Mississippi Today

Poll: Where Mississippi Democrats, Republicans and independents find common ground

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2023

Poll: Where Mississippi Democrats, Republicans and independents find common ground

by Geoff Pender, Mississippi Today
January 30, 2023

Note: This analysis anchored Mississippi Today’s weekly legislative newsletter.Subscribe to our free newsletterfor exclusive access to legislative analyses and up-to-date information about what’s happening under the Capitol dome.

Mississippians have rarely been as polarized politically as they are today, with Democrats, Republicans and independents seldom agreeing on anything or anyone.

But there does appear to be some common ground in the state, according to a Mississippi Today/Siena College poll. Mississippians, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, gender and income differences, agree on several policy issues and on some assessments of where things stand in Mississippi — albeit some of these shared state-of-the-state sentiments are somewhat negative or pessimistic.

Here are some areas where Mississippians seem to agree, despite partisan and other differences, according to the poll.

Health care

Mississippians across the board agree “Every Mississippian should have access to good health care” — including 94% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans and 95% of independents. A majority of each group agrees state government has a responsibility to help poor working people pay for basic healthcare and that the state should spend more money than it does now on health care. And majorities agree the state should accept federal funds to expand Medicaid to provide health care to low-income families and individuals.

Taxes

There’s a bit of difference of opinion on eliminating Mississippi’s personal income tax as lawmakers are continuing to debate this session. The poll showed 66% of Republicans and 56% of independents support elimination, but only 42% of Democrats.

But a majority of all agree on axing the state’s 7% sales tax on groceries. The survey showed 71% of Republicans, 65% of Democrats and 67% of independents support this, and similar or higher majorities carried through by region, race, age, income and level of education.

Most states have either reduced sales taxes on groceries compared to other items, or have exempted groceries altogether from sales taxes. Mississippi’s 7% — the full sales tax placed on other items — is among the highest in the nation.

Education/raising children

Across the board, Mississippians polled judged the quality of the state’s public education to be only middling. Only 17% of Democrats, 22% of Republicans and 10% of independents rated it as “excellent,” while 63% of Democrats, 59% of Republicans and 60% of independents rated it as good or fair.

Likewise, few Mississippians of any political persuasion view Mississippi as an excellent place to raise children, but most said it’s good or fair. Only 18% of Democrats, 8% of Republicans and 15% of independents said the Magnolia State is a poor place to raise kids.

Employment/job training

A majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents — 62%, 64% and 61% respectively — rate the ability of residents in Mississippi to find suitable employment as good or fair. Only 10%, 21% and 9% said it was excellent, and 25% of Democrats, 10% of Republicans and 27% of independents graded it as poor.

Access to job training got similar good-fair marks, with 25% of Democrats, 16% 0f Republicans and 26% of independents grading it as poor.

PODCAST: The surprising Medicaid expansion and governor’s race poll results

But while there is agreement among Mississippians on many things, the poll showed, there remain some glaring differences of opinion, particularly on the big picture. While 65% of Democrats are optimistic about the future of the country, only 30% of Republicans and 32% of independents are.

And asked whether Mississippi is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction, 53% of Democrats and 55% of independents said wrong direction, while 56% of Republicans said the state is on the right track.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Up Next

Merit Health Central CEO, like many of its services, exits for the suburbs

Don't Miss

Bill seeks to keep public at a distance in videoing law enforcement actions

Mississippi Today

UMMC holds free cancer screenings

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @EricJShelton – 2025-04-30 12:00:00

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Resident physician Claire Babin, right, performs an oral cancer screening on Ella Holmes during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Physicians prepare for oral, head and neck cancer screenings during a free screening event at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, screens Diane Carter for oral cancer as medical students Mason Nodurft, left, and Eva Kiparizoska observe during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Educational giveaways advocating against smoking are available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Sharon Terry, senior tobacco treatment specialist, waits for patients during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Skylar Robinson, medical office assistant, left, and Kiandria Bruce, registered nurse, review materials at the patient sign-in table during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Head and neck cancer literature is available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Dr. Alex Brooks and registered nurse Angela Noble talk during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Nina Brown, clinical manager, helps Ned Bostic with paperwork during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin performs an oral cancer screening on Ned Bostic at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Ned Bostic receives a neck cancer screening during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, and medical student Hanna Watson examine Ned Bostic during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hosted a free oral, head, and neck cancer screening Wednesday at the Jackson Medical Mall as part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The event featured quick, noninvasive screenings aimed at catching cancer early — when treatment is most effective. Onyx Care provided free HPV vaccinations, while the ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education, and Research offered resources on smoking cessation and free services.

“These screenings take about 10 minutes and can save lives,” said Dr. Gina Jefferson, head and neck surgical oncologist at UMMC. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better chance we have of curing it.”

Tobacco and alcohol use remain major risk factors for these cancers. However, physicians say an increasing number of cases are linked to HPV, especially among younger adults with no history of smoking or drinking. Dentists are often the first to spot early signs, which can include persistent sores, lumps in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

Oral, head and neck cancers are among the most common globally. When found early, survival rates can exceed 80 percent.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post UMMC holds free cancer screenings appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about a free cancer screening event without showing a clear ideological stance. It primarily focuses on the health benefits of early cancer detection and the availability of free resources, such as HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation support. The language used is neutral and the content is centered around public health education rather than promoting a political viewpoint. The inclusion of factual statistics, such as survival rates and risk factors, adds to its informative and objective tone. There are no signs of bias or advocacy for a particular political agenda, making this a centrist piece.

Crooked Letter Sports Podcast

Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball?

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @rick_cleveland – 2025-04-30 10:46:00

by Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi State didn’t even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.

Stream all episodes here.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball? appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-30 10:21:00

by Mississippi Today, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi Today is looking to speak with current and former mobile sports betting users. We’d like to speak with people who spend considerable amounts of time and money betting on sports through online gambling sites.

We’re interested in hearing the experience of people who have suffered from gambling addiction or problems, or friends and family members of people who have. We also would like to talk with people who believe legalizing mobile sports betting would benefit Mississippi and its residents.

We want to hear from you. Please take the survey below or contact Political Reporter Michael Goldberg by email at mgoldberg@mississippitoday.org

TAKE THE SURVEY:

Loading…

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article from Mississippi Today appears to present a neutral stance, focusing on gathering input from various groups of mobile sports betting users, including those who may have experienced addiction issues. The content does not advocate for or against the legalization of mobile sports betting but instead seeks to gather diverse perspectives, including those of individuals who may support or oppose it. The language used is objective and does not suggest a particular ideological perspective, allowing for a balanced exploration of the issue at hand.