Most Utahns don’t want to build President Donald Trump’s wall along our southern border with Mexico if American taxpayers must foot the bill, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows.
However, most Utah Republicans do want the wall, even if they and all others have to pay for it, finds pollster Dan Jones & Associates.
During the 2018 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump promised Mexico would pay for the construction of the wall. He has since abandoned that rhetoric, demanding Congress pony up the money for construction.
Overall, 58% of Utahns are opposed to paying for the wall, including 47% who say they are “strongly opposed.” 40% say they support building the wall, even if taxpayers foot the bill. 2% are undecided.
Those numbers are consistent with previous UtahPolicy.com polling. In June of this year, 55% of Utahns said they opposed the border wall if Americans had to pay for it. In March of 2018, 58% said they opposed constructing the wall with taxpayer money.
Two-thirds of women (66 percent) don’t want the wall.
Men are split, 51 percent are against it, but 48 percent want to pay for it.
Trump still wants the wall, and he’s tried various means to get it – putting money in various budget requests.
But so far even the GOP-controlled Congress won’t fund the wall.
And if Democrats win control of the U.S. House in next month’s midterm elections, the wall will most likely be dead.
On Monday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he would not rule out a partial government shutdown in December over funding for President Trump’s border wall. Congress passed several appropriations bills last month. However, funding for several government agencies runs out on December 7. That includes the Department of Homeland Security, which is where the wall funding would come from.
The controversial wall is not just a partisan issue. Jones finds there is a generational gap on the issue, as well:
- Those 18-24 years old are really against it, 76-24 percent.
- But those who are 65 years old and older want it, 52-46 percent, even if they have to pay for it.
- Republicans want the wall, 62-35 percent. Still, a third of Trump’s own party in Utah don’t want the wall.
- Democrats hate the idea, 94-6 percent against it.
- Political independents don’t have any use for the wall, either. Against it, 75-25 percent.
Faithful Mormons have been standing with Trump on any number of issues. But on the wall they are split:
- 49 percent of “very active” Mormons are against the wall, 48 percent are for it.
- Those who told Jones they are “somewhat active” in the LDS Church are against the wall, 53-46 percent.
- Those who had been Mormons, but no longer follow the faith, favor the wall 52-48 percent.
All other faiths are against the wall:
Catholics, 70-29 percent opposed.
Protestants, 54-45 percent against.
Those of other faiths opposed, 80-30 percent
And those with no religion are against it, 85-13 percent.
UtahPolicy.com has been following how voters in the 4th U.S. House District see various issues, because of the very close race between GOP Rep. Mia Love and Democrat Ben McAdams.
Asked if they favor or oppose building the wall if they have to pay for it, 66 percent of folks in the 4th District are against the wall, only 32 percent favor it.
Jones polled 809 voters from Aug. 22-31. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.
