New Poll of 3200 Likely Voters Found Messaging Deployed by Everytown This Cycle Has Been Highly Persuasive – Moves Generic Ballot By Up To Six Points in Favor of Democrats
Voters Across Battleground States Support Stronger Gun Laws by a More Than 4:1 Margin; and 84% of Voters Say a Candidate’s Position on Gun Policy is Important to Their Vote
Survey Also Shows that an Overwhelming Majority of Voters Say that an Endorsement by the NRA Makes them Less Likely to Support a Candidate or Makes No Difference to Their Vote
NEW YORK — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund (“Everytown”) unveiled new pre-election polling, which found that gun safety is a winning issue across battleground states, and that messaging deployed by Everytown has been highly impactful this cycle. The survey, which was conducted in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas, found that gun safety-themed messaging deployed by Everytown this cycle has been highly persuasive, and that voters support stronger versus weaker gun laws by a more than 4:1 margin and 84% of voters believe a candidate’s position on gun policy is important to their vote. Importantly, the top messages were able to move a generic ballot up to six points in democrats’ favor amongst key demographics.
The survey, conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research, was conducted of 3,200 likely voters across the eight states, and found that the majority of likely voters, including the overwhelming majority of suburban women, support candidates who support stronger gun laws and believe that gun safety measures like background checks on all gun sales and disarming domestic abusers are more important now, amid the covid-19 pandemic, than they were a year ago. The survey also shows that an overwhelming majority of voters say that an endorsement by the NRA makes them less likely to support a candidate or makes no difference in their vote.
“Gun safety is an issue that touches voters on a personal level, and it can cut through the Trump-created chaos and shape their choices at the ballot box,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This newest polling gives us a hint of what’s already happening at the polls: Americans turning out in force to reject lawmakers who have blocked progress for so long.”
“Women are voting for the safety of their families, and there is no question that we are vastly less safe than we were four years ago,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “An estimated 145,000 Americans have died from gun violence on Donald Trump’s watch, and now, more than 220,000 Americans have died from coronavirus. Trump and Republicans beholden to the gun lobby have shown inaction and indifference in the face of these dual crises, and women have taken note and are voting for compassionate, competent leaders who have shown their commitment to gun safety.”
“Once again the data shows that gun safety is a triple threat – it mobilizes, persuades, and has become a litmus test issue for voters across battleground states,” said Charlie Kelly, senior political advisor for Everytown for Gun Safety. “Our messaging this cycle is effective because people are tired of inaction on gun violence and politicians in the pocket of the gun lobby.”
- Messaging deployed by Everytown is highly persuasive and effectively improves the horserace for Democrats in races up and down the ballot
- Candidates’ position on gun policy is important in deciding who to vote for
- Voters believe the need for background checks on all gun sales is more important now than it was a year ago
- Voters overwhelmingly support stronger gun laws by more than a 4:1 margin
- An overwhelming majority of voters say that an endorsement by the NRA makes no difference to their vote or makes them less likely to vote for a candidate who is endorsed by the NRA.
