Voters in 20 Republican House districts are dissatisfied with the GOP healthcare plan, according to Democratic polling conducted prior to a scheduled Friday House vote on the politically troubled legislation.
The poll surveyed 1,001 voters across 20 House districts held by Republican congressmen, including nine carried by President Trump in the 2016 election, and 11 won by Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Overall, the results suggest Republicans could be in trouble in next year’s midterm elections in these districts if they vote for the American Health Care Act.
Across the 20 districts, 66 percent of voters said they had heard “a lot” about the American Health Care Act, including 77 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans.
By a 49 percent to 43 percent margin, voters were unfavorable toward the plan, including 52 percent unfavorable to 40 percent favorable in the Clinton districts, and 47 percent unfavorable to 44 percent favorable in the Trump districts.
House Republicans and Trump have struggled to reach consensus on the package to repeal and replace Obamacare because of policy disagreements and concerns that voters will punish them if healthcare doesn’t improve, much like what happened to Democrats after they passed former President Obama’s signature healthcare law.
“Despite President Trump’s warnings that House Republicans will lose their seats if they do not repeal the ACA, this poll suggests that support for this proposal presents a significant danger for Republicans come 2018,” reads the memo summarizing the poll’s findings.
The survey was conducted March 15-19 by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group for Priorities USA and Patriot Majority USA, two liberal activist groups that support the Democratic Party.
The pollsters tested opinions in these Clinton districts: Arizona 2; California 25, 45, and 49; Colorado 6; Illinois 6; Minnesota 3; New York 24; Pennsylvania 7; Texas 7 and Virginia 10. The pollster also tested these Trump districts: Florida 18; Iowa 1 and 3; Maine 2; Minnesota 2; New York 1 and 19; Pennsylvania 8 and Virginia 2.
Voters opposed to the AHCA were more intense in their views than supporters; 37 percent described themselves as “very” unfavorable and 15 percent describing themselves as “very” favorable.
That included 80 percent of Democrats who were very unfavorable toward the plan, and 30 percent of Republicans who were very favorable.
