ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Feelings toward President Donald Trump are split among South Carolinians according to the last Winthrop Poll. While 44% express positive feelings toward Trump, 43% view the president negatively. Concerning Elon Musk, 45% express negative views as opposed to 35% who view him positively. A deep partisan rift exists among South Carolinians about the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
Eighty-one percent of Republicans say the phrase “too extreme in its positions” describes the Democratic Party well while 82% of Democrats say the same about the Republican Party. While the phrases “respectful and tolerant of different types of people” and “supports policies that interfere too much in people’s lives” are associated more with the Democratic party, the phrases “governs in an honest and ethical way,” “is good at getting their way,” “is willing to do what it takes to win elections,” and “will not compromise to achieve their goals” are associated more with the Republican party among South Carolinians.
The following are more GENERAL POPULATION results from the survey of South Carolinians:
See full results, commentary, and methodology below.
For additional information or to set up an interview with Scott Huffmon, contact Judy Longshaw at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2404 (office) or 803/984-0586 (cell).
Nearly half of South Carolinians (47%) think things in the nation are on the wrong track. Republicans and Democrats have vastly different opinions on the direction in which the nation is headed with a majority of Republicans (69%) saying things are headed in the right direction and a majority of Democrats (81%) saying it is on the wrong track.
Commentary: Winthrop Poll Director, Dr. Scott Huffmon, observed, “People’s opinions on the direction the country is headed depend heavily on whether their side holds power. This is true at both the national and state level. However, there always remains the possibility that you may think things are headed in the wrong direction because, even though your party holds power, you believe there are still too many obstacles to achieving your side’s goals. Even so, in general, we tend to judge the health of our nation or state by whether or not our side is in charge.”
When it comes to the state of South Carolina, most South Carolinians (44%) say things are headed in the right direction. Republicans and Democrats again disagree with a majority of Republicans (72%) saying the state is headed in the right direction and a majority of Democrats (64%) saying the state is on the wrong track.
South Carolinians are split over how Donald Trump is handling his job as president. Among all respondents, 44% approve and 45% disapprove. When looking only at those who expressed an opinion – not including those who said “not sure” – approval is at 49.8% and disapproval at 50.3%.
Commentary: Huffmon explained, “In a national Pew survey conducted in early April 2025, President Trump’s approval rating was 40% when only examining those who expressed an opinion. Trump’s approval in South Carolina is higher even when non-responses in SC are included. South Carolina approval for President Trump among those with an opinion is notably higher than his national support but struggles to break into a clear majority.”
Forty-three percent of South Carolinians approve of the way Henry McMaster is handling his job as Governor of South Carolina. Thirty-four percent disapprove and 23% aren’t sure. Among those who expressed an opinion, a majority (56%) approve.
Commentary: According to Huffmon, “Governor McMaster’s approval in South Carolina seems to be on stronger footing than even that of President Trump. When all respondents, even those with no opinion, are included, Trump’s and McMaster’s approval ratings are very similar. However, Governor McMaster has fewer detractors than the president. When only those who expressed an opinion are examined, a majority approve of the governor.”
Commentary: “An interesting finding is the role of ‘no opinion’ when examining Republican approval of the President and Governor. Their disapproval numbers among Republicans are virtually identical. However, the President seems to have a 10-point higher approval rating than the Governor, but if you look at the full numbers, we see that ‘not sure’ as an opinion was almost 10 points higher for Governor McMaster. Even when examining a single question, just looking at one number can be misleading. The whole range of responses needs to be parsed if you want to make apples to apples comparisons,” added Huffmon.
Forty-four percent of South Carolinians disapprove of the way Lindsey Graham is handling his job as United States Senator for South Carolina. Thirty-five percent approve and 22% are not sure. Disapproval for Graham is at 56% among those who expressed an opinion. When it comes to Tim Scott, the junior United States Senator for South Carolina, 41% approve of the way he is handling his job. Thirty percent disapprove and 28% are not sure. Among those who expressed an opinion, 58% approve of Scott.
Commentary: According to Huffmon, “This is a poll representing all adults in South Carolina, not just registered voters and certainly not ‘likely voters’ for an election more than a year away. That said, while Lindsey Graham has a solid approval rating among self-identified Republicans, it is notably lower than Republican approval ratings for other GOP officials such as Governor McMaster or Senator Tim Scott. While digging deeper into Graham’s approval ratings by strength of party identification would produce much larger margins of error which could be misleading, all indicators seem to point to Graham’s approval being somewhat weaker among the strongest partisans. Since this is a general population poll, we can glean few electoral indicators from it, but Senator Graham has a large campaign war chest and is not underwater approval-wise with his party. This is a decent foundation upon which one could build a strong re-election campaign. Still, many on the right may view the fact that Graham’s numbers are substantially lower than those of his GOP colleagues as an invitation for a primary challenge.”
