A University of New Hampshire poll published Thursday finds that Gov. Dan McKee has a 29% approval rating and that 60% of Rhode Islanders think the state is on the wrong track.
The findings, based on online responses earlier this month from 598 Rhode Islanders, signal a warning for McKee ahead of the 2026 race for governor.
McKee’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In June, a Pell Center at Salve Regina University poll put McKee’s approval rating at 36%. A different poll put the governor’s job approval as of last winter at 49%.
According to the UNH Survey Center, 65% of residents disapprove of McKee’s job performance and 6% were unsure. Among fellow Democrats, McKee’s job approval rose to 42%.
UNH found that 27% of respondents think the state is on the right track, compared with 49% in neighboring Massachusetts. Among Rhode Island Democrats, 43% believe the state is going in the right direction and 40% the wrong direction.
Asked about the most important issue facing the state, 16% said housing, 15% infrastructure, 13% jobs/economy, 11% corrupt/incompetent government, and immigration, state budget, education, homelessness and cost of living were each cited by 6%.
The poll also asked about the Washington Bridge.
Among people who used the bridge or detours since the westbound portion was shut on an emergency basis in December, 48% said their travel time was 10 to 29 minutes longer, 22% said 30 to 44 minutes longer.
Although voters will be asked in November whether they want to stage a constitutional convention — a question the state Constitution mandates be asked every 10 years — 53% of respondents said they had heard nothing about the topic, 18% said not very much and 12% some.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
