Views about size of government by state (2014) Switch to: State by views about size of government

% of adults who would rather have…

StateSmaller government; fewer servicesBigger government; more servicesDependsDon't knowSample size
Alabama56%38%3%3%511
Alaska55%41%2%3%310
Arizona58%37%2%3%653
Arkansas55%41%1%4%311
California44%49%4%3%3,697
Colorado52%40%4%4%504
Connecticut52%43%3%3%377
Delaware47%44%4%5%301
District of Columbia21%72%4%3%303
Florida47%45%3%4%2,020
Georgia51%43%3%4%968
Hawaii50%42%4%4%312
Idaho65%29%3%3%320
Illinois51%43%3%4%1,326
Indiana57%36%3%4%654
Iowa57%37%2%3%330
Kansas63%28%3%5%307
Kentucky54%38%4%4%439
Louisiana53%41%2%4%465
Maine60%32%4%4%303
Maryland48%45%1%6%644
Massachusetts47%46%3%5%704
Michigan56%37%4%4%982
Minnesota58%35%3%4%563
Mississippi54%40%2%4%309
Missouri61%33%2%4%642
Montana66%27%3%4%312
Nebraska66%30%2%3%312
Nevada57%38%4%2%314
New Hampshire64%31%2%3%303
New Jersey44%49%3%4%886
New Mexico44%49%3%4%312
New York41%53%3%3%1,966
North Carolina51%42%3%4%1,022
North Dakota67%27%2%4%338
Ohio58%34%3%4%1,132
Oklahoma59%34%3%3%391
Oregon55%39%2%5%419
Pennsylvania56%37%2%4%1,366
Rhode Island48%42%5%6%305
South Carolina54%39%2%5%495
South Dakota68%27%3%2%305
Tennessee57%36%2%5%661
Texas47%45%3%4%2,535
Utah66%28%3%4%315
Vermont45%45%4%5%306
Virginia56%39%3%3%882
Washington54%39%3%4%714
West Virginia58%32%5%5%309
Wisconsin61%35%2%2%600
Wyoming71%20%1%8%316
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Smaller government; fewer services, Bigger government; more services