Americans remain wary of electing a female president, a new nationwide survey on voter attitudes toward women in politics has suggested. Confidence that the country is ready for a woman in the Oval Office has steadily declined over the past decade, a trend reinforced by the recent election defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris’ 2024 loss to Donald Trump followed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, in which she won the popular vote but fell short in key swing states. Together, the two defeats have reignited debate over gender and electability in US politics.
The report, “She Leads: Progress and Persistent Barriers for Women in Politics,” was released earlier this week and revealed lingering resistance to the idea of a female president despite broad support for women in politics.
One in five respondents said they or someone close to them would not vote for a woman for the nation’s highest office. The reluctance is even stronger among voters under 50, with 25% of women and 20% of men saying they would not support a qualified female candidate. By contrast, only 13% of voters over 50 shared that view.
Respondents highlighted that they trust women more on social issues, but tend to favor men when it comes to national security and international affairs.
The ‘Harris Effect’ remains a point of contention and voters are divided on whether the former vice president has made it easier or harder for a woman to become president. Republicans and independents tend to believe it has made it more difficult, the research suggests.
The survey, commissioned by the American University’s Women and Politics Institute, was conducted in September 2025 by Benenson Strategy Group. The poll of 801 registered voters had a 3.5-point margin of error, according to the press release.
Earlier polling showed higher levels of optimism. A YouGov survey for The Times in July 2024 found 54% of Americans believed the country was ready for a female president, down from 63% in 2015.
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