New POLITICO Survey Finds Trump’s Most Devoted Supporters More Likely Than Other Voters to Back Candidates Accused of Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence
Americans across the political spectrum may be increasingly willing to overlook misconduct by political candidates, but a new poll suggests President Donald Trump’s MAGA supporters are more likely than any other voting group to remain loyal through even the most serious scandals.
The POLITICO Poll found majorities of self-identified MAGA voters would continue supporting a Republican candidate confronted with every controversy included in the survey, ranging from a drunken-driving conviction and accepting lobbyist gifts to accusations of domestic violence, sexual assault and antisemitic social media posts.
MAGA Voters Show Greater Loyalty Through Serious Allegations
Two-thirds of MAGA Trump voters said they would continue supporting a Republican candidate accused of sexual assault.
That was 13 percentage points higher than the broader group of voters who supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, including Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement.
By comparison, 40% of voters who supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 said they would continue backing a Democratic candidate facing a sexual assault accusation.
The divide was even wider when respondents were asked about domestic violence allegations.
Seventy-two percent of MAGA Trump voters said they would remain behind the Republican candidate. That compared with 61% of Trump’s overall 2024 coalition and 39% of Harris voters considering a Democratic candidate accused of the same conduct.
Source: The POLITICO Poll with Public First
Anna Wiederkehr/POLITICO
Across all 12 hypothetical scandals tested, MAGA voters were more likely than other groups to remain loyal to their party’s candidate.
“Scandal doesn’t mean what it did 15 years ago. The rules have changed, and Republican voters know it,” Republican strategist Ford O’Connell told POLITICO.
“Republicans, particularly MAGA voters, have learned that Queensberry rules don’t win in modern politics,” he continued. “Today it’s a full-contact fight, more UFC than civics class, and anything goes.”
Poll Reveals Different Standards Between Parties
The results did not show that only Republicans are willing to overlook political misconduct.
Nearly half of voters across the political spectrum said they could continue supporting candidates convicted of driving under the influence or accused of exploiting tax loopholes, hiding a terminal illness or exaggerating their military service.
CHIP SOMODEVILLA—GETTY IMAGES
Harris voters, however, were more likely to withdraw their support when Democratic candidates were accused of accepting gifts from lobbyists, committing domestic violence or committing sexual assault. In those scenarios, more Harris voters said they would stay home or support the Republican candidate than remain with the Democratic nominee.
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The survey also found voters sometimes applied different standards depending on the candidate’s political party.
Seventy-one percent of Republican respondents said a Democratic candidate accused of sexual assault should leave the race. When asked whether a Republican candidate facing the same accusation should withdraw, that number fell to 52%.
Democrats also showed some partisan differences, although the gap was approximately five percentage points.
“For most voters, scandal is one ingredient among many in a partisan calculation,” University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus told POLITICO. “It is no longer a standalone verdict.”
Trump’s Influence Has Reshaped Political Loyalty
POLITICO’s analysis pointed to Trump’s ability to maintain support through numerous controversies as one reason traditional political scandals may no longer carry the same consequences.
Trump remained politically dominant following the release of the “Access Hollywood” recording, four criminal indictments and his conviction in the Manhattan hush money case, which is under appeal. Three other criminal cases against him were dismissed or dropped after he returned to the White House.
That loyalty has also extended to candidates endorsed by Trump.
Republicans rallied behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during his Senate campaign despite years of legal and political controversies. Trump’s endorsement also helped former Arizona sheriff Mark Lamb win a Republican House nomination while facing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power, which Lamb has denied.
Democrats faced a similar test in Maine, where Senate candidate Graham Platner remained in the race through controversies involving previous online posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. He later withdrew after a woman accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he denies.
The poll was conducted online by Public First, an independent polling firm based in the United Kingdom, from July 12 through July 15. The survey included 2,061 U.S. adults and had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2.16 percentage points.
