Survey results show that 59% of CMC students identify as Democrats, and 19% identify as Republicans.
In the fall semester of each election year, the Henry Salvatori Center for Study of Individual Freedom in the Modern World conducts a survey to ascertain the political attitudes of students at Claremont McKenna College (CMC). The survey was originally conducted in the fall of 2016 by Melanie Wolfe and Joe Noss. While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Salvatori Center from conducting the survey in 2020, a replacement survey was conducted in the spring of 2022 by Hannah Reilly and Kimi Adler.
2024 marks the third time the survey has been conducted and the first time the Salvatori Center has published the results in collaboration with The Forum. On November 5th, Salvatori Center research assistants will present the results of the survey to the CMC student body for the Kravis Lab for Civic Engagement’s election night programming. This year’s survey was organized, conducted, and published by Henry Long.
Respondent Demographics
The survey was sent to a sample of 300 CMC students. 178 students responded, making for a response rate of 59.3% and a margin of error of ±7% at a 95% confidence level.
25.3% of respondents were freshmen, 18.5% were sophomores, 23.0% were juniors, and 33.1% were seniors.
In response to the question, “Where do you call home?”, 43.3% replied California, 14.6% replied the American Northeast, 12.4% replied the American Northwest, 9.6% replied the American Midwest, 8.4% replied the American Southwest, 5.6% replied the American Southeast, 3.4% replied outside of the U.S., and 2.8% replied otherwise.
In regards to gender, 55.6% identified as men, 42.1% identified as women, and 2.2% identified as nonbinary. Comparing these proportions to CMC’s fact sheet indicates that men are overrepresented in the survey. This difference may skew the results to the political right, especially given the growing political divide between young men and young women.
In terms of race, 58.2% identified as white non-Hispanic, 14.7% identified as asian, 11.3% identified as two or more races, 10.2% identified as white Hispanic, 2.8% identified as black, and 2.8% identified as some other race. Comparing these proportions to CMC’s fact sheet indicates that white students are overrepresented in the survey. Given data on racial political affiliation, the overrepresentation of white students may skew the results towards the political right.
Of respondents, 39.3% majored in the social sciences, 26.4% majored in STEM, 18.5% majored in the Humanities, and 15.7% had some other major.
Political Affiliation
When asked about political party preferences, 58.5% identified as Democrats, 18.8% identified as Republicans, 16.5% identified as Independent, and 6.3% identified as some other party (i.e., Libertarian, Green, etc.). This makes for a Democrat-to-Republican ratio of about 3:1.
When compared to historical data, 2024 marks a decline in Democratic party affiliation from its 2022 high of 68%. 2024 also marks a rebound in Republican identification from its 2022 low of 6%, making for the first time in survey history that Republicans have outnumbered Independents.
When asked about their own political outlook, 6.2% identified as Far left, 27.1% identified as Left, 26.6% identified as Center left, 13% identified as Center, 17.5% identified as Center right, 6.2% identified as Right, and 3.4% identified with some other political outlook. No respondents identified as Far right. This makes for a left-to-right ratio of about 2.5:1.
Starting in 2024, the survey categorized political outlook using a left-right scale rather than a liberal-conservative scale. Over the past 8 years, left-of-center/liberal identification has remained relatively steady at just over 60%. 2024 marks a rebound in right-of-center/conservative identification from its 2022 low of 6%, which is the first time in survey history that right-of-center/conservatives have outnumbered centrists.
When asked “How would you describe the political outlook of your campus?”, 2.3% replied Far left, 19.2% replied Left, 39% replied Center left, 20.3% replied Center, 9.6% replied Center right, 5.7% replied Right, 0.6% replied Far right, and 2.8% replied with some other political outlook.
Views on campus political outlook have become more polarized since 2016 and 2022. Fewer students believe the campus political outlook is centrist, and more students believe the campus political outlook is either left-of-center/liberal or right-of-center/conservative. Even though the number of left-of-center/liberal students has declined since 2022, more students view the campus political outlook as left-of-center/liberal.
When asked their Presidential candidate preferences in 2024, 70.9% replied Kamala Harris (Democrat), 20% replied Donald Trump (Republican), 2.3% replied Cornel West (Independent), 1.1% replied Chase Oliver (Libertarian), and 5.7% replied some other candidate.
Educational Issues
When asked, “Should CMC reinstate standardized testing requirements in its admissions process?”, students were evenly split on the issue—38% replied yes, and 38% replied no. 23.9% were undecided on this question.
The next question was added in 2024 after pro-Palestine encampments, occupations, and protests overtook college campuses across the U.S., with students and faculty passing referenda opposing administrative disciplinary action. When asked, “Should college administrators prevent students from constructing encampments as a form of protest?”, 47.5% replied yes, and 38.9% replied no. 13.6% were undecided on this question. Of those who replied yes, 32.4% said that college administrators should discipline students who construct encampments.
When asked, “Do you support race-based affirmative action programs?”, 35.8% replied yes, and 43.8% replied no. 20.4% were undecided on this question. Of those who replied no, 56.4% indicated support for other affirmative action programs like class-based affirmative action.
Social Issues
When asked, “What is your stance on abortion?”, 79.8% replied pro-choice, and 19.6% replied pro-life. 0.6% were undecided on this question. Of those who said pro-choice, 9.3% said they were only pro-choice up until the first trimester. Of those who said pro-life, 65.8% said that we should allow abortion in special cases, such as rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk.
