NEWS RELEASE

For Release:
March 1, 2016

For More Information, Contact:

Nick Archuleta
President
North Dakota United
Phone: 701-223-0450 or 1-800-369-6332
E-mail: nick.archuleta@ndunited.org

North Dakota United Poll Shows Growing Unease In North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. North Dakotans are feeling increasingly uneasy about the state of our state.
North Dakota United, the states largest union of public educators and employees, partnered with
DFM Research to poll the public about how they are feeling as we enter the 2016 election
season. We asked 700 North Dakotans, who indicated that they were likely to vote in the June
primary election, their thoughts on the state of our country, our state and candidates for election
in the upcoming primaries. This survey has a Margin of Error (MoE) of plus/minus 3.7
percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence.
Our survey found that 63 percent responded that they thought North Dakota is moving in the
right direction, as opposed to 24 percent who felt our state is off on the wrong track. This
represents a marked swing in the wrong direction from survey results that DFM Research
collected in August 2015. At that time, 81 percent of North Dakotans thought the state was
headed in the right direction, and only 9 percent thought we were on the wrong track.
Feelings about the direction of our country have remained relatively stable during this same time
period. Twenty percent of respondents said that they feel the U.S. is headed in the right direction
in this most current survey, and 66 percent felt we are on the wrong track. In August 2015, 19
percent of respondents thought the U.S. was headed in the right direction, and 75 percent felt we
were going on the wrong track.
North Dakotans have historically expressed strong support for both public services and public
schools in our state. Clearly, North Dakotans are rightfully concerned about the economic
future of our state, said Nick Archuleta, President of North Dakota United. The recent budget
cuts made by our state agencies have further shaken the confidence of North Dakota voters, as
has the chatter concerning even deeper cuts. Our public employees share these concerns even as
they continue to provide the vital public services that North Dakotans depend on every day and
have every right to expect.
(more)
301 N. Fourth St., Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: 701-223-0450 or 800-369-6332
E-mail: comments@ndunited.org Visit us online at www.ndunited.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ndunited
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ndunited

Our elected leaders would do well to take seriously the apprehension expressed by North
Dakota voters in this poll. At the very least, legislators and others should be thoughtful and
considerate as they chart a course through this economic slowdown, Archuleta said.
ND United and DFM Research also asked 369 Republican primary voters for their preference in
the governors race. Of these respondents, 59 percent chose Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem,
while 10 percent selected Fargo entrepreneur Doug Burgum, and 31 percent said they were
unsure. These results have a margin of error (MoE) of plus/minus 5.1 percent.
###
North Dakota United is the largest union of public educators and employees in the state, representing
more than 11,000 public school teachers, school staff, university faculty and staff, and city, county and
state employees. Our association represents members in the state Capitol, the Legislature, in schools, on
college campuses and at worksites across the state, and in our communities, promoting the great public
education and great public services that the citizens of North Dakota deserve.

301 N. Fourth St., Bismarck, ND 58501

Phone: 701-223-0450 or 800-369-6332
E-mail: comments@ndunited.org Visit us online at www.ndunited.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ndunited
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ndunited

DFM RESEARCH
Saint Paul, Minnesota

NORTH DAKOTA
2016 PRIMARY ELECTION
FOR

NORTH DAKOTA UNITED

FEBRUARY, 2016

Topline
Interviews:
Margin of Error:
Interview Dates:
Sample:

700 respondents who indicated they are likely to vote in the June Primary Election.

Survey Sponsor:

North Dakota United

+ 3.7 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence.

February 18-25, 2016; calls conducted by Stone Research Services.
Landline and cell phone sample. Random digit numbers provided by Survey
Sample International (SSI) of Fairfield, CT. SSI provided Stone Research with
7,000 residential random phone numbers from a pool of listed and unlisted numbers
in the boundary area and 3,000 cell phone numbers, which then were stratified into
four distinct geographical regions.

