High Point Poll; NC Registered voters say Inflation and national security are top issues for D.C/
Published April 11, 2024
The latest High Point University Poll finds that a large majority of self-identified registered voters in North Carolina (76%) believe inflation is a very important issue for policymakers in Washington, D.C., to deal with, more than other issues in the poll.
- Presidential approval at 37%, U.S. Congress at 19% among N.C. registered voters
- Majorities of N.C. registered voters said the country and state are on the wrong track
- The latest High Point University Poll finds that self-identified registered voters in North Carolina are split in their intended votes for U.S. president and U.S. Congress, as well as North Carolina governor, House of Representatives and Senate.
Election for President, N.C. Governor and U.S. Congress
The most recent HPU Poll included self-identified registered voters who were asked who they would vote for if elections were held today. When asked about their choices for U.S. president, 45% of these registered voters said they would vote for Donald Trump and 42% said they would vote for Joe Biden. Another 6% said they were unsure who they would vote for, and 8% said they would vote for another party’s candidate if one were on the ballot.
When asked about their choices for North Carolina governor, 37% of these registered voters said they would vote for Democrat Josh Stein if the election were held today and 34% of these registered voters said they would vote for Republican Mark Robinson. In addition, 4% said they would vote for another party’s candidate if one were on the ballot, and 25% were unsure.
When asked about their choices for U.S. Congress, 44% of these registered voters said they would vote for the Republican Party’s candidate if the election were held today, 42% said they would vote for the Democratic Party’s candidate and 5% said they would vote for another party’s candidate if one were on the ballot.
Election for N.C. House of Representatives and Senate
When asked about their choices for North Carolina House of Representatives, 45% of these registered voters said they would vote for the Republican Party’s candidate if the election were held today and 42% said they would vote for the Democratic Party’s candidate. Another 4% said they would vote for another party’s candidate if one were on the ballot.
When asked about their choices for North Carolina Senate, 46% of these registered voters said they voted or would vote for the Republican Party’s candidate if the election were held today. Meanwhile, 40% said they would vote for the Democratic Party’s candidate, and 5% said they would vote for another party’s candidate if one were on the ballot.
National Issue Importance and Ownership
More North Carolina registered voters said inflation (76%), national security (73%), school safety (69%), health care in general (68%), and supporting veterans (68%) are very important issues for policymakers in Washington, D.C., to deal with than any of the other issues in the poll.
Majorities of these same respondents said protecting democracy (65%), gas prices (64%), taxes (64%), education (63%), immigration (62%), voting integrity (60%), law enforcement (59%), guns (56%), civil rights (54%) and agriculture (52%) are very important issues for Washington to deal with.
Less than 50% of North Carolina registered voters said that abortion (49%), climate change (42%), the war between Israel and Hamas (38%), the war in Ukraine (33%), and COVID-19 (32%) are very important issues for policymakers in D.C. to deal with.
The poll also asked North Carolina registered voters which political party in Washington, D.C., would do a better job dealing with each of the issues. At least 10% more registered voters said Republicans would do a better job dealing with the issues of gas prices (13%), national security (12%), inflation (12%), supporting veterans (11%), immigration (11%) and law enforcement (11%) than Democrats.
More registered voters said Democrats would do a better job dealing with the issues like climate change (20% difference between the parties), civil rights (15%), abortion (12%), COVID-19 (9%), health care in general (8%) and education (5%). Republicans probably have smaller advantages on issues like taxes (6%) and agriculture (5%).
There is not much difference between how well self-identified North Carolina registered voters overall think Republicans and Democrats deal with issues like protecting democracy, school safety, voting integrity, the wars in Ukraine or between war Israel and Hamas, and guns.
Approval Ratings and Favorability
Registered voters also gave President Biden a job approval rating of 37%. In addition, 69% said the country is on the wrong track, and 51% said North Carolina is on the wrong track. More than half of registered voters in North Carolina disapproved of the job that the U.S. Congress (65%) is doing, and the U.S. Supreme Court has a job approval rating of 38%.
The poll asked registered voters in North Carolina whether they have favorable or unfavorable views about a list of people or things that are in the news. More than 40% of these registered voters had a favorable view of Roy Cooper (53%), Donald Trump (45%), the U.S. Supreme Court (41%), the North Carolina Supreme Court (41%), the Democratic Party (41%) and the Republican Party (41%). Less than that had favorable views of Joe Biden (39%), the North Carolina General Assembly (38%), Josh Stein (34%) and Mark Robinson (31%). Over half said they have an unfavorable view of the U.S. Congress (63%). Majorities were unfamiliar with Jeff Jackson (63%) and Dan Bishop (60%).
Confidence in Elections
The poll asked registered voters in North Carolina how much confidence they have that the 2024 election results will accurately reflect the votes that are cast. One-third (34%) said a lot of confidence, 39% said some confidence and 21% said no confidence. Registered voters were also asked how satisfied they are with the choices of candidates for the 2024 elections. Over half (59%) were either very satisfied (21%) or somewhat satisfied (38%). About one-third (35%) said they are not at all satisfied with their choices of candidates.
