(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/18/22) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is up 51% to 46% over Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon, according to an Aug. 8-14 AARP Michigan polling released Thursday of 500 likely voters.
The survey comes as the Democratic Governors Association's (DGA) Put Michigan First released a revamped ad to close out its $4 million August ad buy that sticks with Dixon's opposition to abortion. Unlike the prior ad, Dixon's comment to journalist Charlie LeDuff that the sexual assault of a 14-year-old is a “perfect example” why abortion should be banned is only referenced in news reports and not directly used.
LeDuff demanded on social media that the DGA take his segment out of the ad, saying he never gave the PAC permission to use it.
The AARP Michigan poll used polling team Fabrizio Ward & Impact Research who oversampled 550 voters over 50 and an additional oversample of 315 Black voters over 50. Little difference was found by age, as voters over 50 like Whitmer 50% to 46% and voters 18 to 49 like Whitmer 53% to 46%.
Black Michiganders over 50 preferred Whitmer 79% to 16%.
Of the 50 plus population that were polled, 18% are not definitively decided on one candidate over another. Of the mostly independent voters, 8% are leaning towards Dixon, 6% leaning towards Whitmer and the rest are fully undecided.
AARP Michigan State Director Paula Cunningham said the tight margin of the race means candidates should pay attention to the opinions of voters over 50, who made up 60% of the electorate during the 2018 mid-term election.
“Michigan voters 50 and over are a critical voting demographic that all candidates are competing for in this midterm election,” Cunningham said. “With the price of necessities like gas, groceries and prescription drugs so high, Michigan residents want their leaders to provide solutions to inflation and the rising cost of living. The message is clear - if candidates want to win, they should pay attention to the issues that matter to Michiganders 50-plus.”
AARP polling showed that 19% of voters said the top issue in deciding their vote for governor is abortion, and 30% of Democrats said that was their top issue. Inflation came second at 18% and was a top issue for 29% of GOP voters. Jobs and the economy came third at 13% and was the top issue for 15% of Republican and 12% of Democrat voters.
Voters over 50 also highly rated the importance of Social Security, Medicare and prescription drug prices.
Social Security was important to 88% of Democrats, 80% of Republicans and 78% of Independents over 50. Medicare was seen as important by 84% of Dems, 68% of GOP voters and 72% of over 50 Independents.
Of the voters surveyed over 50, 33% were Democrats, 33% were Republicans and 34% were Independents. Half were between the ages of 50-64, and the other half were 65+.
Interviews were conducted 30% via landline, 35% by cellphone and 35% through text. The margin of error for the 500 statewide sample is ±4.4%; for the 850 total sample of voters 50+ is ±3.4%; and for the 400 total sample of Black voters 50+ is ±4.9%.