Respondents were asked to indicate whether they support or oppose various laws or policies that are either in place or are being considered related to transgender issues.
When asked about laws or policies that protect transgender individuals from discrimination in jobs, housing, and public spaces such as restaurants and stores, a majority of South Carolinians (62%) said they favor or strongly favor. Among Republicans, 44% favor or strongly favor such laws or policies while 23% oppose or strongly oppose and 30% neither favor nor oppose. Democrats are strongly in favor of these types of laws or policies with 83% saying they either favor or strongly favor.
Concerning laws or policies that require transgender individuals to use public bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with, a majority of South Carolinians (56%) favor or strongly favor. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans favor or strongly favor such laws or policies. Most Democrats (40%) say the same while 34% oppose or strongly oppose and 20% neither favor nor oppose.
Half of South Carolinians favor or strongly favor laws or policies that would make it illegal for public school districts to teach about gender identity in elementary schools. A majority of Republicans (69%) favor or strongly favor such laws or policies while close to half of Democrats (46%) oppose or strongly oppose.
When it comes to requiring that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with, a majority of South Carolinians (71%) favor or strongly favor laws or policies that would enforce this. A majority of both Republicans (87%) and Democrats (54%) favor or strongly favor such laws or policies. Nearly a quarter of Democrats (23%) neither favor nor oppose. A similar question was asked in the May 2023 Winthrop Poll of the South Carolina general population where 62% of all respondents said they would favor this type of law or policy. Eighty percent of Republicans and 49% of Democrats said the same.
Half of South Carolinians oppose or strongly oppose laws or policies that would require health insurance companies to cover medical care for gender transitions. Twenty-seven percent favor or strongly favor such laws or policies and 20% neither favor nor oppose. Nearly half of Democrats (48%) favor or strongly favor requiring health insurance companies to cover this type of care while a majority of Republicans (72%) oppose or strongly oppose.
When asked about laws or policies that would make it illegal for health care professionals to provide someone younger than 18 with medical care for a gender transition, a majority of South Carolinians (55%) said they favor or strongly favor. A majority of Republicans (72%) said the same while Democrats were more split over the issue. Forty percent of Democrats favor or strongly favor such laws or policies, 38% oppose or strongly oppose, and 20% neither favor nor oppose.
Commentary: Huffmon observed, “As might be expected, South Carolinians’ attitudes on transgender issues are complex. A solid majority, including a plurality of Republicans, want to see transgender individuals protected from discrimination. However, other than protection from overt discrimination, majorities or pluralities of SC residents are likely to hold more anti-trans positions. Best estimates place transgender individuals at about 0.6% of the population.* Even though transgender individuals make up a fraction of a fraction of the US population, discussion about them has grown to a disproportionately large part of the current political discourse. Because there are, quite literally, so few transgender individuals in America, one cannot help but see such in-depth discussions of trans issues as proxies for larger ideological debates. Whether it be the bathroom, locker room, or doctor’s waiting room, South Carolinians are generally resistant to allowing transgender individuals in.”
*[see: Herman, J.L., Flores, A.R., O’Neill, K.K. (2022). “How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States?” The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law]
Feelings toward Donald Trump are split among South Carolinians with 44% expressing very or somewhat positive feelings toward the president and 43% very or somewhat negative. Eighty-two percent of Democrats have feelings that are negative toward Trump. Conversely, 83% of Republicans have positive feelings for Trump.
When asked about Elon Musk – an influential figure in Trump’s administration thus far – 45% of South Carolinians express negative feelings toward him. Among Republicans, 67% have positive feelings toward Musk while 16% have negative feelings and 15% are neutral. Among Democrats, 81% have negative feelings while 9% have positive feelings and another 9% are neutral.
Thirty-seven percent have positive feelings toward DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Thirty-two percent have negative feelings about the department and 19% are neutral. Republicans and Democrats have vastly different feelings toward DOGE with Republicans feeling far more positive about it than Democrats.
Commentary: According to Huffmon, “While most people over a certain age may not be familiar with the meme associated with the name of the Department of Government Efficiency, many expressed strong opinions about the agency itself. At first glance, South Carolina residents appear to be evenly divided about DOGE, with 37% viewing it positively and 32% viewing it negatively. However, a deep rift in attitudes about DOGE is revealed when responses are broken down by party. Democrats are more than four and a half times more likely to see DOGE negatively than Republicans. Conversely, Republicans’ positive views of the agency are 50 points higher than those of Democrats.”
