Frontline Voters Support the Build Back Better Agenda

By Danielle Deiseroth, Senior Climate Data Analyst, Data for Progress

Summary and Highlights

In September 2021, Data for Progress surveyed likely voters in eight key frontline districts: Arizona’s 1st District, Florida’s 7th District, Georgia’s 7th District, Iowa’s 3rd District, Maine’s 2nd District, Michigan’s 8th District, New York’s 4th District, and New Jersey’s 5th District.
While a majority of voters in each district support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, we also find that a majority of voters in each district think it is important for Congress to make additional investments to address climate change and reduce pollution.
The $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan enjoys high levels of support in each district, and a majority of voters think the investments in the proposal should be increased or kept the same.
Support for the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan withstands oppositional talking points against the investment.
Voters in each district — including majorities of Democrats — say they are less likely to vote for a candidate who opposes the Build Back Better plan.

Key Findings

While voters in frontline districts broadly support the bipartisan infrastructure plan, they also overwhelmingly agree that Congress should make additional investments to address climate change. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (formerly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill) enjoys support from a majority of voters in each district. However, over sixty percent of voters in each district also say that it is important that Congress makes additional investments to address climate change and extreme weather, create clean energy jobs, and reduce pollution.

The $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan is popular, and voters in these districts want to see the level of ambition kept in the proposal. We provided voters with a brief description of the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan to lower the costs of healthcare and prescription drugs, expand access to child and elderly care, and take action to address climate change and invest in clean energy. The Build Back Better plan enjoys support from a majority or plurality of voters in each district, and support for the plan remains high even when we present voters with negative messaging about the proposal. We also find that a majority of voters in each district think that the level of the investments — $3.5 trillion — should be increased or kept the same.

Voters in frontline districts are more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who supports the Build Back Better proposal. In every district, a majority or plurality of voters say that they are less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who opposes the Build Back Better plan. The Build Back Better plan is especially popular among the Democratic base: Over two-thirds of Democrats in each district say they are less likely to vote for a candidate who opposes the Build Back Better plan.

Conclusion

Voters in frontline districts overwhelmingly support both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better proposal. Moreover, voters in these districts want to see the Build Back Better plan retain its ambitious scope and level of investments. Lastly, voters in these districts indicate they are less likely to support a candidate for Congress who opposes the Build Back Better plan. Lawmakers representing these voters should feel confident supporting President Biden’s agenda knowing that their voters widely back these measures and want their leaders to take action on climate change.

Survey Methodology

From September 17 to September 24, 2021, Data for Progress surveyed likely voters in eight frontline districts using SMS and web panel respondents. The toplines and survey methodology for each state can be found here: AZ-01, FL-07, GA-07, IA-03, ME-02, MI-08, NJ-05, NY-04.