American University’s recent poll unveils lingering biases against female presidential candidates, with 40% of Americans knowing someone who would not vote for a woman president. The survey, conducted among 801 registered voters, reveals a paradox: while most support more women in office, female politicians face challenges in gaining trust for leadership roles, such as national security. The findings also reflect skepticism toward Democratic candidates, with some blaming Kamala Harris’s loss for complicating future female contenders’ paths.
The survey highlights that voters under 50 are the least open to electing a female president, with 40% of respondents personally knowing someone who would not vote for a woman. Nearly one in five voters said they or someone they are close to would not elect a woman presidential candidate, with one-quarter of women under 50 and 20 percent of men under 50 expressing this sentiment. In contrast, 13 percent of men and women over 50 said they wouldn’t be open to supporting a woman for president.
Political analysts noted the survey’s findings reflect a complex dynamic. Despite widespread support for more women in political roles, voters continue to hold double standards. Pollster Viva de Vicq explained, “Voters trust women on the issues that matter most and want to see more women in office. Yet when asked about the presidency, bias and narrow expectations resurface.”
The poll also came nearly one year after Kamala Harris’s presidential bid, raising questions about female electability in a country that has only selected men for the White House. Voters are divided on how her candidacy impacted future female contenders, with more than 40 percent of independent voters believing Harris complicated others’ paths. This pessimism, according to some, permeated much of the upper echelons of Democratic politics after the election, when Harris lost to Trump by wider margins than Hillary Clinton did eight years prior.
Moreover, the poll revealed that only one-third of voters listen to “bro culture” podcasts, with four in five of those listeners believing the podcasts influenced the election. Half of the surveyed individuals also said former President Joe Biden hurt the Democratic Party’s chances. The survey further noted that voters trust female politicians more than men on issues like women’s equality, abortion, and childcare but are more likely to trust men for handling global conflicts.
Looking ahead, women surveyed are generally more pessimistic about the economy than they were in 2024. Women under 50, in particular, are feeling the economic strain, with a 15-point increase in negative views of the economy. The poll underscores the ongoing tension between societal progress and political realities, even as the nation grapples with the challenges of gender equality in leadership roles.