Americans’ Desire for Businesses to Weigh in on Politics Dips.
According to a Gallup poll released earlier this week, more than half of Americans, or nearly 48%, expressed their desire for businesses to weigh in on current events and politics in 2022. However, in the latest survey conducted by Gallup, only 38% of respondents want businesses to share their opinions on politics, marking a significant two-year drop from the previous year.
The Gallup survey revealed that Americans across nearly all age groups, both genders, all races, and various political affiliations prefer to hear less from corporations about their stance on current events. Groups that were previously more receptive to businesses taking a stand have become considerably less likely to express this preference. For instance, in 2022, three-quarters of Democrats believed businesses should voice their opinions on current events; however, over the past two years, this support has dropped by 22 percentage points.
Similarly, Asian and Black adults are now 27% and 18% less likely, respectively, to believe that businesses should publicly address their views on current events. The only groups that currently express majority support for companies taking public stances include.
55% of LGBTQ+ adults.
54% of Black adults.
53% of Democrats.
Conversely, only 22% of Republicans want businesses to weigh in on current events, while Democrats remain the political affiliation that most wants business to take a stand on various issues.
Regarding specific topics, 79% of Democrats want businesses to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion, while 38% wish for them to address climate change. In contrast, 36% of Republicans would prefer businesses to weigh in on free speech, followed by 33% who care about mental health and 28% concerned with healthcare.
Furthermore, more than three-fifths of Democrats and Republicans say that they are less likely to purchase a product or service from a company that has endorsed a candidate from their opposing party. This trend indicates that as the nation shifts its focus towards the 2024 presidential race and the platforms each party proposes, American citizens’ tolerance for businesses participating in these debates continues to diminish.
The Gallup poll surveyed 5,835 American adults between April 29 and May 6, revealing this decline in support for corporations voicing their opinions on politics and current events.