OLYMPIA, Wash. — Sixty-one percent of people who participated in an exclusive KING 5 Washington Poll said they believe the U.S. Supreme Court is “out of touch” with the values and beliefs of Americans.
Of the 900 Washington adults who were surveyed, 22% said the Supreme Court was “in touch.”
The survey of registered voters was conducted in conjunction with The Seattle Times and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.
Comparing that to an identical question in October 2022, there is more negativity toward the court. Then, 55% said the court was out of touch.
Voters, however, look more favorably on other courts and officials.
Sixty-eight percent said they have great confidence in the ability of state courts to resolve disputes; 66% have great confidence in state and local election officials; and 59% have great confidence in federal courts.
How abortion is impacting voters in Washington
A near-majority of voters who responded to a survey said they are less likely to vote for a Washington state political candidate that supports federal restrictions on abortion.
However, an exclusive KING 5 Washington Poll found abortion restrictions is not a winning issue for candidates, and 20% said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports federal restrictions on abortion.
The survey of 708 likely November voters was conducted in conjunction with The Seattle Times and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.
Forty-five percent of very conservative voters are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports restrictions, compared to 32% who said it makes no difference in how they vote and 8% who say it makes them less likely to vote for that candidate.
Overall, 24% said it makes no difference to their vote.
Voters supporting November initiatives on WA Cares, carbon tax repeal
A majority of voters surveyed in July said they support an initiative that would allow people to opt out of the payroll tax that funds the WA Cares long-term care insurance program.
Of the 708 likely November voters who responded to KING 5’s exclusive Washington Poll, 52% said they would vote “yes” on Initiative 2124. Another 27% said they would vote “no” and 22% were not sure how they’d vote.
WA Cares gives retirees access to the $36,500 benefit even if they move out of state. It also allows those who move out of state to continue participating in the long-term program if they continue paying for it.
Other initiatives voters will decide on in November are also receiving support.
Initiative 2109, which would repeal the 7% state capital gains tax on stock and bond sale profits over $250,000 received 46% approval. Another 23% were certain to vote “no” and 31% were not sure. The money from the measure goes to things like childcare subsidies for qualifying families, bonuses for childcare centers offering hard-to-cover hours, and school construction. It was approved in 2021. The tax went to the state Supreme Court and was ruled constitutional.
Initiative 2117, a repeal of the state’s carbon market program requiring polluters to pay to compensate for carbon emissions, received 48% approval, with another 34% likely to vote “no” and 18% uncertain.
Initiative 2066, which would reverse government regulations that discourage natural gas use and require utilities to provide it to customers, received 54% “yes” votes to 21% “no” and 25% who were uncertain.
Though all four initiatives were being strongly supported in July, opposition to ballot measures frequently increases as Election Day nears, according to SurveyUSA.
Voters outline top priorities for next governor
Likely November voters said hiring more police officers, building more affordable housing and better funding mental health care should be the priorities of Washington’s next governor in addressing some of the state’s top issues.
A KING 5 exclusive Washington Poll asked 708 likely voters to respond to the issues of crime, high cost of living and homelessness by selecting possible solutions to each issue.
To address crime, voters chose the following items:
- 36%: Hire more police officers.
- 33%: Fund more mental health care.
- 30%: Impose stricter sentences.
- 26%: Fund programs to fight poverty.
- 25%: Strengthen criminal drug laws.
- 22%: Strengthen gun laws.
- 14%: Strengthen violence intervention programs.
To address the high cost of living:
- 44%: Build more affordable housing.
- 40%: Lower taxes.
- 26%: Lower the cost of health insurance.
- 21%: Create more jobs.
- 18%: Lower the cost of childcare.
- 16%: Support small businesses.
- 16%: Increase the minimum wage.
To address homelessness:
- 45%: Fund more mental health care.
- 41%: Expand drug and alcohol treatment.
- 30%: Build more shelters.
- 29%: Enforce camping restrictions.
- 28%: Build more housing.
Majority of voters believe future of democracy is at stake in the 2024 presidential election
A majority of voters said they strongly agree that the future of democracy is at stake in the 2024 presidential election, according to KING 5's exclusive Washington Poll.
Additionally, 43% of Washington voters who responded to a survey said they believe the country’s democracy is weakening and may collapse. That’s a four-point increase from when voters were asked an identical question in October of 2022.
The survey of 801 registered voters was conducted in conjunction with The Seattle Times and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.
When asked if they agree or disagree that the future of democracy is at stake in the presidential election, 51% of voters strongly agreed. Another 27% somewhat agreed. A total of 13% somewhat or strongly disagreed. Strong disagreement was higher among conservatives, with 12%, compared to 7% of moderates and 2% of liberals.
Of those who said they believe the country’s democracy is weakening and may collapse, 60% will vote for Donald Trump and 34% will vote for Joe Biden in November. Meanwhile, 37% believe democracy is holding firm but being threatened.
Just 11% said the country’s democracy is strong and resilient.
Protecting democracy is one of the top issues for voters.
Cost of living, protecting democracy and abortion seen as top issues for voters in 2024
Cost of living was identified as the most important issue for voters heading into the November election, according to KING 5's exclusive Washington Poll.