When asked about mudslinging and negative campaigning in the 2024 presidential election, a majority (64%) said there will be more than in past elections while about one-quarter (23%) said it will be about the same. About the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election, just less than half (44%) said there will be more mudslinging and negative campaigning than past elections while 37% said it will be about the same.
A considerable majority (66%) of registered voters in North Carlina said it is very easy to register to vote in North Carolina. A little more than one-quarter (28%) said it was somewhat easy to register to vote, and 6% said it was either somewhat difficult or very difficult.
More than one-third (37%) of registered voters said they would consider voting for a third-party candidate, not a Democrat or Republican, for president in 2024. About two in five (43%) said they would not vote for a third-party candidate, while 1 in 5 (20%) were unsure.
“We are a long way from the general election in November 2024, but the top of the ballot races look very close at this point,” said Dr. Martin Kifer, chair of HPU’s Department of Political Science and director of the HPU Poll.
N.C. Registered Voters – Country Direction (March 2024)
Do you think things in this country [are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track]?
Right direction – 24%
Wrong track – 69%
Unsure – 7%
N.C. Registered Voters –State Direction (March 2024)
Do you think things in North Carolina [are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track]?
Right direction – 33%
Wrong track – 51%
Unsure – 16%
N.C. Registered Voters – Presidential Approval (March 2024)
Do you [approve or disapprove] of the way that Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
Approve – 37%
Disapprove – 55%
Unsure – 8%
N.C. Registered Voters – Approval of the U.S. Congress (March 2024)
Do you [approve or disapprove] of the way that the U.S. Congress is handling its job?
Approve – 19%
Disapprove – 65%
Unsure – 16%
N.C. Registered Voters – Approval of the U.S. Supreme Court (March 2024)
Do you [approve or disapprove] of the way that the U.S. Supreme Court is handling its job?
Approve – 38%
Disapprove – 44%
Unsure – 18%
N.C. Registered Voters – Favorability (March 2024)
Here is a list of people and things. Please indicate whether you have [a favorable or an unfavorable] view of each of them. [Items presented in a random order]
| Favorable | Unfavorable | Unsure/Not familiar with this person or thing | |
| Roy Cooper | 53 | 36 | 12 |
| Donald Trump | 45 | 52 | 4 |
| The U.S. Supreme Court | 41 | 45 | 14 |
| The North Carolina Supreme Court | 41 | 29 | 30 |
| Democratic Party | 41 | 52 | 7 |
| Republican Party | 41 | 51 | 9 |
| Joe Biden | 39 | 56 | 5 |
| North Carolina General Assembly | 38 | 32 | 30 |
| Josh Stein | 34 | 28 | 38 |
| Mark Robinson | 31 | 38 | 32 |
| The U.S. Congress | 24 | 63 | 13 |
| Jeff Jackson | 17 | 20 | 63 |
| Dan Bishop | 16 | 25 | 60 |
N.C. Registered Voters – N.C. Governor Ballot (March 2024)
If the election for North Carolina Governor were being held today, who would you vote for?
Mark Robinson – 34%
Josh Stein – 37%
Someone else/another party – 4%
Unsure – 25%
N.C. Registered Voters – U.S. President Ballot (March 2024)
If the election for President of the United States was being held today, who would you vote for?
Donald Trump – 45%
Joe Biden – 42%
Someone else/another party – 8%
Unsure – 6%
N.C. Registered Voters – U.S. Congress Ballot (March 2024)
If the elections for U.S. Congress were being held today, would you vote for the [‘Democratic Party’s candidate’ or the ‘Republican Party’s candidate’] for U.S. House of Representatives in your district?
Republican – 44%
Democrat – 42%
Another party – 5%
Unsure – 9%
N.C. Registered Voters – N.C. House of Representatives Ballot (March 2024)
If the elections for the North Carolina House of Representatives in Raleigh were being held today, would you vote for the [‘Democratic Party’s candidate’ or the ‘Republican Party’s candidate’] for NC House in your district?
Republican – 45%
Democrat – 42%
Another party – 4%
Unsure – 9%
N.C. Registered Voters – N.C. Senate Ballot (March 2024)
If the elections for the North Carolina Senate in Raleigh were being held today, would you vote for the [‘Democratic Party’s candidate’ or the ‘Republican Party’s candidate’] for NC Senate in your district?
