A May WSJ/NBC News poll found Republicans are closing the voter enthusiasm gap. Seventy-five percent of registered Republicans say they have high interest in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 73% of Democrats who say the same. This is a spike for both parties but especially the GOP from September 2018, when 61% of Republicans told a WSJ/NBC News poll they were excited about the Midterm Elections and 65% of Democrats said the same.
A March CNN poll also found Republicans are more enthusiastic for 2020 compared to Democrats and Independents. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans said they are “extremely enthusiastic” about the 2020 Election, compared to 50% of Democrats and 29% of Independents who say the same. Only 12% of Republicans, 10% of Democrats, and 25% of Independents offered that they are “somewhat enthusiastic” about the presidential race. Women are slightly more enthusiastic, with 48% saying they are “extremely enthusiastic,” compared to 39% of men who say the same. Those under 45 years old are slightly more excited as well, with 45% saying they are “extremely enthusiastic” and 42% of those over 45 years old saying the same.
It is encouraging to see Republicans are as excited about voting in 2020 as Democrats are since the Democrats have a field of twenty candidates vying for the nomination. Republicans are likely to keep this enthusiasm advantage, especially if the Democratic presidential primary continues moving these candidates left with proposals like the Green New Deal and Medicare-for-All.
