# How people weigh state versus federal influence on public health

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/how-people-weigh-state-versus-federal-influence-on-public-health/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 1 to 4, 2026, 46% of Americans said state and federal lawmakers have about equal impact on public health outcomes.

About a third said federal lawmakers have more impact, including 11% who said much more and 23% who said somewhat more. Another 19% said state lawmakers have more impact.

## Topline

Compared to federal lawmakers, how much impact do you think state lawmakers have on public health outcomes?

46% said state and federal lawmakers have about equal public-health impact.

- About equal impact: 46.4%
- Federal lawmakers have somewhat more impact: 22.8%
- State lawmakers have somewhat more impact: 14.3%
- Federal lawmakers have much more impact: 11.1%
- State lawmakers have much more impact: 5.4%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-05-01 → 2026-05-04
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.3%
- Module: 2
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.28](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.28)

## Citation

SBM Omnibus Survey #2026-049, fielded May 1-4, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.28](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-B.28)