DC’s Ward 3 voters overwhelmingly support the Large Retailer Accountability Act or “Livable Wage Act” – National Consumers League

September 17, 2013

Contact: Ben Klein, NCL Communications, (202) 207-2832, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC— According to a recent survey commissioned by a coalition of groups coordinated by the National Consumers League and conducted by Lake Research Partners, a solid majority of likely Democratic primary voters in the District of Columbia’s Ward 3 supports the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA), more commonly known as the Living Wage Bill.

The groups are releasing the poll in conjunction with the DC Council vote, which is scheduled for September 17, on whether to override Mayor Vincent Gray’s veto of the LRAA. Councilmember Mary Cheh, who represents Ward 3, was one of the five councilmembers opposing the bill when it was passed by a vote of 8-5 in July of this year. One of the five councilors voting no would need to switch his or her vote in order to obtain the nine votes needed to override the Mayor’s veto.

According to the poll released today, fully 54 percent of likely Democratic primary voters in Ward 3 support requiring large retailers in DC to pay living wages and provide benefits to employees—and with remarkable intensity (42 percent strongly support the LRAA). With just over one-quarter of Democratic primary voters opposed (27 percent), support for the Living Wage Bill outpaces opposition by a two-to-one margin. Just one-in-five voters (19 percent) is undecided. 

Ward 3 Democrats view their Councilmember, Mary Cheh, favorably (70 percent favorable, 16 percent unfavorable) and tend to like the job she is doing (64 percent excellent/good, 28 percent fair/poor). However, a 42 percent plurality of those voters who said they are open to an alternative candidate to Cheh say they would be less likely to support her if she were to vote against the Living Wage Bill.

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Methodolody

Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey, which was conducted by phone using professional interviewers. The survey reached a total of 350 likely 2014 Democratic primary voters in Ward 3. The survey was conducted September 12 – 15, 2013. The margin of error is +/-5.3%.

About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.