Help Mobilize 1 Million More
American Muslim Voters

A campaign by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

CAIR Releases Results of Muslim Voter Super Tuesday Exit Poll, Survey (#MuslimsVote)

Majority of American Muslims voted for Bernie Sanders, followed by Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg

Survey also shows majority of American Muslims support taking in more refugees and asylum seekers, back single-payer healthcare system and $15 minimum wage, say environmental climate change is an emergency issue

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/5/20) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released the results of its “#MuslimsVote 2020 Super Tuesday Exit Poll and Survey.” 

CAIR’s poll indicated that the majority (58.2 percent) of AmericanMuslim voters who participated in state Democratic primaries on Tuesday, March 3, voted for Bernie Sanders, followed by 26.8 percent for Joe Biden, 5.4 percent for Michael Bloomberg, 5.1 percent for Elizabeth Warren, and 1.4 percent for another candidate.

The survey also indicated that 51.1 percent of American Muslim voters affiliate with the Democratic Party, and 17.5 percent with the Republican Party, while 24.5 percent identify as independent or not a member of a party.

READ THE ENTIRE REPORT: #MuslimsVote 2020 Super Tuesday Exit Poll and Survey
SEE: CAIR’s Super Tuesday Exit Poll Graphic

MEDIA ADVISORY: CAIR representatives are available to discuss the findings of the survey. Email: [email protected]

“These survey results show exactly why several 2020 presidential candidates have made unprecedented attempts to court American Muslims voters,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw. “The interconnectedness of the American Muslim community and its more than one million registered voters makes Muslims a strong and increasingly critical voice in American politics.” 

McCaw added: “Candidates running for office who want to better understand the views and attitudes of American Muslim voters must read this report.”

The survey also questioned Muslim voter households, regardless of political party affiliation, about their views on a wide range of social and policy issues, including refugee resettlement, healthcare reform, climate change, raising the federal minimum wage, and ensuring affordable housing.

The highlights of CAIR’s #MuslimsVote 2020 Super Tuesday Exit Poll and Survey include:

  • 73.9% of those who responded to the CAIR survey say they cast ballots in this year’s Super Tuesday election. 
  • 51.1% of Muslim voters primarily affiliated with the Democratic Party, 17.5% with the Republican Party, and 24.5% as independent or not a member of a party.
  • Of those Muslim voters that voted in their state’s Democratic presidential primary election, 58.2% voted for Bernie Sanders, 26.8% voted for Joe Biden, 5.4% voted for Michael Bloomberg, 5.1% voted for Elizabeth Warren, and 1.4% for another candidate.
  • By age: 76% of Muslim voters between the ages of 18 to 34 supported Bernie Sanders, while 16% supported Joe Biden. In comparison, 42.6% of Muslim voters between the ages of 65 to 74 supported Bernie Sanders, while 39.4% supported Joe Biden.
  • By gender: 54.4% of female Muslim voters supported Bernie Sanders, 34.6% supported Joe Biden, 5.3% supported Michael Bloomberg, and 4.7% supported Elizabeth Warren. In comparison, 61.7% of male Muslim voters supported Bernie Sanders, 22.4% supported Joe Biden, 5.5% supported Michael Bloomberg, and 5.5% supported Elizabeth Warren.
  • When compared to the results of CAIR’s nationwide February 3 primary election poll of registered Muslim voters ahead of the Iowa caucus, Muslim support for Bernie Sanders increased from 39% to 58.2% – while support for Joe Biden remained the same at 27%.
  • 60% of Muslim voters support the U.S. government taking in more refugees and asylum seekers escaping war and violence, in comparison to the 25.7% that want to take in less. 14% reported being not sure or don’t know.
  • 61.2% of Muslim voters support a single-payer healthcare system, in comparison to the 27.2% that oppose such a system. 11.6% reported being not sure or don’t know.
  • 62% of Muslim voters believe that Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. has increased in the past year, in comparison to the 19.7% that believe it has decreased. 18.3% reported being not sure or don’t know.
  • 69.1% of Muslim voters believe that environmental climate change is an emergency issue, in comparison to the 21.8% that believe it is not an emergency issue. 9.1% reported being not sure or don’t know.
  • 73.9% of Muslim voters agree thatthe federal minimum wage should be raised from $7.25 to $15.00, in comparison to the 20.7% that disagree thatit should be raised.
  • 72.3% of Muslim voters support the U.S. government investing more money to increase the number of available affordable housing units to address the national housing crisis, in comparison to the 14.6% that oppose such an investment.
  • 50.3% of survey respondents were female and 49.7% male.

Exit Poll and Survey Methodology:

CAIR’s automated telephone survey results were drawn from a random sample of 595 American Muslim registered voter households with landlines across 13 Super Tuesday primary states (Alabama [12 respondents], Arkansas [4 respondents], California [243 respondents], Colorado [12 respondents], Maine [2 respondents], Massachusetts [50 respondents], Minnesota [31 respondents], North Carolina [27 respondents], Oklahoma [9 respondents], Tennessee [15 respondents], Texas [77 respondents], Utah [8 respondents], and Virginia[105 respondents]) and conducted by the independent polling firm Triton Polling & Research of Henderson, Nevada. Respondents could not be contacted in Vermont.

Survey participants were drawn from a database of more than 55,394 Muslim voter households. Calls were conducted on the evening of Tuesday, March 3. Respondents included 296 men and 299 women from across the nation. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 4%, with a confidence level of 95%.

The American Muslim voter database was developed by matching state records of registered voters with an extensive list of some 45,000 traditionally Muslim first and last names. In compiling this list, common names prevalent among Muslims across the world’s Muslim-majority ethnic groups were identified and verified by well-informed members of these ethnic groups.

Although it is the largest such list compiled to date, this pool of Muslim voters does not include Muslims with uncommon names or those who do not have traditionally Muslim names. Also excluded are Muslims with names that are also common in other communities (such as Sarah or Adam).

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

END

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Ayan Ajeen, [email protected]