Poll: Here’s what really matters for ‘electability’
An experiment from The POLITICO Poll shows what voters do and don’t care about in choosing their candidates.
New polling data highlights what voters prioritize when assessing a candidate's electability, suggesting traits like youth and Christian faith are most valued. The study, conducted by POLITICO Poll in collaboration with Public First, showcased various hypothetical matchups with candidates identified by demographics, career titles, and political affiliations.
While political ideology emerged as the primary concern for voters, age and religious affiliation revealed significant subtleties in preference patterns. Republicans showed a marked preference for candidates described as Christian, with their selection rate for such candidates being approximately 9% higher than for non-religious candidates, regardless of the candidate's own political stance.
Interestingly, the impact of sexual orientation on voter preference varied; while gay candidates were chosen about 10% less frequently overall, the label alone did not significantly deter voters when candidates were described as married to their spouse, without explicit mention of sexual orientation. Conversely, transgender candidates faced a notable disfavored status, with Democratic voters expressing about 5% less preference and Republican voters 17% less inclination towards them.
Age also played a critical role, with candidates over 70 being almost 10% less likely to be chosen compared to those under 50, a preference more pronounced among Democrats than Republicans. The findings suggest a shift in voter perception, indicating a desire for fresh, younger leadership and a growing tolerance for candidates from diverse backgrounds, beyond initial political and demographic considerations.
Written by urgent.news from POLITICO's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
