Vanderbilt poll: O’Connell enjoys post-election popularity, like Nashville mayors before him

Eight months into his first term, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell boasts a 71% approval rating, according to the most recent Vanderbilt University poll.

This high approval rating for O’Connell aligns with the trend of Nashville mayors receiving strong support during their inaugural year.

Former Mayor John Cooper enjoyed an 80% approval rating in the May 2020 Vanderbilt survey, eight months after defeating David Briley in the 2019 mayoral race.

Briley, who became mayor following a special election victory in May 2018, had a 66% approval rating in the April 2019 Vanderbilt poll. However, in the August 2019 mayoral election, Briley secured only 30% of the vote, ultimately losing in a runoff to Cooper.

Throughout his four-year tenure, Cooper consistently held a positive rating in Vanderbilt’s surveys, although his approval dipped into the 50s in 2021 and remained there until the end of his term.

The Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Vanderbilt has been conducting polls specific to Nashville and Tennessee since 2010. The latest survey, conducted from March 1 to March 21, included 1,014 Nashville residents.

“While you could argue that he still is in a bit of a honeymoon phase, the mayor’s overall approval defies the polarization that we see blocking a lot of action in current national politics,” said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, in a statement.

Transit plan’s positive outlook

The poll indicates promising support for a Nashville transit referendum set for November 2024 under O’Connell’s tenure.

It revealed that 59% of participants prioritize traffic reduction, and 52% emphasize the importance of public transportation. A significant 84% of those surveyed, including 70% of Republicans, expressed support for the transit referendum.

Additionally, 52% of respondents feel Nashville is moving in the right direction, marking the first majority consensus since Cooper’s first year as mayor.