DC mayor’s job approval drops amid concerns over crime: poll

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) approval rating has dropped amid rising concerns over crime in the city, a poll from The Washington Post found. 

The poll found the mayor’s approval rating is at 58 percent, a nine point drop from the 67 percent approval rating she had in 2019.

Although she is still slated to easily win the Democratic primary, voter frustrations have increased on issues such as crime. 

Thirty-six percent of voters said crime and violence were the most pressing issues in the nation’s capital, up from 18 percent in 2019.

When asked how well Bowser has done at combating crime, only 23 percent of voters said she has done a good job, while 73 percent said she has done poorly on the issue. 

The data comes after carjackings have risen in the city, with D.C. council candidate Nate Fleming (D) becoming the victim of a carjacking last month.

The second most pressing issue for voters is affordable housing, with 65 percent of voters saying the mayor has done a poor job on the issue. 

Despite the disappointment with Bowser on some issues, she is still well ahead of her two primary opponents in the poll. 

The poll found 47 percent of Democrats said they would vote for her in the primary, while at-large council member Robert C. White Jr. (D) is second at 19 percent.

The poll was conducted between Feb. 2 to Feb. 14 with 904 adult D.C. residents. The margin or error is plus or minus four percentage points.