Would Josh Shapiro Make A Good President? Pennsylvania Voters Are Divided, Quinnipiac University Pennsylvania Poll Finds; Voters Do Agree On This: Ban Cellphones In K-12 Schools
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While Josh Shapiro faces re-election this year as Pennsylvania's governor, speculation continues to swirl about whether he might also run for president in 2028 and voters in Pennsylvania are weighing in.
Forty percent of voters in the Keystone State think he would make a good president, while 43 percent do not think he would make a good president, with 16 percent not offering an opinion, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in Pennsylvania released today.
Democrats (69 - 16 percent) think Shapiro would make a good president, while Republicans (74 - 14 percent) and independents (44 - 32 percent) do not think Shapiro would make a good president.
SHAPIRO JOB APPROVAL
As for how Shapiro is handling his job as governor, 56 percent of voters approve, while 29 percent disapprove, with 15 percent not offering an opinion.
This compares to Quinnipiac University's October 1, 2025 poll when 60 percent of voters approved, 28 percent disapproved, and 11 percent did not offer an opinion.
In today's poll, Democrats (90 - 3 percent) and independents (49 - 30 percent) approve of the way Shapiro is handling his job as governor, while Republicans (58 - 24 percent) disapprove.
"Shapiro maintains solid numbers as governor. Do Pennsylvanian voters think he's up to the job in the Oval Office? Not exactly a ringing endorsement," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
2026 GOVERNOR'S RACE
In the race for governor, Shapiro leads Republican candidate Stacy Garrity 55 - 37 percent, little changed since Quinnipiac University's October poll.
In today's poll, Democrats (97 - 1 percent) and independents (51 - 34 percent) support Shapiro, while Republicans (82 - 12 percent) support Garrity.
FAVORABILITY RATINGS
Fifty-one percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Shapiro, while 30 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 15 percent haven't heard enough about him.
Sixteen percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Garrity, while 17 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her, and 66 percent haven't heard enough about her.
U.S. SENATORS
Forty-six percent of voters approve of the way John Fetterman is handling his job as United States Senator, while 40 percent disapprove, with 14 percent not offering an opinion.
Republicans (73 - 18 percent) approve of the way Fetterman is handling his job, while Democrats (62 - 22 percent) disapprove. Forty-eight percent of independents approve of the way Fetterman is handling his job, while 37 percent disapprove.
"Senator Fetterman, bridging both parties on some issues, maintains the warm embrace of a healthy number of Republicans," added Malloy.
Thirty-seven percent of voters approve of the way Dave McCormick is handling his job as United States Senator, while 33 percent disapprove, with 30 percent not offering an opinion.
PRESIDENT TRUMP
Forty percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 55 percent disapprove.
In Quinnipiac University's October 1, 2025 poll, 43 percent approved and 54 percent disapproved.
When it comes to Trump's handling of the economy, 39 percent of voters approve, while 56 percent disapprove.
MIDTERM ELECTIONS
If the election were held today, 49 percent of voters say they would want to see the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives, while 43 percent say they would want to see the Republican Party win control of the House.
Among independents, 41 percent say the Democratic Party, while 36 percent say the Republican Party, with 23 percent not offering an opinion.
U.S. ECONOMY
Roughly 3 in 10 voters (28 percent) think the nation's economy is getting better, 47 percent think it's getting worse, and 23 percent think it's staying about the same.
This compares to Quinnipiac University's January 10, 2024 poll, when 26 percent thought it was getting better, 44 percent thought it was getting worse, and 29 percent thought it was staying about the same.
IMMIGRATION
Fifty-six percent of voters think the Trump administration is being too harsh in its treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States, 36 percent think the Trump administration is handling this about right, and 6 percent think the Trump administration is being too lenient in its treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Fifty-six percent of voters say they would prefer giving most undocumented immigrants in the United States a pathway to legal status, while 34 percent say they would prefer deporting most undocumented immigrants in the United States. Ten percent did not offer an opinion.
CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS
Seventy-one percent of voters support banning cellphones in Pennsylvania's K-12 schools during the school day, while 20 percent oppose it.
Republicans (78 - 14 percent), independents (73 - 17 percent), and Democrats (64 - 27 percent) support banning cellphones in the state's K-12 schools during the school day.
Among parents with kids in K-12 schools, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) support banning cellphones during the school day, while 26 percent oppose it.
"Turn them off and stow them away, say a large majority of voters along with parents who want their kids' cell phones to go dark during school hours," added Malloy.
MINIMUM WAGE
Voters 66 - 29 percent support raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour.
Democrats (95 - 3 percent) and independents (67 - 31 percent) support raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour, while Republicans (58 - 32 percent) oppose it.
LEGALIZING MARIJUANA
A majority of voters (56 percent) support legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults in Pennsylvania, while 37 percent oppose it.
Democrats (72 - 23 percent) and independents (63 - 26 percent) support it, while Republicans (64 - 32 percent) oppose it.
