New Poll Found That Gun Safety Messaging Deployed by Everytown Has Been Highly Persuasive and Iowa Voters Overwhelmingly Support Stronger Gun Laws by a Nearly 4:1 Margin
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund Invested More Than $3.8 Million in Iowa This Cycle, Targeting the U.S. Senate Race and Key State House Races to Flip The Iowa State House
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Have Made Nearly 50,000 Calls And Texts to Support Gun Sense Candidates in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa. — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund (“Everytown”) unveiled new polling of Iowa voters, which found, just days before Election Day, that Iowa voters overwhelmingly support stronger gun laws by nearly a 4:1 margin. The survey also found that gun safety-themed messaging, deployed by Everytown in its paid advertising campaigns in Iowa, has been highly effective at impacting Iowa voters.
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund have invested more than $3.8 million in Iowa this cycle in order to elect gun sense champions up and down the ballot, including in the U.S. Senate race and to flip the Iowa state House to a gun sense majority.
“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: Iowa voters turning out in force to reject lawmakers who have blocked progress for so long.”
“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.”
“Our grassroots operation is a force to be reckoned with,” said Erica Fletcher, volunteer with the Iowa chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Opponents of gun safety in the U.S. Senate and Iowa state House are no match for the Moms Demand Action volunteers working day in and day out to get out the vote.”
The poll, conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research, surveyed 475 Iowa voters. Results from the poll included:
- Messaging deployed by Everytown is highly persuasive and effectively improves the horserace for Democrats in races up and down the ballot.
- 75% of likely Iowa voters — including 84% of suburban women — say a candidate’s position on gun policy is important in deciding who to vote for;
- By a 4:1 margin, Iowa voters believe their state’s gun laws should be made stronger, not less strong;
- 52% of Iowa voters believe the need for background checks on all gun sales is more important now, during the pandemic, than a year ago;
- 66% of suburban women and 62% of all likely 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.
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund spent more than $3.8 million in Iowa during this election cycle, including:
U.S. Senate:
- Nearly $2.8 million to support Theresa Greenfield against Senator Joni Ernst, who has received more than $3 million from the gun lobby during her time in the Senate.
- Everytown ran television ads on broadcast and cable television, totaling 9,600 GRPs across the Des Moines, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, Rocheseter, and Omaha media markets, backed by digital advertising statewide. The ads highlighted how Ernst has put special interests like the gun lobby and insurance industry ahead of the safety and security of Iowa families.
State Legislature:
- Nearly $1 million to elect a gun sense majority to the Iowa State House. As part of this effort, Everytown targeted 8 state House districts (HD-09, HD-16, HD-37, HD-67, HD-82, HD-92, HD-94, HD-95) with candidate-specific digital and direct mail campaigns.
- By Election Day, Everytown’s digital ads will have been seen an estimated 20.1 million times, and its direct mail will have reached at least 40,000 households in targeted districts key to flipping the state House.
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have also made nearly 50,000 calls and texts to Iowa voters to support gun sense candidates across the state.