New poll shows R.I. likely voters back inspector general. But Gov. McKee has some work to do.

Gov. Dan McKee is shown during his State of the State address in the House chamber on Jan. 16, 2024. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Twice as many likely voters back a state inspector general than their own governor, according to a new survey published Tuesday by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University.

Nearly three-quarters of the 1,450 likely voters surveyed from June 5 to 14 support a new Rhode Island Office of the Inspector General to root out corruption, fraud and government financial mismanagement. A contingent of state lawmakers, mostly Republicans, have unsuccessfully pushed for this for more than 20 years, even bringing in Massachusetts’ inspector general to the State House in May to explain how the first-in-the-nation Commonwealth office operates.

The proposal failed to advance again during the 2024 legislative session. But among voters, support is strong and spans the political gamut, with nearly 70% support among Democrats and even more from Republican and unaffiliated voters.

That stands in stark contrast to the 36% of survey takers who said they “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of Gov. Dan McKee — a 13 percentage-point decline over the sentiment among voters toward McKee in an April poll by Morning Consult .

“I would put it toward the Washington Bridge and the continued slog of it,” Katie Langford Sonder, Pell Center fellow and associate director, said in an interview on Monday. “We are so many months in, and it’s affecting people’s day-to-day lives so viscerally. People are craving a solution.”

Fewer than 30% of those surveyed approved of McKee’s handling of the westbound bridge closure, while nearly six in 10 thought his oversight fell short. Criticism was strongest among Republican voters, though four in 10 Democrats and two-thirds of unaffiliated voters also expressed disapproval.

McKee’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on the survey results.

I would put it toward the Washington Bridge and the continued slog of it. We are so many months in, and it’s affecting people’s day-to-day lives so viscerally. People are craving a solution.

– Katie Langford Sonder, Pell Center fellow and associate director

The next state gubernatorial election is not until 2026. Much closer: the 2024 presidential election, where the traditionally Democratic stronghold that is the Ocean State looks less blue than usual.

President Joe Biden maintained a slim 7% margin over Donald Trump among survey takers if the election were held today.

That took Langford Sonder by surprise, especially given the more-than-20 percentage point margin Rhode Island voters gave to Biden in 2020.

One explanation: “It’s still early,” Langford Sonder said, noting the poll was conducted ahead of the first presidential debate, slated for Thursday and hosted by CNN.

“Democrats seem unsure,” she said.

At the time of the June survey, 10% of Democratic voters were undecided.

Also noteworthy: the level of support for independent presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially among unaffiliated voters, 17% of whom backed Kennedy if the election were held the day of the survey.

Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, three of whom are facing reelection this November, appear much more likely to win based on support of survey takers. Rep. Gabe Amo, who represents the 1st Congressional District following a November 2023 special election, had the strongest showing, with 50% of likely voters saying they would cast ballots for him again if the election was today. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Seth Magaziner garnered 48% and 47%, respectively.

Support highest for Reed

Sen. Jack Reed is not up for reelection this year, but in a separate question measuring approval of job performance, Reed had the most support of any members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation at 58% — 10 percentage points higher than Whitehouse.

“Reed is the more moderate candidate,” Langford Sonder said. “Whitehouse tends to be stronger and more vocal in his views on dark money and climate change.”

Whitehouse has taken a leading role in calling for the investigation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the heels of a 2023 ProPublica investigation exposing alleged misconduct by Thomas.

Another ethical — and criminal — scandal involving Trump appeared to have little impact on the state’s Republican and Democratic voters in the survey. The polling occurred days after a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to try to cover up a sex scandal during his 2016 presidential campaign. Reaction to the outcome showcased a clear divide among state voters by party affiliation, with more than 90% of Democrats expressing agreement with the decision, while nearly as many Republicans disagreed.

“There is certainly a split, but I am not comfortable saying it’s causation,” Langford Sonder said.

However, she backed the survey’s results with full confidence, noting the “extremely low” 2.8% margin of error.

The survey conducted by Embold Research on behalf of the Pell Center also took stock of voters’ attitudes on news media, faith in the election outcome and polarization. A second iteration of the survey is planned for September, with an October release, to measure how answers on these topics change closer to the election.

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