Forty-two percent of South Carolinians have positive feelings toward federal government employees – the subject of recent DOGE cuts. Thirty-three percent feel neither positively nor negatively and 20% feel negatively toward these people. While more Republicans feel negatively toward federal government employees than do Democrats, most within each party have positive feelings about these people.
When asked about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, 39% of South Carolinians express positive feelings. Twenty-nine percent have negative feelings and 23% feel neither positive nor negative. Republicans and Democrats again have vastly different feelings with Democrats far more positive than Republicans about DEI programs.
Commentary: Huffmon explained, “On the whole, residents of South Carolina seem to have a somewhat more positive than negative view of DEI programs with 39% expressing a positive view and 29% expressing a negative view. However, this masks one of many deep divides between the parties. Fewer than a quarter of self-identified Republicans hold a positive view of DEI programs while more than two-thirds of Democrats view them positively.”
Commentary: “The wedge issues that we see driving the passionate partisan divisions at the national level are being mirrored at the state level. The constant hyper-focus on the most divisive issues only helps feed the fires of partisan polarization in state and nation,” Huffmon added.
Nearly half of South Carolinians (48%) do not think the federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation. Thirty-eight percent do and 13% are not sure. A majority of Republicans (58%) want to declare the US a Christian nation while a majority of Democrats (61%) do not.
Respondents were asked how serious they believe various issues to be in America on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is “not a problem” and 10 is “extremely serious problem.” These questions were asked in a random order. Responses are reported in means.
Opioid addition is the most severe problem for all respondents among issues asked with a mean of 8.2. Republicans and Democrats agree on the seriousness of the issue.
The most serious problem for Democrats with an 8.6 mean is the country not doing enough to take care of the poor. This is a serious problem for all with a mean of 7.4.
On the topic of illegal immigration, the mean for all respondents is 7.2. The mean for Republicans is 8.8, which is the highest mean for this group of all the issues asked indicating the severity of this issue among the GOP.
While not having enough young people in elected office is a moderately serious problem – more so for Democrats than Republicans – with a 6.2 mean, not having enough working-class people in elected office is an even more serious issue with a mean of 7.2.
Another very serious issue for Democrats is not doing enough to protect the environment with a mean of 8.4. Republicans do not see this as seriously with a mean of 5.8. The mean for all is 7.0.
Wealthy people donating a lot of money to help candidates is a moderately serious issue with a mean of 6.9. Democrats are slightly more concerned with this than Republicans. Corporations donating a lot of money to help candidates is a more serious issue overall with a mean of 7.2, and, Democrats, again, are slightly more concerned with this than Republicans.
Respondents see the country turning its back on God as a moderately serious issue with a mean of 6.5. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see this as a problem.
The mean for all respondents is 6.5 when asked about the seriousness of people not respecting the American flag. Republicans are much more concerned with this issue with a mean of 8.1 than Democrats with a mean of 5.2.
Regarding the issue of election security, the mean for all respondents is 6.4. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see election security as a serious problem.
Addressing climate change is a much more serious problem among Democrats with a mean of 7.9 than Republicans with a mean of 4.9. The mean for all is 6.2.
People talking about bad things that happened in America’s past is slightly more of a serious issue for Republicans than for Democrats but is not as serious as other issue with a mean for all respondents of 4.5.
The issue of having too many Americans not being Christians has a mean of 4.4. Republicans see this as more of an issue than Democrats.
Difficulty voting is not a very serious problem among all respondents with a mean of 3.1. Democrats see this issue as more serious than do Republicans, but with a low mean of 4.1.
Commentary: Huffmon observed, “I think it is telling that while two of the biggest differences between Republicans and Democrats were related to policy issues, one was entirely symbolic. Certainly, there is symbolism and signaling involved with attitudes on climate change and immigration, but – at the end of the day – they come back to policy stances. Whether or not a person thinks that someone is not showing proper respect to the American flag is less about policy and more about identity. Much of the rhetoric in politics over the last several years has centered around the interrelated questions of what it means to be an American and who is a ‘real’ American. Attitudes such as this one offer small hints of the possibility that the rifts in this country cannot be mended by trying to build legislative consensus but are based in divisions that go far beyond policy preferences.”
Respondents were asked to indicate how well certain statements describe the Democratic and Republican parties. These questions were asked in a random order.
The phrases “respectful and tolerant of different types of people” and “supports policies that interfere too much in people’s lives” are associated more with the Democratic party than the Republican party among South Carolinians.
