Most Pennsylvanians Think The State Is 'Fundamentally Off Track': Poll

HARRISBURG, PA — A large majority of Pennsylvanians do not believe the state is heading in the right direction, according to a new comprehensive survey from the Commonwealth Foundation, a right-leaning nonprofit.

The poll, which will be rereleased quarterly through 2023, includes the question "Would you say that things in Pennsylvania are going in the right direction, or has the state fundamentally gotten off on the wrong track?"

A total of 61 percent of the 600 respondents said the state was on the wrong track. Similarly, 61 percent said they would relocate if they could.

The survey listed lower taxes, lower cost of living, and better jobs and opportunities listed as reasons residents thought about leaving. Florida (26 percent), Texas (11 percent), and South Carolina (10 percent) were the top choices of these potential migrants.

Inflation, the economy, border security, and crime are the most compelling issues facing this group of respondents, while major issues like health care (3 percent), the environment (3 percent), race (2 percent), and national security (2 percent) gained little traction.

Despite this seeming rightward tilt, respondents claimed they were about equally split about whether Republicans (41 percent) or Democrats (40 percent) were best suited to represent them.

And, curiously, while 56 percent viewed Gov. Josh Shapiro "favorably," (to 32 percent "unfavorable"), only 28 percent viewed his Lt. Gov. Austin Davis favorably.

Results should be taken with some context in mind. Despite its claims to nonpartisanship, the group has been connected by PA Spotlight to right wing "political pressure groups" in the past, and typically advances viewpoints that are at least fiscally conservative, if not right-leaning at large.

To see the full survey and its results, see the Commonwealth Foundation's site here.