Just over half of Kansas voters say they would be less likely to vote for an elected official who favors eliminating state funding for Planned Parenthood, according to a new survey of 817 Kansas voters.
Thirty-two percent say they would be more likely to vote for such an official, 10 percent say it wouldn’t make a difference and 5 percent say they are not sure.
Half the voters surveyed say they have a very unfavorable view of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and another 15 percent say they have a somewhat unfavorable view. Only 14 percent say they have a very favorable view of the governor and 16 percent say they have a somewhat favorable view.
Brownback has sought to eliminate Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid funding. A federal judge blocked the state’s attempt to do that and the case is now on appeal.
The survey, which was conducted by Public Policy Polling on Oct. 26-27, was commissioned by Planned Parenthood and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
Other results from the survey:
- 30 percent of surveyed voters say abortion is wrong and should be illegal. Another 30 percent say it should remain legal. An additional 38 percent say they may not choose abortion for themselves or their families but the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision herself.
- Slightly more than 6 out of 10 of those surveyed say they support Planned Parenthood receiving federal and state funds for reproductive and preventive health services. Thirty-five percent say they oppose such funding. Four percent are not sure.
- 56 percent of Kansas voters have a very or somewhat favorable view of Planned Parenthood; 38 percent have a very or somewhat unfavorable view.
- 47 percent have a very or somewhat favorable view of Kansans for Life, an anti-abortion group; 38 percent have a very or somewhat unfavorable view.
- 49 percent have a very or somewhat favorable view of Democrats in the Kansas Legislature; 44 percent have a very or somewhat unfavorable view.
- 44 percent have a very or somewhat favorable view of Republicans in the Kansas Legislature; 52 percent have a very or somewhat unfavorable view.
- 56 percent have a very or somewhat favorable view of the National Rifle Association; 38 percent have a very or somewhat unfavorable view.
The survey’s results accord with other polls showing strong support for Planned Parenthood. A recent poll conducted for Politico by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that even 48 percent of self-described supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump want to keep funding Planned Parenthood.
Dan Margolies, editor of the Heartland Health Monitor team, is based at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.
