Republican candidates for governor in New Hampshire, Missouri and Indiana lead their Democratic challengers, according to new polls published this week in states where incumbents are retiring.
In New Hampshire, former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) leads former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig (D) by a narrow 46%-43% margin, according to a survey published Monday by the St. Anselm College Survey Center.
It’s the first public poll of the contest since Ayotte and Craig won their respective primary elections last week — primaries that exacted a cost on both candidates. Ayotte and Craig have both seen their negative ratings increase, the pollster said.
Craig leads among women voters by a 49%-39% margin, while Ayotte holds a 54%-36% lead among men. Ayotte holds a 6-point advantage among self-described moderates, and a 3-point edge among voters who do not align with either Democrats or Republicans.
The two rivals are competing to replace Gov. Chris Sununu (R), who is retiring after four two-year terms in office. The poll surveyed 2,241 likely voters Sept. 11-12, the two days after the primary contest.
In Indiana, where Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) faces term limits, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R) holds a 45%-34% lead over Jennifer McCormick (D), a former state superintendent of public instruction. Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater takes 6%, according to a new poll conducted by Emerson College.
The poll shows Braun leading by wide margins among both men and women. Indiana has not elected a Democratic governor since Frank O’Bannon won re-election in 2000.
The Emerson College poll was conducted Sept. 12-13 among 1,000 likely voters.
Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) also leads his Democratic rival as he vies to replace term-limited Gov. Mike Parson (R). An Emerson College poll shows Kehoe leading state House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) by a 52%-36% margin. Kehoe leads among both men and women.
At the same time, Missouri voters signal they are likely to back a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights. The poll found 58% of Missouri voters support the proposed amendment that will appear on November’s ballot, while just 30% are opposed.
The poll found a smaller majority, 52%, support a ballot measure to legalize sports wagering for those over 21 years old. A quarter of voters plan to vote against legal sports wagering, a key issue in the ongoing fight between Missouri and Kansas — where sports gambling is already legal — as they battle to host the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals.
That Emerson College poll was conducted Sept. 12-13 among 850 likely voters.