Reuters/Ipsos Core Political Survey: 2020 Democratic Primary (06/06/2019)

Washington, D.C. - In the run up to the Democratic Primary Debates later this month, former Vice President Joe Biden (36%) continues to be at the head of the pack among Democratic registered voters when asked who they would vote for in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. This number is unchanged from early May 2019. Senator Bernie Sanders is in second place, with 16 percent reporting they would vote for him. Senator Elizabeth Warren (11%), Senator Kamala Harris (8%), Mayor Pete Buttigieg (5%) and Beto O'Rourke (4%) round out the top six candidates. All other candidates received less than four percent of the vote share and 10 percent did not know who they would vote for in the primary.

When asked about the direction of the country, one-third of Americans (32%) and registered voters (33%)  say that America is headed in the right direction. This number has remained stable for the last several months. Democratic registered voters are the least likely to report that America is headed in the right direction (12%).  On the other hand, two-thirds of Republican registered voters (64%) believe that America is headed in the right direction. Just 29 percent of Independent registered voters report that America is on the right path. 

Approximately four-in-ten Americans (39%) and registered voters (40%) continue to approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. Trump's job approval has not shifted dramatically over the last several months, remaining near 40 percent among all Americans and registered voters. Republican registered voters are the group that is most likely to support the work Trump is doing - 82 percent approve. Very few Democratic registered voters (10%) approve of the job Trump is doing, and just over one-third of Independent voters approve (36%). 

Americans' primary concerns remain healthcare (19%), immigration (19%), and the economy (13%). Levels of concern about major issues are tied to partisanship. Thirty-seven percent of Republican registered voters report that immigration is the most important problem facing the country. The economy (12%) is a distant second place for Republican registered voters, followed by healthcare (11%) and morality (11%). Healthcare (26%) continues to be biggest issue for Democratic registered voters. The economy (14%) and the environment (13%) round out the top three concerns for Democratic registered voters. Independents report that immigration (20%), healthcare (18%) and the economy (14%) are their top issues. 

About this Study

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for Thomson Reuters between May 29-June 5, 2019. For the survey, a sample of 4,416 Americans, including 3,851 registered voters, 1,537 Democrat registered voters, 1,382 Republican registered voters, and 734 independent registered voters ages 18+ were interviewed online. The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points for all adults, 1.8 percentage points for registered voters, 2.9 percentage points for Democrat registered voters, 3.0 percentage points for Republican registered voters, and 4.1 percentage points for Independent registered voters. For more information about credibility intervals, please see the appendix.

The data were weighted to the U.S. current population data by gender, age, education, and ethnicity. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Figures marked by an asterisk (*) indicate a percentage value of greater than zero but less than one half of one per cent. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. To see more information on this and other Reuters/Ipsos polls, please visit http://polling.reuters.com/.

For more information on this news release please contact:

Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2016
[email protected]

Chris Jackson
Vice President, U.S.
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2011
[email protected]

About Ipsos Public Affairs

Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice made up of seasoned professionals. We conduct strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research, but elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research.

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About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry.

With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,749.5 million in 2018.