NEW POLL: PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN NEVADA, ARIZONA

Washington, DC — New polling from the Global Strategy Group shows not only that Senator Dean Heller and Senator Jeff Flake are in close reelection bids, but that voters in Arizona and Nevada overwhelmingly support Planned Parenthood and are less likely to support both candidates if they vote to “defund” Planned Parenthood.

To read about the results of the Nevada poll, click HERE. To read about the results of the Arizona poll, click HERE.

The Nevada poll showed that 58 percent of Nevadans support Planned Parenthood –including 75 percent support from Latino voters – compared to only 31 percent that don’t. The poll also showed across-the-board opposition to defunding Planned Parenthood, with even 42 percent of Republicans opposing. Forty-nine percent of Nevada voters said they were less likely to support candidates who support defunding Planned Parenthood. Additionally, two in five voters (39 percent) who initially say they plan to vote to reelect Heller in 2018 oppose eliminating Planned Parenthood funding.

The Arizona poll showed that 60 percent of Arizonans –– including 71 percent of Latino voters –– have a favorable view of Planned Parenthood, compared to only 33 percent that don’t. The poll also found that 48 percent of Arizona voters are less likely to vote for candidates that support defunding Planned Parenthood. Additionally, two in five (41 percent) of Flake’s supporters oppose defunding Planned Parenthood.

Quote from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Attacks on Planned Parenthood are not what people want, and certainly not what they voted for. So-called ‘defunding’ cruelly targets people who already face barriers to getting quality health care – people in rural areas, people who have low incomes, immigrants and people of color – and blocks them from seeing the health care provider they trust and rely on. Nevadans and Arizonans won’t stand to see themselves, their neighbors, and their family members stripped of their health care. This is an attack on women – on their health and on their rights.”

This polling comes in addition to focus groups in both Arizona and Nevada after the election, and polling that shows that even Trump voters don’t want to defund Planned Parenthood.

The term “defunding” when talking about Planned Parenthood is a misnomer – the legislation in fact aims to bar anyone who relies on Medicaid and/or other federal programs for health care from turning to Planned Parenthood as their health care provider. Planned Parenthood health centers serve 2.5 million people a year, at least 60 percent of whom rely on federal programs for care, and in many areas, Planned Parenthood health centers are the only family planning option for those who rely on Medicaid or other safety-net programs. This legislation would impact folks who already face systemic barriers to health care, including people of color, people living in rural communities, and people with low incomes.

 

Planned Parenthood has 9.5 million supporters, donors, and activists around the country. With nearly 300 events nationwide over the next few months, and through a robust digital program, Planned Parenthood political and advocacy organizations are mobilizing their millions of supporters to fight back against this legislation and let politicians know what is at stake with defunding Planned Parenthood and repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Background on the Nevada and Arizona Polls:

Nevada poll: Results show that Dean Heller is in a very close race in 2018, that Nevada voters are less likely to support him if he supports defunding Planned Parenthood, and that Nevada voters overwhelmingly support Planned Parenthood.

• Dean Heller is in a close race:  “As of now, Heller is essentially tied 41% to 38% against an unknown Democratic candidate in the race for senate, with just 16% of voters certain they will reelect him in two years’ time.”

• Nevada voters are less likely to support Heller if he votes to “defund” Planned Parenthood: “49% would be less likely to vote for a candidate who supported defunding Planned Parenthood, even if they agreed with the candidate on everything else. This includes 43% of independents and 35% of Republicans. ... Two in five (39%) voters who say they will vote to re-elect Heller in 2018 oppose eliminating Planned Parenthood funding, including 24% who strongly oppose”

• Nevada voters support Planned Parenthood: “Nearly six in 10 Nevadans (58%) have a favorable opinion of Planned Parenthood. ... Voters’ support for Planned Parenthood extends across demographic groups: college-educated voters (65% are favorable), women (60%), and Latino voters (75%).”

Click to read about the results of the Nevada poll here.

Arizona poll: Results how that Jeff Flake is vulnerable in 2018, that voting to defund Planned Parenthood would hurt Flake’s reelection chances, and that Arizona voters support Planned Parenthood.

• Jeff Flake is in for a close race: “One in three voters in Arizona (36%) say they will vote to re-elect Flake over a Democratic candidate (33%) in two years; just 11% say they will definitely vote to re-elect him.”

• Arizona voters are less likely to vote for Flake if he votes to defund: “Two in five Flake voters (41%) strongly or somewhat oppose defunding Planned Parenthood. … 48% would be less likely to vote for a candidate who supported defunding Planned Parenthood, even if they agreed with the candidate on everything else. This includes 48% of independents, 30% of Republicans, and 25% of voters who initially say they will vote to re-elect Flake in 2018.”  

• Arizona voters support Planned Parenthood: “Six in 10 Arizonans (60%) have a favorable opinion of Planned Parenthood, and their positive impressions of the organization run deep: more voters in Arizona have a very favorable opinion of Planned Parenthood (43%) than those who have a somewhat or very unfavorable opinion combined (33%).”

Click to read about the results of the Arizona poll here.