Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

5. Global Warming as a Voting Issue

5.1. Most Democrats say global warming will be a very important issue when deciding for whom to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

When asked how important global warming will be as a voting issue in the 2020 presidential election, registered voters indicate that it is currently #17 out of 29 issues (see Data Tables).

Among Democrats, however, about six in ten (64%, including 70% of liberal Democrats and 56% of moderate/conservative Democrats) say global warming will be a very important issue in determining their vote in 2020. It is the third most important issue among liberal Democrats, and the eighth most important issue among moderate/conservative Democrats. By contrast, global warming is near or at the bottom of presidential voting priorities among Republicans.