Governor Larry Hogan’s approval rating stands at 62-percent, according to  a new Goucher College Poll.

Poll Director Dr. Mileah Kromer says the rating is down from the 70-percent  the Republican received in a similar poll conducted in September of last year, and 63-percent in a similar poll conducted in February.

Read the Goucher Poll results here

"I don't know how much we can read into that. 70 (percent) is such a high approval rating for any governor to maintain, particularly for a Republican governor in a 'blue state,' " Kromer told WBAL NewsRadio 1090.

"The larger story is that over the last five Goucher Polls since he had taken office, he has been able to maintain a strong approval rating from a majority of Marylanders."

Since October, 2015, Hogan's approval rating has been above 50-percent in the Goucher Poll.

The poll found that 62-percent of those polled either approved or strongly approved of the job Hogan was doing. Sixteen percent either strongly disapproved or disapproved of the job Hogan was doing.  Twenty percent did not know,  and one percent refused to answer.

The telephone poll of 671 Marylanders over the age of 18 was conducted over a four day period ending September 17.

Of those polled, 533 were registered voters.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percent.

Seventy-six-percent of the calls were made to cell phones, while 24-percent were made to landline phones.

Of those polled, 55 percent were Democrats, 25 percent were Republicans and 18 percent were Independent. The breakdown reflects voter registration rolls in Maryland. According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, 55 percent of registered voters are Democrats, while 26 percent are Republicans.

Among the 533 registered voters polled, Hogan’s approval rating was higher, at 67-percent.   Eighteen percent of registered voters disapproved of the job Hogan was doing. 

Among registered Democrats, Hogan maintains a 59-percent approval rating.  His approval rating among Republicans is 82-percent and it is 70-percent among independents.

One year before the gubernatorial election, the poll finds 51-percent saying they would either definitely vote for Governor Hogan again, or are leaning towards voting for him again.  That number is down from 57-percent in a similar poll in February.

Breaking those numbers by party, only 35-percent of Democrats say they would definitely vote for Hogan again, or are leaning towards voting for him, while 57-percent of Democrats would vote for someone else.  Eighty three-percent of Republicans and 59-percent say they would either definitely vote for Hogan or are leaning towards voting for him.

The poll found 55-percent felt the state was headed in the right direction and that included 58-percent of the Democrats polled.  Only 31-percent believed the state was headed in the wrong direction.

Kromer did say the percentage of people who felt the state was headed in the right direction dropped from 65-percent in a poll conducted in September of last year.  She says those numbers should concern Hogan because it addresses his ability to lead the state.

As of now there are eight Democrats, who have either announced their candidacy or are on the ballot for governor. 

As for President Trump, the poll finds 25 percent either strongly approve or approve of the job he is doing.  That is down from 29-percent in February.  Seventy one-percent either strongly disapprove or disapprove of the job he is doing.  That is down from 74-percent in February. Trump has the highest disapproval number among Maryland Democrats and Independents.  Only 21-percent of Republicans disapprove of the job the president is doing, while 73-percent of Republican approve.

The poll found that 43-percent of those surveyed felt Governor Larry Hogan has distanced himself from President Trump just the right amount, while 27-percent says he had distanced himself too little and 11-percent said he has distanced himself from the president too much.

Forty Seven-percent of those polled viewed Hogan as a moderate, while 31-percent viewed him as conservative, and 7-percent viewed him as liberal.

Forty four-percent of those surveyed said Hogan represented the future of the Republican Party, while 24-percent say he represents the past.

Of the 671 Marylanders polled, 24-percent said that economic issues as the most important issue facing Marylanders today.  Fourteen percent identified education, 11-percent identified other issues, 10-percent identified crime, criminal justice or police. Seven percent identified environmental issues as the most important issues facing the state, 6-percent identified drugs.  Other issues scored less than 6-percent including health care and immigration.