AI DATA CENTERS
Voters 68 - 20 percent would oppose building an AI data center in their community, with 12 percent not offering an opinion.
Democrats (81 - 12 percent), independents (67 - 22 percent), and Republicans (53 - 28 percent) would oppose building an AI data center in their community.
"The magic of AI may be the future, but when it comes to building the physical infrastructure, Pennsylvanian voters say: 'Not in my backyard,'" added Malloy.
836 self-identified registered voters in Pennsylvania were surveyed from February 19th - 23rd with a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percentage points, including the design effect.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu or follow us on X @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 1. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Josh Shapiro the Democrat and Stacy Garrity the Republican, for whom would you vote? (INCLUDES LEANERS)
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Shapiro 55% 12% 97% 51% 48% 63% Garrity 37 82 1 34 42 33 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - 1 - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - 1 1 - UNDECIDED(VOL) 6 4 1 13 8 3 REFUSED 1 2 - 2 1 2 -
Question 2. Is your opinion of Josh Shapiro favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 51% 18% 85% 42% 42% 59% Unfavorable 30 56 5 35 36 25 Hvn't hrd enough 15 19 9 17 18 12 REFUSED 5 7 2 6 5 5 -
Question 3. Is your opinion of Stacy Garrity favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 16% 36% 3% 11% 18% 13% Unfavorable 17 1 34 12 16 17 Hvn't hrd enough 66 62 61 76 63 69 REFUSED 2 1 1 1 2 1 -
Question 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Josh Shapiro is handling his job as governor?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 56% 24% 90% 49% 50% 63% Disapprove 29 58 3 30 34 24 DK/NA 15 17 7 21 16 14 -
Question 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dave McCormick is handling his job as United States Senator?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 37% 64% 19% 33% 42% 32% Disapprove 33 11 54 32 32 33 DK/NA 30 25 27 35 26 34 -
Question 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Fetterman is handling his job as United States Senator?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 46% 73% 22% 48% 50% 43% Disapprove 40 18 62 37 39 41 DK/NA 14 9 15 15 11 16 -
Question 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 40% 90% 3% 32% 43% 36% Disapprove 55 9 96 55 52 59 DK/NA 5 2 1 13 5 4 -
Question 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - the economy?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 39% 85% 4% 33% 45% 33% Disapprove 56 9 95 59 51 61 DK/NA 4 6 1 8 4 5 -
Question 9. Do you think Josh Shapiro would make a good president, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Would 40% 14% 69% 32% 34% 47% No 43 74 16 44 50 37 DK/NA 16 12 15 24 16 17 -
Question 10. If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Republican Party 43% 96% 4% 36% 48% 38% Democratic Party 49 4 95 41 42 56 DK/NA 8 1 2 23 10 7 -
Question 11. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 6% 14% 1% 2% 7% 4% Good 34 64 6 38 42 26 Not so good 28 14 32 38 26 31 Poor 31 7 60 21 25 37 DK/NA 1 2 1 - 1 2 -
Question 12. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 28% 65% 2% 22% 33% 24% Worse 47 8 80 49 41 53 The same 23 26 16 26 24 22 DK/NA 2 1 2 4 3 1 -
Question 13. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better off 40% 69% 18% 37% 46% 34% Worse off 36 9 61 34 30 42 SAME(VOL) 22 19 19 27 22 22 DK/NA 2 3 1 1 2 2 -
Question 14. If you had to choose, which would you prefer: giving most undocumented immigrants in the United States a pathway to legal status or deporting most undocumented immigrants in the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Giving pathway 56% 15% 93% 53% 54% 58% Deporting 34 72 4 31 39 30 DK/NA 10 13 3 16 8 12 -
Question 15. In its treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States, do you think the Trump administration is being: too harsh, too lenient, or handling this about right?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too harsh 56% 13% 93% 54% 50% 62% Too lenient 6 11 1 5 9 3 About right 36 73 5 36 40 32 DK/NA 2 3 - 5 2 3 -
Question 16. Do you support or oppose banning cellphones in Pennsylvania's K-12 schools during the school day?
REGISTERED VOTERS....................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 71% 78% 64% 73% 74% 69% Oppose 20 14 27 17 17 23 DK/NA 9 8 9 10 10 8 HAVE ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL KIDS Yes No Support 65% 74% Oppose 26 18 DK/NA 9 8 -
Question 17. Do you support or oppose raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 66% 32% 95% 67% 61% 72% Oppose 29 58 3 31 34 24 DK/NA 5 10 2 2 5 4 -
Question 18. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults in Pennsylvania?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 56% 32% 72% 63% 60% 52% Oppose 37 64 23 26 35 39 DK/NA 7 4 5 11 4 9 -
Question 19. Would you support or oppose building an AI data center in your community?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 20% 28% 12% 22% 29% 11% Oppose 68 53 81 67 61 75 DK/NA 12 19 7 11 10 15