Republican – 46%
Democrat – 40%
Another party – 5%
Unsure – 9%
N.C. Registered Voters – Issue Importance (March 2024)
How important do you think it is for policymakers in Washington, D.C., to deal with each of these issues? Would you say very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important? [Items presented in a random order]
| Very important | Somewhat important | Not very important | Not at all important | Unsure | |
| Inflation | 76 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| National security | 73 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| School safety | 69 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Health care in general | 68 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Supporting veterans | 68 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Protecting democracy | 65 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Gas prices | 64 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Taxes | 64 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Education | 63 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Immigration | 62 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| Voting integrity | 60 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Law enforcement | 59 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Guns | 56 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 3 |
| Civil rights | 54 | 27 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| Agriculture | 52 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Abortion | 49 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 4 |
| Climate change | 42 | 26 | 13 | 17 | 3 |
| The war between Israel and Hamas | 38 | 32 | 17 | 9 | 5 |
| The war in Ukraine | 33 | 34 | 16 | 14 | 4 |
| COVID-19 | 32 | 27 | 20 | 18 | 3 |
N.C. Registered Voters – Issue Ownership (March 2024)
Below is a list of issues that political parties in Washington, D.C., might have to deal with. For each issue, please tell me whether you think [Democratic Party or the Republican Party] would do a better job dealing with the issue. [Items presented in a random order]
| Democratic Party | Republican Party | Both Equally | Neither | Unsure | D – R | |
| Climate change | 43 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Civil rights | 44 | 29 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| Abortion | 42 | 30 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 12 |
| COVID-19 | 35 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 9 |
| Health care in general | 39 | 31 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 8 |
| Education | 37 | 32 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Protecting democracy | 40 | 36 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| School safety | 35 | 35 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Voting integrity | 36 | 37 | 11 | 10 | 6 | -1 |
| The war in Ukraine | 31 | 34 | 15 | 13 | 7 | -3 |
| Guns | 37 | 41 | 8 | 9 | 5 | -4 |
| The war between Israel and Hamas | 29 | 33 | 16 | 15 | 7 | -4 |
| Agriculture | 30 | 35 | 19 | 8 | 8 | -5 |
| Taxes | 34 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 6 | -6 |
| Law enforcement | 30 | 41 | 14 | 9 | 6 | -11 |
| Immigration | 33 | 44 | 10 | 8 | 5 | -11 |
| Supporting veterans | 30 | 41 | 15 | 8 | 5 | -11 |
| Inflation | 31 | 43 | 10 | 12 | 5 | -12 |
| National security | 30 | 42 | 16 | 7 | 6 | -12 |
| Gas prices | 29 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 5 | -13 |
N.C. Registered Voters – Confidence in 2024 Election (March 2024)
How much confidence do you have that the 2024 election results will accurately reflect the votes that are cast? Would you say you have a lot of confidence, some confidence, or no confidence that the reported results will accurately reflect the votes that are cast?
A lot of confidence – 34%
Some confidence – 39%
No confidence – 21%
Unsure – 6%
N.C. Registered Voters – Choices of Candidates (March 2024)
How satisfied are you with the choices of candidates for the 2024 elections, would you say very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, or not at all satisfied?
Very satisfied – 21%
Somewhat satisfied – 38%
Not at all satisfied – 35%
Unsure – 6%
N.C. Registered Voters – Presidential Mudslinging (March 2024)
Do you think that the presidential election in 2024 will have more mudslinging or negative campaigning than past elections or will there be less mudslinging and negative campaigning?
More – 64%
Less – 7%
About the same amount – 23%
Unsure – 6%
N.C. Registered Voters – Gubernatorial Mudslinging (March 2024)
Do you think that the North Carolina gubernatorial election in 2024 will have more mudslinging or negative campaigning than past elections for governor or will there be less mudslinging and negative campaigning?
More – 44%
Less – 9%
About the same amount – 37%
Unsure – 10%
N.C. Registered Voters – Registering to Vote (March 2024)
Overall, would you say it is easy or difficult to register to vote in North Carolina?
Very easy – 66%
Somewhat easy – 28%
Somewhat difficult – 4%
Very difficult – 2%
N.C. Registered Voters – Third Party Candidate (March 2024)
Would you consider voting for a third party — not a Democrat or Republican — for President in 2024?
Yes – 37%
No – 43%
Unsure – 20%
HPU Poll 102 was fielded by the High Point University Survey Research Center on March 22 through March 30 as an online survey using a panel of respondents recruited and maintained by Dynata. Dynata sent invitations to its panel of N.C. respondents and the SRC collected 1,016 responses on its Qualtrics platform. All respondents were asked two screening questions to identify them as registered voters. A total of 829 respondents identified themselves as registered voters. The SRC did all data analysis. The online sample is from a panel of respondents, and their participation does not adhere to usual assumptions associated with random selection. Therefore, it is not appropriate to assign a classic margin of sampling error for the results. In this case, the SRC provides a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points to account for a traditional 95% confidence interval for the estimates (plus or minus 3.1 percentage points) and a design effect of 1.2 (based on the weighting). For the registered voter sample, the credibility interval is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points (3.4 for a margin of error and a design effect of 1.2). The data is weighted toward population estimates for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and education based on U.S. Census numbers for North Carolina. Factors such as question wording and other methodological choices in conducting survey research can introduce additional errors into the findings of opinion polls. Percentages may not add to 100 because of rounding.
Further results and methodological details from the most recent survey and past surveys can be found at the Survey Research Center website. Materials online include past press releases as well as memos summarizing the findings (including approval ratings) for each poll since 2010.
The HPU Poll reports methodological details in accordance with the standards set out by AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, and the HPU Survey Research Center is a Charter Member of the Initiative.
