Latest UMass Poll Results on MA Residents' Opinions

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Recent UMass Polls have surveyed Massachusetts respondents on a bevy of topics and issues, including the direction of the state and the nation; immigration and the “Right to Shelter” law; racial equality, education, and abortion; and politician approval ratings in the Bay State. For topline results and crosstabs for all polls, please visit www.umass.edu/poll. 

Healey, Trump Approval & Other Issues

A new University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB Poll has found that Gov. Maura Healey continues to maintain majority support among Massachusetts voters, although she has seen a significant drop in support among less-educated and lower-income residents.

The poll, conducted Feb. 14-20, found that Healey currently holds a 52% overall approval rating for the job she is doing, while 57% of the survey’s 700 respondents indicated that she has thus far performed “well” during her time as governor.

Housing Tops List of Concerns for Massachusetts Voters

Housing is far and away the most important issue on the minds of Massachusetts voters, who also express deep concerns about the nation’s economy and their own economic situations, according to the findings of a new University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB Poll.

The poll found that just 30% of respondents believe the national economy is in “excellent” or “good” condition, the lowest mark since April 2023 and 10 points lower than an October 2024 UMass/WCVB Poll, and the 40% of respondents who say their own economic situation is “excellent” or “good” is the lowest since the poll started asking the question in November 2021.

MA Residents Continue to Support "Right to Shelter" Law

A new University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB Poll has found that 6 in 10 Massachusetts residents continue to support the “Right to Shelter” law, though majorities also support a number of proposals that would place limits and requirements on the system that provides emergency shelter to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the Bay State.

Bay State Residents’ Views on Race, Education and Abortion in the Commonwealth Law

The statewide poll finds respondents are optimistic about the future of race relations, support new graduation standards to replace the MCAS, want to restrict cellphone use in schools and strongly support abortion access.

UMass Poll Media Coverage

• Massachusetts residents favor challenging Trump administration, poll finds (WCVB, Feb. 24, 2025)
• Housing costs top concerns for Massachusetts residents, UMass Amherst/WCVB poll reveals (WCVB, Feb. 24, 2025)
• Massachusetts residents torn over immigration enforcement cooperation, poll finds (WCVB, Feb. 26, 2025)
• Charlie Baker ‘does not intend to run’ for Senate, despite poll showing him right on Ed Markey’s heels (Boston Herald, Feb. 26, 2025)
• UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll Surveys Bay State Residents’ Views on Healey, Trump, the Economy and Issues Facing the Commonwealth (UMass Amherst, Feb. 27, 2025)
• UMass Amherst/WCVB poll reveals Massachusetts views on education changes, racial progress (WCVB, Feb. 27, 2025)

Additional Media Mentions

• How Healey is holding up (Politico/Mass Playbook, Feb. 24, 2025)
• Potential challenges ahead for Congress (Politico/Mass Playbook, Feb. 25, 2025)
• Healey takes a hit over shelter crisis (Politico/Mass Playbook, Feb. 28, 2025)
• Gov. Maura Healey Wants Democrats to Put Up a Fight (UMass Poll referenced at 25 minute mark. New York Times, March 1, 2025)
• Confronting Trump's second term, Healy says she asks, "How the hell did we get here?" (Boston Globe, March 1, 2025)
• ‘If they decide to follow Trump blindly, they’re harming their own states’ (Commonwealth Beacon, March 3, 2025)