An overwhelming majority of likely voters in Pennsylvania support raising the state’s minimum wage, which is among the lowest in the country, writes Layla A. Jones for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, matching the federal rate but significantly lower than that of its surrounding states. The state minimum wage has remained the same since 2009.

According to a new poll from The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, and Siena College, 82 percent of Pennsylvania voters support increasing the state minimum wage either somewhat or strongly. Meanwhile, only 14 percent of voters opposed an increase somewhat or strongly, and 5 percent did not know or did not answer.

Regionally, 97 percent of voters in Philadelphia strongly supported an increase.

While Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support a minimum wage increase, voters in both parties favor an increase to some extent.

The poll demonstrates overwhelming support for an increase at a time when legislation to raise the wage has stalled in the divided Pennsylvania General Assembly for years.

Read more about PA having low minimum wage and how voters want change in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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