Strong Partisan Divides on Climate Change and Green New Deal; Biden, Sanders, and Warren Lead Democratic Primary Nationwide

Nationwide Poll: June 5-10, 2019

Biden, Sanders, and Warren Lead Nationwide Democratic Primary

Joe Biden has a five-point lead over Bernie Sanders among likely Democratic primary voters nationwide. Biden (26%) and Sanders (21%) are followed by Elizabeth Warren (19%), Pete Buttigieg (14%), Kamala Harris (8%), and Beto O’Rourke (3%). All other candidates poll at 1% or less. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Biden (26%), Sanders (21%), and Warren (19%) lead the Democratic primary nationwide

  • Democrats think climate change is affecting their communities now, Republicans believe it won’t affect their communities in their lifetimes

  • Republicans are more familiar with the Green New Deal than Democrats, and their opposition is stronger than Democrats’ support 

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Democrats Perceive Current Impact of Climate Change; Republicans Disagree

Results from climate change questions were marked by sharp partisan divides. When asked how they perceive the impact of climate change on their communities, 70% of Democrats say they believe climate change is affecting their community right now. Another 17% feel that climate change isn’t affecting their community right now but will soon, totalling 87% of Democrats who either currently perceive the effects of climate change or believe they are imminent. 

By contrast, 44% of Republicans say that climate change won’t affect their community in their lifetime, and 38% say climate change will never affect their community. In total, 82% of Republicans feel that climate change won’t affect their communities in the foreseeable future. Only 4% of Republicans believe climate change is affecting their community right now. 

Independents are slightly more aligned with Democrats, but are relatively evenly split between viewpoints. 46% either currently perceive the effects of climate change or believe they are imminent, while 40% feel that climate change won’t affect their communities in the foreseeable future. 

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Change Research surveyed 3,371 registered voters nationwide on over 50 questions related to climate change, the Green New Deal, clean energy, fossil fuel campaign contributions, and more. The poll produced thousands of data points powering actionable insights for environmental and climate activists and organizations. This page contains a preview of the survey’s findings – click here to inquire about purchasing the full poll. 

Limited Poll Info

[TOPLINES] Change Research __ Enviro Sur

[TOPLINES] Change Research __ Enviro Sur

Sample and Methodology _ Env Poll 6_5-10

Sample and Methodology _ Env Poll 6_5-10

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Green New Deal Further Divides Democrats and Republicans

Republicans and Independents are more familiar with the Green New Deal than Democrats. 49% of Republicans say they are very familiar with the proposed legislation, and 81% say they are at least somewhat familiar. 31% of Independents are very familiar, and 71% are at least somewhat familiar. Among Democrats, however, only 18% are very familiar with the Green New Deal, and 52% are somewhat familiar.

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In addition, Republicans’ opposition to the Green New Deal is stronger than Democrats’ support. A full 85% of Republicans strongly oppose the proposed legislation, while 45% of Democrats strongly support it and 79% at least somewhat support it. 15% of Democrats say they are unsure or have no opinion, compared to 7% of Republicans.

Independents are more evenly split between support and opposition for the Green New Deal, but lean towards opposing it. 48% oppose the Green New Deal, while 34% support it; 17% say they are unsure or have no opinion.

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Change Research surveyed 3,371 registered voters nationwide (1,621 likely 2020 Democratic primary voters and 1,466 likely 2020 Republican primary voters) from June 5-10, 2019. The survey was conducted online, using Change Research’s Bias Correct Engine. Change Research reaches voters via targeted online ads that point people to an online survey instrument. The Bias Correct Engine dynamically delivers large samples that accurately reflect the demographics of a population. Post-stratification was done on age, gender, ethnicity, and 2016 presidential vote. The margin of error for the full sample, as traditionally calculated, is ± 1.8%.