Poll: Michigan voters represented by Reps. Slotkin, Stevens rate climate provisions of infrastructure plan highly

A new poll released Thursday, June 3, revealed support for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal across the political spectrum in Michigan’s eighth and eleventh Congressional Districts represented by Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens, respectively. This survey, sponsored by Moms Clean Air Force Michigan, Earthjustice and Environment America, provides district-specific data on how voters view the American Jobs Plan (AJP).

The poll found that overall, voters support the bill by a 57-percent to 34-percent margin in MI-08 and by a 60-percent to 30-percent margin in MI-11. Sixty-four percent of the all-important Independent voters polled in MI-08 and 54 percent in MI-11 approve of the plan. Further, 61 percent of 8th District voters and 54 percent of 11th District voters said Congress should pass the bill if a bipartisan majority of the U.S. public supports it, even if Congress does not reflect that bipartisanship.

On multiple measures, voters in the district clearly signal that components of the AJP that focus specifically on climate change and clean energy are a significant selling point. When told that the plan includes a major emphasis on investments to expand the use of clean energy, such as wind and solar power, to tackle the climate crisis and create jobs, 62 percent of voters in the MI-08 and 66 percent of voters in MI-11 firmly say that this approach makes them more likely to support the AJP.

Among the specific provisions designed to address the climate crisis:

• 80 percent of voters in the MI-08 and 82 percent of voters polled in MI-11 support investments to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize public transportation to ensure it is cleaner and able to serve more people.
• 68 percent of voters in MI-08 and 75 percent of voters in MI-11 support addressing the challenge of climate change by shifting to greater use of clean energy, reducing carbon pollution from vehicles and industry, and making homes and buildings more energy efficient.
• 69 percent of voters in MI-08 and 68 percent of voters in MI-11 support investments in clean energy such as wind and solar power by extending tax credits to spur innovation and manufacturing.
• 60 percent of voters in MI-08 and 64 percent of voters in MI-11 support investments in electric vehicles and charging stations to reduce pollution and help more Americans buy clean cars.

In addition, 80 percent of MI-08 voters and 83 percent of MI-11 voters support investments to upgrade drinking water infrastructure by replacing every lead water pipe in the country, so all Americans have access to safe, clean water.

“Michigan has been hit hard by the climate crisis and the societal devastation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Elizabeth Hauptman, Michigan field organizer for Moms Clean Air Force. “The American Jobs Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in clean energy and infrastructure which is good for our families and good for the climate. What’s more, this data demonstrates that Michiganders support President Biden’s plan to build back better.”

The survey was conducted via live telephone conversations between May 10 and May 13 by Hart Research Associates for Earthjustice and Environment America, in cooperation with the League of Conservation Voters.