Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -Voters who say that Democratic candidates’ climate plans are “very important” in their choice of who to vote for are currently calling Joe Biden their #1 pick to be the Democratic nominee for President, according to the first wave of results from the Sierra Club’s 2020 Climate Voter Tracking Poll, conducted by Morning Consult. Biden is currently receiving 37% of the support among climate voters, with Bernie Sanders coming in at #2 with 19% and Elizabeth Warren at 15%.
When climate voters were asked for a second choice, assuming their first choice was no longer available, they led with Elizabeth Warren, choosing her 22% of the time.
Morning Consult conducted the first poll for the Sierra Club from June 14-18, 2019. They surveyed 1,500 likely Democratic primary voters online, and reported the results for the 838 climate voters (56%), defined for the purpose of this survey as voters who say that the candidates’ climate plans are “very” important in their choice of who to vote for. Results of the poll have a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points.
An overwhelming 85% of climate voters say the Democratic National Committee should hold a presidential debate focused on the climate crisis. Overall, 68% of likely Democratic primary voters agree. “Democratic primary voters overwhelmingly want the Democratic National Committee to host a climate debate, and that’s true of the candidates as well. It’s time for the DNC and Tom Perez to follow the lead of the public, and its own members, by embracing this opportunity” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune.
Morning Consult will conduct the 2020 Climate Voter Tracking Poll for Sierra Club over the coming months, with the next wave of results coming prior to the second primary debate, which will take place in Detroit on July 30 & 31.
“These results make two things clear: Climate voters will be decisive in the eventual outcome of this primary, and Democratic primary voters across the board are demanding the DNC host a debate on the most important multi-issue crisis of our time: the climate crisis” said Sierra Club National Political Director Ariel Hayes. “Tackling the climate crisis has emerged as a top, signature issue in the Democratic contest, which is why knowing who climate voters are supporting now, and as the race moves forward, is critical.”
While the Morning Consult poll for the Sierra Club takes a deeper look at likely primary voters for whom climate action is a "very" important factor in their vote, polling from other leading outfits show that the climate crisis is an increasingly important political issue for the Democratic party as a whole.
According to a CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted this month, three quarters of likely Iowa Democratic caucus participants said that “Recognition of climate change as the greatest threat to humanity” is a “must have” in a nominee for President.
A separate CNN national poll conducted in late April found that 82 percent of Democratic respondents said it’s “very important” that their party’s nominee for president supports taking “aggressive action” to slow the effects of climate change.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.