Utah Gov. Spencer Cox continues to enjoy broad support from Utah voters across the board, even as his approval rating among liberals and moderates appears to be slipping since December.
In the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, 63% of the voters surveyed approve of Cox as governor, which shows almost no change over the last six months. In December, his approval rating was at 63%; in May, it was 64%.
“It’s great to have the confidence of the majority of Utahns. Gov. Cox remains committed to working hard for Utah families, keeping our economy strong and securing our future. We’re pleased that Utahns recognize and approve of his tireless efforts to keep Utah the best state in the nation,” said the governor’s spokesperson, Jennifer Napier-Pearce.
However, when broken down along political ideology, the data tells an interesting story.
Between December and May, Cox signed a law that further limits access to abortion in Utah and three bills directed at LGBTQ children — one which places a moratorium on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors.
During that timeframe, the governor lost support among liberals, and gained popularity with his moderate and conservative constituents. Support among “somewhat liberal” voters went from nearly 75%, the highest of any group, to 55%. And his approval rating with moderates shot up from 60% to 78%.
But support among voters who identify as moderates appears to be slipping — 61% said they approve of the job Cox is doing, a 17% decrease from May.
The decline among moderates could be concerning for Cox, who is often characterized as a moderate himself. But Chris Karpowitz, co-director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University, says it’s too soon to draw conclusions based on that single data point.
Read more about Cox's recent policy achievements and the effect they've had on his support among Utahns' of different political backgrounds.