The divide in the Republican party is not quite as prominent as the Taos Gorge, but it is close.
In the headlines, the Republican split is playing itself out on the national level with the presidential primary. On a state level the split has manifested itself with the election of a new national committeeman.
The 2016 Garrity Perception Survey tells a somewhat more in-depth story, highlighting a fundamental rift among New Mexico residents who consider themselves “somewhat conservative” or “conservative.”
The philosophical split surfaced as a part of a scientific, statewide, third party survey commissioned by The Garrity Group and conducted by Albuquerque’s Research & Polling. The survey focused on gauging favorability of industries, trust of professions among other topics related to perceptions of government and business. The demographic data, also known as the “cross-tabs” is where some of the disparities between those who consider themselves to be “somewhat conservative” or “conservative” surfaced.
| Favorability of… |
Somewhat Conservative |
Conservative |
| Oil & Gas Industry |
51% |
79% |
| Solar & Wind Industry |
55% |
33% |
| National Banks |
44% |
35% |
| Public Schools |
33% |
47% |
| Medical System |
39% |
50% |
| State Universities |
73% |
60% |
| National Laboratories |
62% |
71% |
| Church & Religious Institutions |
63% |
82% |
The above chart highlights disparities of greater than 10 percent between those who identify themselves as “somewhat conservative” or “conservative.” The survey, conducted at the end of February 2016 has a 95 percent level of confidence.
The survey shows clear splits in favorability of the oil/gas, solar/wind and church/religious institutions. Come voting time, it will be interesting to know if these split ideologies will are reflected on the primary and general election ballot.
Finally, responses to the question “what do you feel causes more problems in government?” highlights an additional rift between the traditionally Republican factions. Those who identify themselves as somewhat conservative are more likely to blame problems in government on “elected officials who are not willing to compromise” opposed to conservatives who blame “elected officials who are not willing to stand up for their principles.”
| What do you feel causes more problems in government? |
Somewhat Conservative |
Conservative |
| Elected Officials who are not willing to stand up for their principles |
33% |
50% |
| Elected officials who are not willing to compromise |
48% |
29% |
| Both |
14% |
17% |
| Don’t Know/Won’t Say |
5% |
4% |
One final insight on the split related to favorability of industries and institutions; in the areas of the greatest differences, those who identify themselves as “somewhat conservative” align more with registered Democrats than registered Republicans.
A copy of the topline results can be secured through http://garrityperceptionsurvey.com
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