Results from respondents who are likely to cast a ballot in the June 14 th primary election.
Q2a: Generally speaking, do you think the country is moving in the right direction, or is the
country off on the wrong track?
Aug 2015^

Right Direction............................................................................... 20%

Wrong Track ................................................................................. 66
(VOL) Unsure ............................................................................... 14

19
75
7

Q2b: And generally speaking, do you think North Dakota is moving in the right direction, or is
North Dakota off on the wrong track?
Aug 2015^

Right Direction............................................................................... 63%

Wrong Track ................................................................................. 24
(VOL) Unsure ............................................................................... 13

81
9
10

^ Data from the August 2015 Right Direction/Wrong Track is from respondents who vote in every election (closest survey universe
to a 2016 primary voter).

Q3:

Im now going to read you some names of public figures, organizations, and terms. For
each one, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion, and if you never
heard of them before, just let me know. (N=500, MoE +4.4%pts)

Wayne Stenehjem
Doug Burgum

Favorable

Unfavorable

Neutral (VOL)

Never Heard Of

64
27

13
9

14
26

9
38

Questions 5 and 6: Republican Primary Voters Only, N=369, MoE +5.1%pts

Q5:

Lets suppose the Republican primary for Governor was between: Wayne Stenehjem and
Doug Burgum; for whom would you vote?
Wayne Stenehjem .......................................................................... 59%
Doug Burgum ................................................................................ 10
(VOL) Unsure ............................................................................... 31

Q6**: And lets suppose the Republican presidential primary was between: Donald Trump, Ben
Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, John Kasich; for whom would you vote?
Donald Trump ...............................................................................
Ted Cruz .......................................................................................
Marco Rubio .................................................................................
Ben Carson ....................................................................................
John Kasich ...................................................................................
Jeb Bush ........................................................................................
(VOL) Unsure ...............................................................................

27%
19
17
10
4
2
21

Question 7: Democratic Primary Voters Only, N=185, MoE +7.2%pts

Q7**: Lets suppose the Democratic primary for President was between: Hillary Clinton, and
Bernie Sanders; for whom would you vote?
Hillary Clinton .............................................................................. 56%
Bernie Sanders .............................................................................. 32
(VOL) Unsure ............................................................................... 12
** North Dakota does not hold a presidential primary; delegates are selected at the Republican State Convention and the Democratic
Caucus respectively. The primary question was asked as a lets suppose hypothetical.

SELECTED CROSSTABS
Q2b: And generally speaking, do you think North Dakota is moving in the right direction, or is
North Dakota off on the wrong track?
Aug 2015^

Right Direction............................................................................... 63%

Wrong Track ................................................................................. 24
(VOL) Unsure ............................................................................... 13
Gender

RD

Men
Women

WT

Unsure

65%
62

24
24

11
14

65
61
64

23
29
20

12
10
16

62
60
68

22
27
23

16
13
9

67
60
65
62
62

24
28
24
24
20

9
12
11
14
18

29
56
68

47
26
14

23
17
18

Age
18-39
40-64
65 plus

Education
High School
Some College
College Degree

Region
East Cities
West Cities
East Rural
Central Rural
West Rural

Party Identification
Democrat
Independent
Republican

81
9
10

Q5:

Lets suppose the Republican primary for Governor was between: Wayne Stenehjem and
Doug Burgum; for whom would you vote?
Wayne Stenehjem .......................................................................... 59%
Doug Burgum ................................................................................ 10
(VOL) Unsure ............................................................................... 31

Gender
Men
Women

Stenehjem

Burgum

Unsure

64%
54

11
8

25
0

54
64
58

13
9
8

34
8
33

57
50
69

5
13
10

38
36
22

57
69
54
51
60

14
8
10
12
4

29
23
36
37
36

54
62

11
9

35
30

Age
18-39
40-64
65 plus

Education
High School
Some College
College Degree

Region
East Cities
West Cities
East Rural
Central Rural
West Rural

Party Identification
Independent
Republican