Sept. 9, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Evan Lips, communications director
617-523-5005 ext. 245

BOSTON —  The state GOP says it has identified districts with strong potential for electing Republican lawmakers in 2020, and they have the data to prove it. 

“I am advising candidates to put the word ‘Republican’ in big letters on all campaign literature,” said Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons.

The survey of nearly 1,500 likely 2020 voters spread out across 25 House “battleground” districts reveals deep dissatisfaction with Beacon Hill Democrats and shows strong potential for Republicans to pick up several seats.

“It’s clear there are issues out there which are driving people away from the Democrats as their party keeps lurching further left,” said Lyons.

The top issue resonating with surveyed voters was illegal immigration. A question asking whether Massachusetts should become a so-called “sanctuary state” saw 89 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of unenrolled voters answer “no.” Just 49 percent of Democrats polled on the question answered “yes.” 

Additionally, roughly three out of five voters responded that their taxes are too high, while more than half believe Beacon Hill Democrats are “taking Massachusetts in the wrong direction.” Voters overall opposed the Green New Deal by a 25-point margin and Medicare-for-all initiatives by a 16-point margin. 

The poll, conducted by the Remington Research Group, also found that 92 percent of Republicans and 80 percent of unenrolled voters oppose providing welfare and other federal and state benefits to illegal immigrants. 

“This gives us a really good snapshot of what the election could look like in the fall of 2020,” Lyons said. “Republicans should not be afraid to run as Republicans.”

“I can guarantee you we will make sure that voters will know where each and every Democrat stands on these issues.” 

The 25 targeted districts were selected based on 2016 general election results. Each district saw President Donald Trump capture at least 50 percent of the vote.

Magop Battleground Survey Memo 090319 (1) by Evan on Scribd

Magop Battleground 2020 General Election Survey 082719 by Evan on Scribd