Battleground State Voters Want a Reformer for President

8-in-10 battleground state voters agree that America has a corrupt political system, and more than 7-in-10 prefer a president committed to reforming the corrupt system over one who will work inside the current system.  

WHY IT MATTERS
The results show that battleground state voters want reform of the political system, so the election may rest on which candidate can convince voters that he or she will be the one to fight corruption.

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A Corrupt Political System

  • At least 3-in-4 voters from the seven battleground states agree that America has a corrupt political system.
  • There are differences by party. 92% of Republican voters agree America has a corrupt political system compared to 72% of Democrats and 76% of independents.
  • There is a modest age divide. 89% of Gen Z voters agree America has a corrupt political system, compared to 82% of Millennials, 83% of Gen X, and 75% of Baby Boomer voters.
  • New Majority voters from battleground states are more likely to believe America has a corrupt political system than Left Minority voters.  

Reform Message More Compelling than Ideology

  • Majorities from all battleground states say America needs a movement to reform our corrupt political system over a movement to defeat so-called “MAGA extremists” or “the radical left.”
  • There are differences by party. 61% of Republicans and 57% of independents say a reform movement is most important. However, Democrats are divided 45% to 44%. This suggest a reform message is more difficult for Democrats to carry.
  • Hispanics are the ethnic group most receptive to a reform message, with 63% preferring a reform movement to one focused on defeat of ideological opponents. Smaller majorities of Black, Asian and White battleground state voters prefer a reform movement.
  • Gen Z is the generation most receptive to a reform message, with 64% preferring a reform movement to one focused on defeat of ideological opponents. 58% of Millennials, 58% of Gen X, and 46% of Baby Boomer battleground state voters prefer a reform movement.
  • A majority of New Majority voters prefer a reform movement over one focused on defeating ideological opponents. However, a majority of Left Minority voters prefer a movement focused on defeating so-called MAGA extremists.

Uniting the Country

  • Large majorities from all battleground states agree a movement to reform the corrupt political system could unite the country and reduce partisan division. Much of the agreement, however, comes from those who “somewhat agree” suggesting the agreement is soft.

Voters Want a Reform President

  • 7-in-10 voters from all battleground states would prefer a president committed to reforming the corrupt political system over one committed to doing what he or she can within the existing system.
  • There are, again, differences by party. 82% of Republicans prefer a president committed to reform, compared to 62% of Democrats and 71% of independents.
  • While clear majorities of New Majority and Left Minority battleground state voters prefer a president committed to reform to one committed to working within the existing system, New Majority are more likely to prefer a reform president.