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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2024
Media Contact:
Brandon DeMars, bdemars@middleforkmt.org
Nick Lockridge, nlockridge@middleforkmt.org
New Poll: Montanans Upset over Direction of State, Housing Costs, Threats to Public Access; High Support for Reproductive Rights
Statewide survey from Middle Fork shows property taxes and housing affordability fuel negative views on Montana’s outlook
(Helena, Mont.) – A new statewide public opinion poll released by Middle Fork Strategies finds that Montana voters’ pessimism about the direction of the state continues to grow, with much of the concern levied at the property tax increase that Governor Greg Gianforte and the majority in the Montana Legislature failed to adequately address during the 2023 legislative session.
Currently 57 percent of Treasure State voters believe the state is off on the wrong track, compared to 36 percent who say Montana is going in the right direction. Five months ago, 52 percent said Montana was on the wrong track, while 40 percent felt that way back in February of 2023 (see Figure A below).
A Middle Fork poll in April found that the Legislature (29 percent) and Gianforte (28 percent) received the greatest share of blame among policymakers when Montanans were asked their thoughts on responsibility for the massive shift in property taxes experienced by residents in 2023. Respondents, who could select more than one option, also blamed out-of-state home buyers in that poll.
“Montanans are tired of being priced out of their communities and feeling like the politicians that they elected to represent them are instead giving breaks to big corporations and the wealthy at the expense of working families,” said Brandon DeMars, Middle Fork’s Executive Director.
Compared to previous surveys, the biggest issues concerning Montanans remain largely the same, with the greatest numbers of respondents saying that cost of living and cost of housing top their list. Inflation, property taxes, and public education round out the top five. Just last year, the cost of housing wasn’t even a top five concern. Now a whopping 73 percent of voters say they disagree with the idea that Montana’s housing crisis is being adequately addressed by our elected leaders.
When asked about public lands and waters, 74 percent expressed concern about wealthy landowners buying up property in Montana and blocking off access to nearby public lands and wildlife that have historically been accessible for hunting and recreation.
By a wide margin, 57 percent to 37 percent, respondents believe that public schools in Montana are not adequately funded.
On issues of reproductive rights, opinions among Montanans continue to be clear: support for abortion access in Montana remains high, with 56 percent saying abortion should remain legal in all or most circumstances, and only one-in-ten supporting outright abortion bans. This matches a steady trend seen in previous opinion research. Additionally, an overwhelming majority (83 percent) favor keeping in vitro fertilization, or IVF, treatment legally available to everyone, underscoring the strong disapproval of proposals to restrict or ban it.
“The message Montanans are sending to our state’s leaders couldn’t be clearer: focus on the issues impacting folks’ lives, like housing costs, property taxes, and making Montana affordable for working families,” DeMars said. “People are fed up with attacks on our rights and freedoms, whether that’s the right to make private healthcare decisions, receive a quality public education, or to access Montana's public lands, waters, and wildlife.”
Other findings from the poll:
85 percent oppose cuts to Social Security benefits.
74 percent oppose the creation of a sales tax in Montana.
73 percent favor reauthorization of the state’s Medicaid expansion program.
66 percent oppose legislation allowing tax dollars to be taken away from local public schools and given to private charter schools.
The results of Middle Fork’s most recent poll are available here, and a memo analyzing findings can be found here. The poll was conducted by Searchlight Research from July 28-Aug.1, among a 600-participant statewide sample. Responses were captured by live telephone survey to both landline and cell numbers.
Figure A
Generally speaking, do you think that things in Montana are going in the right direction, or have things gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
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Middle Fork Strategies is a multi-issue advocacy and research organization based in Montana. Middle Fork’s goals are to hold accountable those in power and work with like-minded advocacy groups on policies and issues that impact Montana.
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