Local
Janz Campaign Poll Shows Nunes Has Reason to Worry
News Analysis
by Drew Phelps
According to poll results released by the campaign of Andrew Janz, a Fresno County Deputy District Attorney who is running to unseat Nunes, it could be a highly competitive race.
In a hypothetical matchup between Nunes and a “Democratic opponent,” the poll showed Nunes receiving 50% support, while the unnamed Democrat received 45%.
Compared to the past three general elections in which Nunes received approximately 67%, 72%, and 62% of the vote, these results seem to indicate a steep drop in support in a year when Democratic energy is expected to be high. Even considering the 4.1% margin of error, Nunes’ support appears to be eroding.
Poll: 61% of Independents Favor Democrat
In Janz’ news release, the campaign touts the support of 61% of independents.
In past elections, Nunes has been able to co-opt a fair amount of independent support, usually more than his challengers. A departure from that dynamic in the 2018 election would be interesting, likely signaling a shift in turnout rather than opinion.
Demographic results from the district are also noteworthy.
The generic Democratic opponent garners higher levels of support from Latino voters (70% to Nunes’ 27%) and younger voters (60% of voters 18 to 45 to Nunes’ 34%), according to the campaign poll. As these demographic groups become more prominent within the electorate, Nunes could see his base of support begin to slip.
Looking at Survey Methodology
I found the information provided by the Janz campaign in the original press release lacking in terms of proving validity and boosting confidence in its accuracy. It was hard to accept such seemingly groundbreaking results without suspecting that there was a bit of tinkering with the sample or with the phrasing of the questions asked of respondents.
However, after reaching out to Janz’s staff, I was provided with a more detailed report showing sampling results. The data improved my own confidence in the accuracy of the campaign poll results. There are a few methodological factors that could be considered favorable to Janz, but not nearly as many as could have been given the scant information provided at first.
Despite taking a fairly representative sample, the poll still weighted the sample slightly toward Democrats. Democratic respondents make up 37% of the sample, but only about 32% of the electorate. This skew can probably be slightly mitigated methodologically by theorizing heightened Democratic registration and turnout in a wave year. However, there are also counterarguments to that theory – namely that midterms are typically slow for Democratic turnout – and, on the whole, it would be a stretch to plan for a 5% jump in their share of turnout even if an increase does materialize.
The sample was, however, representative of the Republican registration levels, meaning the difference that boosted Democratic numbers was drawn from independents (about 2%) and various third parties (about 3%). This improves the validity of the results because Republican measurement is staying consistent.
While fairly common practice in the polling industry and not a huge deal, this choice usually results in broader support for the generic candidate than the real candidate would receive because, theoretically, respondents tend to picture their ideal candidate when given that option. Obviously, no candidate is ideal, so this introduces a bit of bias.
Results are Valid, Surprising
So, overall, it can be concluded that these results are essentially accurate, meaning that the race for the 22nd Congressional District could be more competitive than many, including me, had assumed.
The minor flaws of the poll seem to be on par with usual results and do not disqualify its findings.
While Nunes has significantly more fundraising capabilities, name recognition and experience in the field than his challengers, this election will likely prove to be a far greater test to his resources than those won easily in the past.
Francia
January 16, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Current comprehensive, factual information about the actions of Nunes since Trump took office should be enough to convince voters to support Andrew Janz. My favorite reporter is Rachel Maddow. She takes her viewers through the facts and their connections so that even aging me can follow the issues. I hope you will attempt the same for our valley elections. I believe Trump is dangerous. Nunes act as his toady.
B.P.
January 17, 2018 at 6:51 am
Those results are not surprising. Nunes consistently favors donors and out-of-district ideological allies over his actual constituents, and has demonstrated his willingness to make a fool of himself to help protect the embarrassing travesty that is the Trump administration. He won’t hold town halls and he won’t even talk to the biggest newspaper in his district, the Fresno Bee. The only way he even makes a half-hearted show of “engaging” with his constituents is by going on Ray Appleton’s radio show periodically and taking curated questions. He shows by his actions that he is not in office to serve the public, but to serve his own ambitions for power and attention. So there are a whole lot of us that are deeply dissatisfied by Nunes’ shenanigans and lack of performance. Nunes has set himself up to fail, one way or another.
Andrew Janz, meanwhile, has been out talking to people, going to events with regular folks (and not just high-dollar ideologues), and has probably met more of Nunes’ constituents than Nunes has. He has taken one survey of district residents to find out their priorities, and will be taking more. (Right now, the top three are affordable health care, climate change, and the environment—three things that Nunes has not just neglected, but voted against.) He has also committed to holding two town hall events each year, to maintaining mobile office hours around the district, to ensure that no appointments are necessary to speak with staffers in his office, and to use social media to engage with people in the district. Nunes does none of that, especially for those of us up here in Fresno, where his Clovis office is basically just a sham.
Nunes got elected because his district was asleep. Now we’re awake.
Valerie A Murphy
February 1, 2018 at 9:20 am
I am contributing a small amount to the Janz Campaign even though I live out of the district. Rep. Nunes is an ethically-challenged embarrassment to the office and a danger to the high standards of good government to which he should aspire. I once lived and worked in Fresno and know his constituents deserve better.
Steven Paul Byrd
February 2, 2018 at 10:35 pm
What Republicans don’t seem to understand, especially conservatives, is that it will be independents not democrats who shove many republicans from Congress in 2018. It’s not just Nunes’s district. All around the country independents are leaning to democratic candidates by 60% to as much as 80%. Even in the most Gerrymandered district this will be hard for republicans to overcome. Unless something drastic happens between now and November, I predict independents will swing the house back to the democrats and hold the senate majority held by republicans to no more than 53-47. Nunes will of course be shocked by this come November, because he doesn’t listen to his independent voters, much like most conservative house members. They will learn a valuable lesson this November.
Carol Scott
July 24, 2018 at 8:25 am
I have a group of like minded Democratic friends who might be able to help in support of Janz with cold calling from New York City, before the election
Andrew Kubik
August 16, 2018 at 11:54 am
Nunes and his Republican Party are nothing more than Russian (read: Commie) lackys. Any American President who buddies up with a KGB agent in order to win an election and then throws our long term NATO allies under the bus shouldn’t even be allowed to remain in office. This guy Nunes is overtly attempting to subvert our investigative process by going after Mueller. Should be locked up, as far as I’m concerned.
Marcus Billson
October 7, 2018 at 10:52 am
My comment is considerably more recent. I have been trying to decide whether to go to Fresno and campaign for Janz the last two weeks before the Fall Mid-term elections, and I came across this article in doing my preliminary assessment. By any standard of reason and ethical behavior and political responsiveness, Janz is definitely the far superior candidate. I live in Desert Hot Springs, California, but the “stooge Nunez” must go, especially after his recorded remarks in a Republican fundraiser in Spokane, WA, reported on The Rachel Madow show. I sent the Janz campaign $50 yesterday. But I am willing to rent a motel room and pay for my own meals to cold call, neighborhood canvass, or pass out fliers in shopping malls to make certain Janz is elected.