial ability of the population and certainly NOT engage in election tampering (i.e.\u00a0messing around with date of voting in person)!!!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Many people\u2019s lives have already changed<\/h2>\n

Many people in Wisconsin have already begun paying a steep economic cost for the state\u2019s social isolation measures. We find that 9% of respondents have already lost a job or been laid off. A quarter have at least one family member who has lost a job. Work reductions are even more common. A fifth (21%) of respondents are working fewer hours due to the coronavirus outbreak. Twenty-six percent are being required to work from home.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Only 21% of Wisconsinites say none of these things have happened to them or their family. There is no difference in support for the state\u2019s mandatory social distancing measures between people whose families have been affected this way and those who have thus far escaped unscathed. Even among those who have personally lost their jobs or had hours reduced, 82% say the state\u2019s actions have been an appropriate response.<\/p>\n

Here is what some Wisconsin voters had to say.<\/p>\n

an under-30 woman from Racine County, Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cWe are without jobs and our whole life seems like it has been cancelled.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cquarantine\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a man in his 30s from Waushara County, Democrat<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cWe are isolated with our family, working from home with limited contact to the outside world. Where we are fortunate to have jobs, it\u2019s been difficult at times without outside contact.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cI think they should keep people quarantined, but take steps to ensure they have adequate healthcare and that their economic needs are being met.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a woman in her 50s from Shawano County, leans Democrat<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cI was working 3 jobs.. and now I am unemployed. My nephew who lives here just got laid off\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cProvide assistance for mortgages, utilities and quicker unemployment\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a woman in her 40s from Washington County, Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cyes we are all at home and some lost jobs\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cnot sure\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a woman in her 30s from Winnebago County, Democrat<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cThe isolation is causing emotional turmoil and we are suffering money-wise.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m not sure.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a man in his 30s from Kenosha County, Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cYes we are forced to work from home and to stay home all week.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cI totally agree with their decision for them to mandate everyone staying home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a man in his 70s from Milwaukee County, Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cwe feel locked up and fell like we are living in a communist country\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cask people to be cautious but not demand stay at home or shut downs\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Support for government measures is strong<\/h2>\n

More than 8-in-10 Republicans and Independents as well as 95% of Democrats support the state\u2019s mandatory social distancing measures. Thirteen percent of Republicans, 15% of Independents, and 2% of Democrats call these decisions an \u201coverreaction.\u201d Essentially the same numbers of each group agree that \u201cthe state or federal government should have the authority to limit public gatherings and store hours for public health emergencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nDo you think the decision to close schools and businesses, and to restrict the size of public gatherings is an appropriate response to the coronavirus outbreak or is it an overreaction that will do more harm than good?
\n<\/caption>\n
\nParty ID\n<\/th>\n\nAppropriate response\n<\/th>\n\nOverreaction\n<\/th>\n\nDon\u2019t know\n<\/th>\n\nRefused\n<\/th>\n\nn\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\nRepublican\n<\/td>\n\n83\n<\/td>\n\n13\n<\/td>\n\n3\n<\/td>\n\n1\n<\/td>\n\n236\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nIndependent\n<\/td>\n\n82\n<\/td>\n\n15\n<\/td>\n\n3\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n316\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nDemocrat\n<\/td>\n\n95\n<\/td>\n\n2\n<\/td>\n\n2\n<\/td>\n\n0\n<\/td>\n\n255\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Tony Evers\u2019 approval rating now stands at 65%, up from 51% a month ago. The improvement has come from all partisan groups with the biggest increase coming from Republicans (+19).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here are a few characteristic responses:<\/p>\n

an under-30 woman from Winnebago County, leans Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cI am constantly stressed. I am pregnant, and work in healthcare. Both my husband and I are going to work everyday. We are both afraid of what the future holds for us and our child.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cKeep up with the social isolation. For one month keep everyone on the \u2018safer at home\u2019 plan. I work in healthcare, I think this will work to flatten the curve and keep our supplies up as much as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a man in his 60s from Brown County, Democrat<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201cI am currently working from home and under quarantine and my family is stressed out and bored.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cThey should let the health experts who know what they are doing handle it and let the president do his job.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

a woman in her 30s from Milwaukee County, Republican<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you and your family?<\/strong> \u201ctotally affected. I was diagnosed with a [health condition] in late November and have been out of work due to being diagnosed with [cancer] back in [redacted] and was finally getting better and was to start back to work [redacted] and due to the outbreak and my current [health condition] was advised by my doctor that I would not be able to go back to work on that date. so just when I thought I was going to get my life back coronavirus took that opportunity away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should the state and local government do to deal with the coronavirus outbreak?<\/strong> \u201cexactly what they are doing! keep people home and safe. the less opportunity there is for it to spread the sooner it will pass and we can all get back to our normal day to day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites have filed initial unemployment claims in the last several weeks. Our data suggests that almost 10% of Wisconsin registered voters had lost a job when we interviewed them, and even more are missing income from reduced working hours. Despite this, 44% of registered voters still expect the economy to get better next year; 34% expect it to get worse. Fifty-nine percent still say their families\u2019 are \u201cliving comfortably,\u201d compared with 30% \u201cjust getting by\u201d and 10% \u201cstruggling to make ends meet.\u201d If much of the country\u2019s economy remains closed as expected over the next month or more, these numbers will surely worsen. As our open-ended interviews show, the pandemic is already harming Wisconsinites in profound ways. Despite (or perhaps because of) this, Wisconsin enters the crisis with more agreement about the threat and more unity about the sacrifices needed to combat it than any other period in recent memory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pollsters and political observers of all stripes in the Trump era have grown used to the strong role party identification plays in shaping Americans\u2019 perceptions of reality. To give one example, in October 2016 just 14% of Wisconsin Republicans said the economy had gotten better over the previous year. Just a few months later, after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[349,162],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lubar-center","category-marquette-law-school-poll","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29155"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29161,"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29155\/revisions\/29161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}