Homelessness drives opinions of Denver's mayor, new poll shows

Data: Colorado Polling Institute; Note: Margin of error is 4.85 points; Chart: John Frank/Axios

How Denver views its mayor is inextricably linked to the issue of homelessness , a new poll shows, raising the stakes for Mike Johnston's efforts to house more residents.

Why it matters: The poll set for release Wednesday offers a look at the mayor's image at his one-year mark and shows that voters want more action on major issues.

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Driving the news: Johnston's favorability rating among registered voters is 48%, with 38% unfavorable, the survey from the bipartisan Colorado Polling Institute shows.

• The 10-point margin is a downgrade from the firm's poll last August when Johnston posted a 24% positive margin.

Zoom in: 57% believe the mayor is making progress on the city's challenges since taking office July 17, while 39% said he's made no progress or worsened the situation.

• A plurality at 44% believe he is moving in the right direction on homelessness but needs to do more.
• On other issues, including the influx of migrants , crime and housing affordability , most voters feel he has not made any progress or has worsened the situation.

What they're saying: "Your perception on that [homelessness] question of whether progress is being made has a heck of a lot to do with how you feel about the mayor in his first year in office," said pollster Kevin Ingham at Aspect Strategies.

Context: The new survey is the second in recent months to look at Johnston's rating as he approaches one year in office.

• A poll in May commissioned by city council members put Johnston's approval rating at 43%, but used a different methodology and pool of voters.

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