Of those who participated in a survey, 25% said that was the most important issue to them. Among those voters, 43% who said they will vote for someone other than Trump or Biden identified it as their top issue. Thirty-three percent of Trump voters identified it as their top issue and 15% of Biden supporters said it was their top issue.
Protecting democracy was next in line, with 18% overall picking that as their top issue.
Abortion and border security were next, each with 10% of voters picking that as their top issue.
Further down the list were guns (9%), climate change (8%), crime (7%), homelessness (6%), and the conflict in Gaza (3%).
Trump's felony convictions, Biden's Gaza response likely won't change many votes
Though some Washington voters say issues with their presidential candidate of choice affects how supportive they are, those issues likely won't change how they vote, according to KING 5's exclusive Washington Poll.
Seven percent of people surveyed who will vote for Donald Trump, 7% who will vote for Joe Biden and 6% who plan to vote for a third-party candidate said Donald Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records changes who they support for president.
Forty percent of all voters surveyed said the convictions don't change who they vote for and make them more supportive of their candidate. That includes 35% of Trump supporters and 46% of Biden supporters.
Six percent of all voters — 10% of Trump supporters and 1% of Biden supporters — said the convictions make them less supportive of their candidate.
A total of 45% said Trump's convictions won't affect their voting plans at all.
Meanwhile, 8% of likely voters said Biden's response to the conflict in Gaza changes who they support for president. That includes 11% of Trump voters, 4% of Biden voters and 14% of third-party voters.
A total of 24% of voters said Biden's response to the conflict in Gaza does not change who they will vote for and makes them more supportive of their respective candidate. That includes 32% of Trump voters and 22% of Biden voters.
Thirteen percent of voters said the issue does not change their vote, but makes them less supportive of their candidate. That includes 18% of Biden and third-party voters.
A majority, 51%, said it will not impact their voting plans.
The survey of 900 adults — 708 who are likely to vote in the November election — was conducted in conjunction with The Seattle Times and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.
Poll shows Biden with a slight lead
If the 2024 presidential election was held today, President Joe Biden would have a 14-point lead over former President Donald Trump in Washington state, according to KING 5's exclusive Washington Poll.
Of those people polled, 83% said they will definitely vote for the candidate they selected in the survey.
The survey of 801 registered voters — 708 of whom were determined to likely vote in the November election — was conducted in conjunction with The Seattle Times and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.
The survey was conducted before an apparent assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign event on July 13.
The latest survey results that have Washington voters picking Biden over Trump with 50% to 36% isn't much different from four years ago. In 2020, Biden defeated Trump in Washington with 19 points.
Of the voters who said they'll pick Biden, a third-party candidate or are undecided, 49% believe Biden should continue to run for president and 32% said he should withdraw. Another 19% said they weren't sure if he should stay in the race. Out of that same group, 53% said if Biden does withdraw, the Democratic Party should nominate Vice President Kamala Harris.
If Harris was the Democratic candidate, the survey shows she performs similarly to Biden in Washington state, defeating Trump by 15 points.
How people would vote for governor
If Washington's 2024 primary election was held today, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson would take 42% of the vote, with Republican candidate Dave Reichert taking 33%, according to KING 5's exclusive Washington Poll.
Republican Semi Bird, who was endorsed by the state GOP, would receive 7%. Democrat Sen. Mark Mullet would take 4% of the vote.
The two top vote-getters during the August primary advance to the November general election.
The survey of 801 registered voters — 564 which were determined to likely vote in the Aug. 6 primary — was conducted in conjunction with The Seattle Times and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.
The candidates are running to replace Gov. Jay Inslee, who announced he would not seek reelection for a fourth term last year. Inslee was last reelected in 2020. He became the second governor in Washington state to be elected to a third consecutive term.
Ferguson, the current state attorney general, announced his candidacy in September 2023. Ferguson was first elected as Washington’s attorney general in 2012. He also previously served on the King County Council.
Former U.S. Representative and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert filed in June of 2023. Reichert served with the King County Sheriff's Office for 33 years before being elected to Washington's 8th Congressional District in 2004. He left Congress in 2019.
Among the Democrats surveyed, 72% said they would vote for Ferguson while 3% of Republicans would vote for him.
Reichert received 76% of the Republican vote and secured 9% of the vote from Democrats.
The numbers are tight among independent voters, with 33% of the vote going to Ferguson and 32% to Reichert.
Nine percent of Republicans and Democrats said there were still undecided. A total of 23% of independents are undecided.
Race for US Senate
In the U.S. Senate race that has a field of 11 candidates, the poll shows incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell leads with 58% of the total vote. Republican Raul Garcia trails with 37% of the vote in the poll.
Cantwell received 89% of the Democrat vote, 59% of independent vote and 6% of the Republican vote.
Garcia received 88% of the Republican vote, 8% of the Democrat vote and 33% of the independent vote.
Cantwell has served as senator since 2001. She previously served as a representative in Washington's 1st District before serving as a state representative.
Garcia, an emergency room doctor out of Yakima, previously filed to run for governor before dropping out of the race and endorsing Reichert.