Skip to content

Polls Bring Mixed News for Smith’s 3rd-Term Bid

A Democratic poll taken in February shows potential trouble on the horizon for the re-election hopes of Sen. Gordon Smith (R) — though an independent survey conducted in March shows him reasonably positioned to make a strong run at a third term.

A Grove Insight poll taken last month showed a prospective Smith challenger, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D), with a slightly higher personal favorability rating than the Senator and with a 4-point lead over him in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, 42 percent to 38 percent.

DeFazio said in January that he has ruled out a 2008 Senate bid, though some Democrats believe he could change his mind.

However, a Riley Research and Associates poll found Smith to have a job approval rating of 54 percent, with 21 percent saying they were neutral or undecided as to how well of a job he is doing in Congress. Ironically, 55 percent of Democrats gave Smith high job approval marks, compared with 44 percent of independents.

The nonpartisan Riley survey of 478 likely voters had a 4.5 percent error margin. The Democratic Grove Insight poll, of 600 likely voters, had a 4.1 percent error margin.
— David M. Drucker

Recent Stories

Trump orders strikes on Iran nuclear targets, including key facility

‘Two weeks’: GOP hawks left twisting on Iran after Trump resorts to familiar crutch

Supreme Court allows civil lawsuits against Palestinian groups

Appeals court backs Trump control of National Guard in LA, for now

Photos of the week | June 13-19, 2025

American businesses need a stable and competitive tax rate