Obamacare remains highly unpopular in the state

The Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, or otherwise known as Obamacare, is not liked by Oklahoma likely voters.  The latest SoonerPoll Quarterly found that just 25 percent viewed the legislation favorably and an overwhelming 70 percent viewed it unfavorably. Nationally, the bill is more favored at 43 percent, but a majority 52 percent view it unfavorably.

"I think we've found the floor of support for Obama's healthcare reform at 25 percent in the state," said Bill Shapard, CEO of SoonerPoll.com.  "Some voters are going to view it favorably no matter what."

The bill has had a rocky start, spending millions on healthcare exchanges that have not worked as planned.  Oklahoma did not build its own healthcare marketplace and participates in the federal exchange.  Parts of the bill were delayed in implementation beyond its enacted date by the president, including the employer mandate that was just implemented at the beginning of this year.

Still, little has gone according to plan for the president and his Democrat supporters.

Insurance premiums of the Oklahoma Obamacare plans continue to rise with more than 30 percent increases starting in 2016.  President Obama had predicted that the bill would eventually lower a family's insurance premiums by $2500.

Oklahoma Democrats were more favorable (42%) of the healthcare bill than Republicans, but still a majority of Democrats were unfavorable toward the legislation (52%) which is considered a cornerstone of the president's seven years in office.  Eighty-four percent of Republicans were unfavorable and 70 percent of Independents.

Even in Little Dixie, the once Democrat stronghold in the state, 56 percent of likely voters were "very unfavorable" toward the bill, and another 16 percent were somewhat unfavorable.

Conservatives in the state are overwhelmingly unfavorable toward the bill, but 58 percent of moderates and even 41 percent of liberals are as well.  Surprisingly, those with household incomes under $25,000, and those most likely to qualify for Obamacare, were just as likely to view the healthcare reform unfavorably as higher income households.

Additionally, no statistical differences were observed among any other major demographic groups.

Leading up to its passage, Democrats like former president Bill Clinton believed the bill would be seen more favorably once it was passed, and even when that did not occur, believed its complete implementation over the next five years would turn favor-ability in their favor.  In Oklahoma, just as nationally, this still has not happened.

About the Poll

SoonerPoll.com, Oklahoma’s public opinion pollster, asked these questions of Oklahoma likely voters as part of the SoonerPoll Quarterly Poll.

The scientific study was conducted from September 1-15, 2015 with 403 likely Oklahoma voters selected at random statewide from a dual frame of both landline telephone and cell phones. The sample was weighted by political party and age in order to reflect the Oklahoma likely voter population for a general election.

The sample reflects the traditional demographical profile of the Oklahoma likely voter with roughly half of respondents identifying as conservative and attending religious services once or more per week. The study has a Margin of Error (MoE) of ±4.88 percent.

This poll not only conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls but exceeds the standard disclosure with a Call Disposition and Rate Calculation Report. A complete description of the methodology can be found here.

The poll's Call Disposition and Rate Calculation Report can be viewed here. A beta version of the Weighting Table Report can be viewed here.