Fifty-six percent of respondents view Gov. Josh Shapiro in a favorable light in a new poll from The Commonwealth Foundation.

The group released its first “The Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll,” conducted March 24-29, designed as a series of quarterly surveys taking the pulse of voters on the “state of the state” and tracking insights, opinions, and attitudes on key issues facing Pennsylvanians. The first poll surveyed 600 registered Pennsylvania voters on the economy, ballot measures, education, and other state policy initiatives.

Shapiro was viewed favorably by 56 percent of those surveyed and has a +24 when combined with 32 percent who view him unfavorably. While 10 percent of respondents were unsure, one indicated that they had not heard of him.

Other individual ratings:

• Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (+4) – 26% favorable, 22 unfavorable, 21 unsure, 29 never heard of
• House Speaker Joanna McClinton (+4) – 24 / 20 / 27 / 28
• Former House Speaker Mark Rozzi (-5) – 19 / 24 / 29 / 28
• Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (+1) – 21 / 20 / 25 / 32
• President Joe Biden (-19) – 39 / 58 / 1 / 1
• U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (+13) – 48 / 35 / 14 / 4
• U.S. Senator John Fetterman (0) – 46 / 46 / 8 / 0
• Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner (-3) – 18 / 21 / 26 / 35
• Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry (0) – 21 / 21 / 26 / 32

Respondents feel that Pennsylvania is in better shape than the country as a whole, but not by much. Twenty-seven percent say the Commonwealth is going in the right direction, as opposed to 61% that say the state has gotten off on the wrong track. The numbers for the country are 21 / 72.

Inflation and the cost of living is the most important problem facing the country today, according to the survey by 2-to-1 over the general U.S. economy. Crime and rising violence rises to No. 2 when asked about the problems facing the Keystone State.

Feelings were mixed when asked about the two legislative chambers in the Commonwealth. Forty-one percent felt favorable about the 203-member State House, while just 19% held the same opinion of the 50-member state Senate.

The Commonwealth Foundation asked who respondents would like to see run for the U.S. Senate in 2024. Former Gov. Tom Wolf received the most support among the Democrats named with 30 percent, followed by current seat holder Bob Casey Jr. who garnered 28 percent.

On the GOP side, state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin) was the top choice with 20 percent, while Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick pulled in 18 and 16 percent, respectively.

Nearly 3 in 4 surveyed would vote “yes” on an amendment modernizing state election laws to require voter ID, while almost 2 out of 3 support an amendment for a childhood sexual abuse window.

More respondents think the government should do more to solve the state’s problems (47%) than say the job should be left to community organizations and businesses (44%).

When asked who they would like to see run for president in 2024, former President Donald Trump was named by 1 of every 3 respondents (34%), while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Joe Biden drew 26 and 24 percent, respectively. Twenty percent also would like to see Shapiro run for the nation’s top office.

updated to reflect corrected numbers by Commonwealth Foundation (4/12) for Michelle Henry