While it often seems that the U.S. electorate cannot agree on anything, results from the most recent American Strategies national survey show Biden and Trump voters are like-minded on a number of key policy issues. Large majorities of voters from both camps agree that the U.S. should trade less with China, invest more in infrastructure, and invest more in renewable resources. Perhaps more surprisingly, they also agree that more corporate profits should be distributed to employees, and that corporations should pay more in taxes. The most significant disagreements are over the construction of a wall on the Southern border and on the role of the U.S in foreign affairs.
Supporters of both major candidates also agree, by large margins, that there should be more public investment in infrastructure projects, like roads, bridges, and public transportation, corporations should pay more in taxes and that corporate profits should be distributed more to employees at all levels. However, intensity of opinion varies. Twenty-eight percent of Trump voters and 53% of Biden voters agree strongly with more infrastructure spending (95% of Biden supporters and 83% of Trump voters agree overall). Sixty percent of Biden voters strongly agree that corporate profits should be distributed more to employees at all levels (95 percent agree overall), while only 28% of Trump voters strongly agree with greater distribution of profits (76% agree overall). Almost seven-in-ten Biden supporters strongly agree that corporations should pay more in taxes; 70 percent of Trump voters also agree overall, but just thirty percent strongly agree.
When it comes to whether or not the U.S. should invest more in renewable energy sources, Biden voters almost unanimously agree (96 percent overall agree; 59 percent strongly agree) while Trump voters are in general agreement (63 percent overall agree) but run well behind in terms of intensity (25 percent strongly agree).
Results show the inverse when it comes to sentiment on whether The U.S. should trade less with China. Trump and Biden supporters both agree that we should trade less with China, but Trump supporters have greater intensity in their opinion. Overall, 86% of Trump voters and 72% of Biden supporters agree with this statement. But Trump voters agree with more intensity, at 42% compared to 20% for Biden voters.
There is not, of course, complete agreement on policy across the aisle. Issues that create the greatest separation are whether a wall should be built on the border between the U.S. and Mexico and whether the U.S. should be less involved in foreign affairs throughout the world. As expected, Trump supporters strongly favor building a wall between the U.S and Mexico, with 69% strongly agreeing with this statement (88% agree overall). Biden supporters disagree with this policy stance (68% disagree). Supporters of third-party candidates fall in the middle of the major parties with 55% in agreement and 45% disagreeing regarding the construction of a wall between the U.S and Mexico.
Trump voters are most likely to agree that the U.S. should take a more limited role in foreign affairs with 82% agreeing. Biden voters are the opposite with 56 percent disagreeing. Supporters of third-party candidates are most enthusiastic in their support for the U.S to be less involved. Almost half strongly agree the U.S. should be less involved in foreign affairs.
Survey Methodology
American Strategies and Statara designed and administered this multi-modal survey. Data were collected through a randomly selected online non-probability panel sample provided by Dynata Research. The survey reached 1,151 adults, age 18 or older. The survey was conducted April 11-23, 2024.
Quotas were assigned to reflect the demographic distribution registered voters in the United States. The overall margin of error is +/- 2.9%. The margin of error for subgroups is larger and varies. Percentage totals may not add up precisely due to rounding.
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