Incumbent Democrats leading, according to University of Delaware election poll

By Joseph Edelen
Posted 10/26/22

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and the state’s Attorney General Kathy Jennings hold leads over their challengers in the upcoming election, according to a new University of Delaware Center for Political Communication poll.

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Incumbent Democrats leading, according to University of Delaware election poll

Posted

NEWARK — U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and the state’s Attorney General Kathy Jennings hold leads over their challengers in the upcoming election, according to a new University of Delaware Center for Political Communication poll.

The 2022 Delaware Statewide Voter Survey found that 50% of registered voters plan to vote to reelect Democratic Rep. Blunt Rochester, while 33% support her Republican opponent, Lee Murphy.

Voters are also leaning toward the incumbent in the attorney general’s race: Ms. Jennings, a Democrat, led Republican Julianne Murray 53% to 40%, according to the survey, while approximately 8% of voters are undecided.

“The poll results suggest the Democrats are on track for a good election night,” said Professor Phil Jones, the center’s research director. “Driven by support from women and New Castle County voters, both incumbents look set to return to office.”

The study was fielded by the Issues & Answers Network, which conducted phone interviews with a representative sample of 904 registered voters. Questioning was conducted Sept. 14-29.

The Democrats’ leads are driven by a gender gap — Rep. Blunt Rochester leads Mr. Murphy 59% to 26% among women but is just behind him among men, 40% to 41%.

“The gender gap in support for Blunt Rochester has grown since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year,” Professor Jones said.

In New Castle County, Rep. Blunt Rochester holds a 61%-25% lead over Mr. Murphy, while Ms. Jennings bears a 63%-31% lead over Ms. Murray. Both also hold advantages in Kent County, as the representative is ahead 46% to 27%, and the attorney general is seeing a 49%-37% edge.

However, Republicans have dominance in Sussex County, where Mr. Murphy is ahead 56% to 27% in the race for Congress, and Ms. Murray is ahead 61% to 33% in her race.

The poll results also show high approval ratings for elected officials not on the ballot in 2022. Sixty-one percent of questioned voters have a favorable opinion of Gov. John Carney, and 65% of voters have a good opinion of Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long. Meantime, Democratic U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons were viewed favorably by 61% and 55% of those polled, respectively.

“There is solid support for Democrats across the board,” Professor Jones said. “Despite the expectations of a national Republican wave, Delaware’s status as a blue state is not being swept away anytime soon.”

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