New York Congressional Districts 22 and 24

Republican Sportsmen Survey Key Findings

December 2-3, 2017

Sample: 400 likely voters

Brock McCleary, President

 Methodology
The sample size for the survey is 400 likely
voters in New Yorks 22nd and 24th
Congressional Districts and the margin of error
is +/-4.9%. Reponses were gathered via
landline interviews conducted using
Interactive Voice Response (IVR). The survey
was conducted December 2 - 3, 2017 by
Harper Polling. The total percentages for
responses may not equal 100% due to
rounding.
 Protect Parks & Wildlife Preserves
Q: Republican presidents like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower fought hard to conserve
precious federal lands like the Grand Canyon, Glacier National, and Yellowstone Parks so that future
generations of Americans can enjoy these beautiful areas and the wildlife they sustain. Do you agree
or disagree that Americas parks and wildlife preserves should remain protected?

Republican sportsmen agree that parks & wildlife preserves should be protected.

Total Agree: 90%

Total Disagree: 8%
5%
Strongly agree

17% 3% 2% Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree
73%
Not sure

Very Smwt
Women Men Moderate CD 22 CD 24
Cons Cons

Agree 89% 90% 88% 92% 91% 90% 89%

Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Q: Private oil companies are currently seeking approval to drill for oil on the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge in Alaska. If Congress allows this, they would be breaking President Eisenhowers pledge to
forever protect these lands. Which of the following statements comes closer to your opinion: The Arctic
National Wildlife refuge should remain fully protected OR Private companies should be able to drill on
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for profit?

Republican sportsmen say the Arctic National Wildlife refuge should remain fully protected. There are
contours among Republican sportsmen on this question: women are more likely to say the wildlife
refuge should be fully protected than men are; Moderates are more likely than Conservatives.
Remain Protected Allow Drilling
80
73
70

60 56 55
50
50 47 46 46
43 41
40
33 32 32
30 29
30
24
20 16
10

0
Overall Women Men Very Cons Smwt Cons Moderate CD 22 CD 24
 Drilling Decision & Budget Vote
Q: In an unprecedented move, this controversial proposal is being included in the upcoming federal
budget and tax reconciliation vote. Please tell me which of the following statements comes closer to
your opinion:
Some say that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge makes good business sense and that adding it to
the budget and tax cut vote will expedite the process.
Others say that it is wrong to hide such an important environmental decision in a budget vote. They say that
any vote about drilling or mining on protected federal wildlife preserves should be debated separately, as a
stand-alone measure.

The decision about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife refuge should not be included in the budget
and tax vote, say Republican sportsmen. This sentiment holds across demographics, with the
exception of Very Conservatives who say it is acceptable to include this decision with the budget vote
(54%/34% wrong).
70
60
60
50
40
29
30
20
11
10
0

Including drilling is wrong Not sure

decision in budget vote
is acceptable
 Drilling on Public Lands
Q: Allowing private companies to drill for oil on federally protected lands could set legal and political
precedent for private development on other state and federally protected lands, such as in the
Adirondack and Catskill Park regions of New York. Do you favor or oppose allowing drilling, mining, or
other private development on public park lands?

Republican sportsmen are divided on the broad topic of allowing drilling on public park lands. Note
that although the overall numbers are close, the intensity is on the side of the opposition- 23% strongly
favor to 33% strongly oppose.
Total Favor: 49%
Total Oppose: 47%

23% Strongly favor

5% Somewhat favor
33%
Somewhat oppose

26% Strongly oppose

14% Not sure

 Drilling on Public Lands, continued
Many of the contours return from the earlier question about protecting wildlife preserves: women
oppose drilling on public lands, while men narrowly favor; Moderates oppose, Somewhat
Conservatives are split, and Very Conservatives favor. Throughout, the intensity is much higher for the
opposition than it is for those who support allowing drilling on public lands note this distinction for
Somewhat Conservatives in particular (17% strongly favor; 33% strongly oppose).

Favor Oppose
70
63
61
60

51
49 48 49 48 48
50 47 47 46 46 46
45

40
34 35

30

20

10

0
Overall Women Men Very Cons Smwt Cons Moderate CD 22 CD 24
 Electoral Impact
Q: Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for your Congressman for re-election if they vote for
the federal budget and tax cut plan that includes language to allow drilling in the Arctic Wildlife
National Refuge?

This vote has mixed potential electoral impact among Republican sportsmen.
Total More Likely: 47%
Total Less Likely: 45%
8%
Much more likely
28%
Somewhat more likely
28%
Somewhat less likely

Much less likely

19%
17% No difference

Very Smwt
Moderate CD 22 CD 24
Cons Cons
More Likely 67% 46% 24% 46% 49%
Less Likely 23% 46% 71% 47% 43%
 A Bipartisan Issue
Q: Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: Republicans and
Democrats have long worked in a bipartisan way to defend protected public lands from developer
interests. Preserving federal wilderness areas and wildlife preserves is an issue that both parties should
agree on.

Most Republican sportsmen view protecting wildlife preserves as an area for bipartisan agreement.
This holds across demographics.
Total Agree: 82%
Total Disagree: 11%
7%
8% Strongly agree

3% Somewhat agree

55% Somewhat disagree

27% Strongly disagree

Not sure

Very Smwt
Women Men Moderate CD 22 CD 24
Cons Cons

Agree 80% 83% 79% 82% 86% 81% 83%

 Solve Americas Energy Needs
Q: Which of the following approaches do you prefer to solve Americas future energy needs: open up
federally protected lands for oil and gas drilling OR invest in alternative energy and conservation
measures?
Republican sportsmen in these districts would rather see more investment in alternative energy and
conservation measures as a solution to Americas future energy needs, rather than opening up
protected lands for drilling. Very Conservatives are the most likely to support opening up the lands for
drilling (47%, 29% alternative energy), while Somewhat Conservatives (25%, 48%) and Moderates
(13%, 65%) choose alternative energy measures. A near-majority of voters in both districts choose
invest in alternative energy and conservation measures (47% in both CDs).
50 47
45
40
35
30
30
25
20 16
15
10 8
5
0
Open up federally Invest in alternative All of the above Not sure
protected lands for energy &
drilling conservation
measures
 Moral vs. Economic Issues
Q: Do you believe that protecting long-established wildlife preserves for future generations is more of a
moral issue, or an economic issue?

A majority of Republican sportsmen in the districts see protecting wildlife preserves for future
generations as a moral issue. Moderates are the most likely to see this as a moral issue (65%), followed
by Somewhat Conservatives (58%), and Very Conservatives (51%).

60 57

50

40

30 26

20 16

10

0
Moral issue Economic issue Not sure
Contact Harper Polling

Brock McCleary
President
brock@harperpolling.com
C: 202-236-4186

General Inquiries
info@harperpolling.com