As the national conversation about sexual harassment continues to dominate headlines across the country, it is important that candidates be prepared for questions about this issue on the campaign trail. For women candidates especially, there may be a gendered expectation that they are out front on this subject and, for some, shining a light on sexual harassment may be a personal priority. BLFF has released three research memos addressing the nuances of this topic.
Our research conducted in partnership with Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Consulting, shows that voters respond positively when women candidates on both sides of the aisle talk about sexual harassment in their candidate profiles, and provides insights about candidate messages supporting and questioning the #MeToo movement.
Communicating about sexual harassment may feel new to many candidates; it’s an issue that hasn’t been a large part of the conversation on the campaign trail since the Anita Hill hearings in 1991. Additionally, there has been much discussion about a potential “backlash” to the #MeToo movement, so candidates may feel hesitant to include a statement against sexual harassment in their initial introduction to voters. This new research shows that voters are ready for candidates, particularly women candidates, to show that they are committed to fighting sexual harassment. Moreover, voters are skeptical of candidates who question the #MeToo movement and are convinced by messages about fighting sexual harassment. The majority of voters look more favorably upon candidates who take a strong stance against sexual harassment. Considering these findings, addressing sexual harassment has the potential to be a deciding factor in a close race.
Voters Agree: Sexual Harassment Is a Serious Problem that Needs to Be Addressed
- 81% of voters see sexual harassment in the workplace as a serious problem, with 44% saying it is a very serious problem.
- The majority of voters agree that the current attention on sexual harassment is about right (42%) or hasn’t gone far enough (25%).
- 87% of voters agree that it needs to be easier for women to safely report sexual harassment in the workplace.
Voters Are Willing to Make Sexual Harassment an Issue at the Ballot Box
- 52% of voters agree that they would never vote for a person accused of sexual harassment.
- 51% of voters agree they would never vote for someone who didn’t make addressing sexual harassment a priority.
- 30% of voters say that current events regarding sexual harassment make them more likely to vote for women candidates, with the majority of voters saying it makes no difference.
Millennial Women Are Especially Likely to Connect Sexual Harassment to Voting Decisions
- 86% of millennial women voters see sexual harassment in the workplace as a serious problem, with 57% saying it is a very serious problem.
- 73% of millennial women agree that they would never vote for a person accused of sexual harassment, with 57% strongly agreeing.
- 65% of millennial women agree that they would never vote for someone who didn’t make addressing sexual harassment a priority, with 31% strongly agreeing.
- 50% of millennial women say that current events regarding sexual harassment make them more likely to vote for women candidates, with 27% saying it makes them much more likely.
Men Want to Fight Sexual Harassment, Too
- 79% of men say that sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem. Only 5% of men say sexual harassment in the workplace is not at all serious.
- 53% of men agree that they would never vote for a person accused of sexual harassment.
- 84% of men agree that it needs to be easier for women to safely report sexual harassment in the workplace.
Voters Support Women Candidates Who Advocate for Change
- An overwhelming majority of voters agrees that sexual harassment is a problem, and they prefer when women candidates take a hardline stance against sexual harassment while advocating for change.
- 37% of women, 42% of unmarried women, 50% of millennial women, and 40% of African Americans say current events regarding sexual harassment make them more likely to vote for women candidates.
- The statements below make voters across gender, age, partisanship, and race much more favorable towards a woman candidate. Percentages are of voters who rate each statement a “10” on a 0-10 scale where 0 means “much less favorable” and 10 means “much more favorable” toward that woman candidate.
- Sexual harassment is unacceptable and should not be tolerated anywhere in our society. (72%)
- Congress needs to get rid of the hush money fund that uses taxpayer money to protect sexual predators. (69%)
- There is no excuse for sexual harassment. (61%)
- Perpetrators of sexual misconduct have no place in public office. (59%)
- We must fight every day to make sure that little girls grow up in a world where they never have to say #MeToo. (58%)
- We need to require all employers to conduct sexual harassment training, including Congress. (54%)
This new research from the Barbara Lee Family Foundation shows that the majority of voters: take sexual harassment seriously; say that it will influence their voting decisions; and look more favorably upon candidates who take a strong stance against sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is not a niche issue – it is one with the potential to make a real difference at the ballot box.