January 25, 2024
Bipartisan polling firm RABA Research, as part of their national series of public interest polls, conducted an online survey of 516 Kentucky residents on January 24, 2024. The survey looked at respondents’ opinions of Governor Andy Beshear, President Biden, former President Trump, and organized labor unions. Additionally, RABA Research investigated a variety of opinions on issues currently being debated in the legislature: child labor law changes, education funding, workforce issues, and sharing Kentucky’s roads with autonomous vehicles.
Of particular note, 94% of respondents believe “Kentucky’s workers should have the freedom to join a union” and 92% believe “Kentucky’s workers should have the freedom to contribute a portion of their own wages to their union if they choose to”. The results of this survey show 85% of respondents “would be LESS LIKELY to support my legislator if they voted to weaken workers’ rights”.
“Clearly the legislature is considering some very unpopular ideas like making it easier for children to join the workforce, using public funding for private schools, and most notably allowing driverless vehicles on Kentucky roads,” said John Davis, Partner at RABA Research who conducted the poll.
By a three to one margin (74% – 26%), respondents oppose “state legislators diverting taxpayer dollars away from neighborhood public schools to use for private school vouchers”. 85% of respondents support “increasing salaries for public school teachers and school support staff “. And when asked if respondents had a favorable opinion of their neighborhood schools, 68% responded “yes” and 32% responded “no”.
72% of respondents said they do not support “weakening Kentucky’s child labor laws to allow teenagers to work without limitations on school time hours or night shifts”.
The results of this survey also show significant concern (77% are “somewhat” or “very uncomfortable”) about the potential for driverless vehicles sharing Kentucky’s roads. 84% of respondents said they would not be “comfortable with riding in, sharing the road with, or sending your children on driverless buses”. And 83% are concerned “driverless vehicles are a threat to public safety”.
Key Findings: Below are several key findings from the research.
- Andy Beshear is viewed favorably by 65% of respondents and unfavorably by 25%.
- Joe Biden is viewed favorably by 28% of respondents and unfavorably by 68%.
- Donald Trump is viewed favorably by 53% of respondents and unfavorably by 44%.
- Organized labor unions are viewed favorably by 49% of respondents and unfavorably by 32%.
- 86% of respondents said they would not be comfortable sharing the road with driverless semi-trucks / tractor trailers.
- 83% of respondents said they would be less likely to support a politician who supported allowing driverless cars and trucks to operate on Kentucky’s roads.
- 75% of respondents said they would be more likely to support a politician who supported “qualified driver requirement for all highly automated driverless vehicles”.
- 78% of respondents are concerned that driverless vehicles are a threat to replacing workers’ jobs.