Majority of Pennsylvanians Don't Trust State Gov't, Gallup Poll Finds

Pennsylvanians rank among the lowest in the nation when it comes to how much they trust their state government, a new Gallup poll released Friday reveals.

Just 46 percent of Keystone State residents trust the state government “a great deal” or “fair amount,” according to the Gallup poll findings.

Residents of just three states place less trust in the government than those in Pennsylvania. Illinois residents trust their state government the least, with just 28 percent of residents saying they place a “great deal” or “fair amount” in their state leaders.

Just 40 percent of Rhode Island and Maine residents say they trust their state governments.

Trust is generally higher in states in the upper Midwest and Plains states, and the northern Mountain region states, the Gallup poll revealed.

North Dakota residents ranked the highest in their trust for the state government. According to the poll, 77 percent of North Dakota residents trust their state government. Wyoming and Utah ranked second and third, respectively.

The poll was conducted June through December 2013 and included interviews with at least 600 residents in every state, Gallup said.

“This poll allows Gallup for the first time to report trust in state government at the state level. Gallup has previously measured Americans' trust in their state governments on national basis,” according to the Gallup’ summary.