2024 is a high-water mark for pro-life identification, up from its 2022 low of 8%.
The next question asks “How should the government balance conflict between religious liberty and anti-discrimination legislation that protects traits such as gender and sexual orientation in public accommodations?” This question was added in 2022 to gauge student opinions on important Supreme Court cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. 31.4% replied to prioritize anti-discrimination laws, 8.8% replied to prioritize religious liberty, and 44.7% replied to attempt to balance the two. 15.1% were undecided on the question.
The next question asks “What are your attitudes towards the American police?” This question was added in 2022 in the wake of nationwide protests against police brutality after the death of George Floyd. 27.8% replied that we should put more money into police forces, 24.1% replied that police forces should not be changed, 24.7% replied that we should put less money into police forces, and 3.1% replied that we should abolish police forces. 20.4% were undecided on the question.
When asked, “Should there be more restrictions on purchasing guns?”, 82.1% replied yes, and 14.2% replied no. Of those who replied yes, 24.8% replied that there should only be more restrictions on assault weapons, and 6% replied that guns should be banned from civilian use. 3.7% were undecided on the question.
Rates of respondents who want to restrict gun purchases are roughly similar between 2016 and 2024, with 2022 as the high water mark of 91%.
When asked, “Do you support marijuana legalization?”, 69.4% replied yes, 7.5% replied yes and that most other drugs should be legalized, 6.9% replied no, and 8.1% replied that marijuana should only be legalized for medical purposes. 8.1% were undecided on the question.
Rates of respondents who favor marijuana legalization are roughly similar between 2016 and 2024, with 2022 as the high water mark of 90%.
When asked, “Should the U.S. increase border security?”, 67.1% replied yes, and 16.7% replied no. Of those who replied yes, 87% favored increases in legal immigration. Of those who replied no, 96.4% favored increases in legal immigration. 16.1% were undecided on the question.
When asked, “Should the government grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants currently living in the US?” 13% replied yes, 45.3% replied yes and that the government should implement a path to citizenship, 17.4% replied no, and 3.7% replied no and that the government should deport all undocumented immigrants. 20.5% were undecided on the issue.
2024 marks the lowest support for undocumented immigrant amnesty in survey history, down from its 2022 high of 86%.
Economic Issues
When asked, “Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?”, 25.5% replied yes, 62.1% replied yes and favored alternative energy incentives, 6.8% replied no, and 1.2% replied no and that global warming is a natural occurrence. 4.3% were undecided on the issue.
Since 2016, opposition to increased environmental regulation has remained below 15%.
When asked, “Would you say that increased global trade has been a net benefit for the U.S.?”, 60.6% replied yes, 3.1% replied no, and 7.5% replied that increased global trade has been net neutral. 28.8% were undecided on the issue, the second-greatest share of undecided respondents on any question.
When asked, “Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?”, 46.8% replied raise, 12% replied lower, and 17.7% replied to maintain the current level of taxation. 23.4% were undecided on the issue.
When asked, “Should the federal government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?”, 28.9% replied yes, and 40.3% replied no. 30.8% were undecided on the issue, the greatest share of undecided respondents on any question.
Foreign Policy Issues
When asked, “Should the United States provide funding and military supplies to Ukraine?”, 76.5% replied yes, and 11.4% replied no. Of those who replied yes, 20.7% said the U.S. should provide more funding and weapons, 45.5% said the U.S. should keep current levels of funding and weapons, and 33.9% said the U.S. should provide less funding and weapons. 12% were undecided on the issue.
When asked, “From what you know about the situation in the Middle East, do you support the Israelis or the Palestinians?”, 29.6% replied Palestinians, 22% replied Israelis, 18.9% replied both equally, and 16.4% replied neither. 13.2% were undecided on the issue.
Democracy
When asked, “Should the electoral college system be removed and be replaced with a direct popular vote for the presidency?”, 40.3% replied yes, and 32.7% replied no. 27% were undecided on the issue, the third-greatest share of undecided respondents on any question.
While a majority of students favored retaining the electoral college in 2016, support for the electoral college has fallen precipitously since, with a majority of students now favoring its removal. That said, 2024 also marks a rebound in electoral college support from its 2022 nadir of 32%.
When asked, “How optimistic are you about the future of American democracy?”, 7.5% replied that they were very pessimistic, 34.6% replied somewhat pessimistic, 25.2% replied neutral, 29.6% replied somewhat optimistic, and 2.5% replied very optimistic. 0.6% were undecided on the issue.
The final question of the survey asked respondents to select from a list of options the 3 issues that mattered most to them. The most important issues for respondents were the economy, the environment, abortion, preserving liberal democracy, and healthcare.
After a brief dive to fourth place in 2022, the economy regained its 2016 position as respondents’ most important issue. Foreign policy, gun control, immigration, racial equity have disappeared from the top five issues relative to 2016 and 2022. Abortion rose from a non-top-five issue in 2016 to the fifth most important issue in 2022 and the third most important issue in 2024. While the 2022 survey was taken before the bombshell Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court leak, abortion’s increased importance for respondents may be partially due to its increased political salience. Preserving liberal democracy appears as a new item in the top five in 2024, perhaps related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Professor George Thomas for his continued support throughout the course of the survey. Thanks also to the guidance of Annie Deckey, Hannah Reilly, Jessie Miller, and Kimiko Adler when this survey was conducted my freshman year.
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