The phrases “governs in an honest and ethical way,” “is good at getting their way,” “is willing to do what it takes to win elections,” and “will not compromise to achieve their goals” are associated more with the Republican party than the Democratic party among South Carolinians.
Nearly equal percentages of South Carolinians believe the phrases “too extreme in its positions” and “respects the country’s democratic institutions and traditions” describe both the Democratic and Republican parties well.
Commentary: Huffmon explained, “These results bring the concept of partisan polarization into stark relief. Eighty-one percent of Republicans say the phrase ‘too extreme in its positions’ describes the Democratic Party well while 82% of Democrats say the same about the Republican Party. Further, eight out of ten members of each party do not believe the other party ‘governs in an honest and ethical way.’ If you believe the other side is dangerously extreme and they will be dishonest and unethical if they come to power, then it almost becomes a moral imperative to keep them away from control of government at any cost. Behaviors and rhetoric that reinforce these beliefs strike at the foundations of our republic. In Federalist 10, James Madison expressed the belief that our constitutional system would prevent dangerous factions from gaining an upper hand. In Federalist 51, he argued that this same system would hold a dangerous faction in check if it did manage to find its way into government. The attitudes on polarization being expressed here and across the nation seem to indicate that many may think that Mr. Madison was wrong and that the stakes are too high to find out.”
Commentary: Huffmon added, “Partisans can see the other side as a potential threat even if they don’t hold power. There is a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Republicans control the Presidency, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. In South Carolina, Republicans control the governor’s mansion and hold supermajorities in the SC House and SC Senate. Nonetheless, two-thirds of Republicans in South Carolina described the Democratic Party as ‘good at getting their way.’ If a party in the minority is believed to be effective at pushing their agenda even when out of power – and you believe their agenda is extreme – then being ever vigilant at holding their power in check becomes of paramount importance. This would hold true no matter which party were in the majority or minority and is another sign of increasing polarization and the erosion of trust.”
Thirty-five percent of South Carolinians prefer to leave monuments or memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War where they are, but to add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation. Thirty-two percent want to leave them just as they are – no plaque or marker required – while 21% want to move them to a museum. Only 7% want to remove these monuments or memorials entirely.
Among white South Carolinians, 41% say to leave them just as they are while 34% of Black South Carolinians say they want them moved to a museum. Almost half of Republicans (48%) want these monuments or memorials to be left just as they are while 35% of Democrats prefer to move them to a museum.
Regarding the Confederate battle flag, 36% of South Carolinians think the flag is a symbol of Southern pride, while 30% see it more as a symbol of racial conflict. Twenty-six percent view the flag as both equally. Most white South Carolinians and Republicans see the flag as a symbol of Southern pride and most Black respondents and Democrats see it more as a symbol of racial conflict. Close to one-fourth of each demographic view the Confederate battle flag as equally a symbol of racial conflict and of Southern pride.
Nearly half of South Carolinians (49%) believe the Civil War was about slavery and states’ rights equally. Most white and Black South Carolinians agree in saying the Civil War was about slavery and states’ rights. While far more Democrats than Republicans say the Civil War was mainly about slavery, most within both parties believe the Civil War was about both slavery and state’s rights.
RESULTS MAY NOT SUM TO 100 DUE TO ROUNDING
NOTE: Political Independents are included in “All Respondents” and do not always have attitudes “in between” Republicans and Democrats. They are also often more likely to respond to questions with Not Sure or No Answer.
All in all, do you think things in the nation are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?
|
|
All Respondents MOE+/-2.49% |
Republicans (not including leaners) MOE+/-4.29% |
Democrats (not including leaners) MOE+/-5.05% |
|
Right Direction |
39 |
69 |
14 |
|
Wrong Track |
47 |
17 |
81 |
|
Not sure |
14 |
14 |
5 |
All in all, do you think things in the state of South Carolina are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Right Direction |
44 |
72 |
19 |
|
Wrong Track |
38 |
14 |
64 |
|
Not sure |
17 |
14 |
17 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President of the United States?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
80 |
49.8 |
12 |
44 |
|
Disapprove |
11 |
50.3 |
85 |
45 |
|
Not sure |
9 |
-- |
4 |
11 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Henry McMaster is handling his job as Governor of South Carolina?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
70 |
56 |
18 |
43 |
|
Disapprove |
12 |
44 |
59 |
34 |
|
Not sure |
18 |
-- |
24 |
23 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Lindsey Graham is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
61 |
44 |
15 |
35 |
|
Disapprove |
22 |
56 |
68 |
44 |
|
Not sure |
17 |
-- |
17 |
22 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Scott is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
|
Approve |
72 |
58 |
18 |
41 |
|
Disapprove |
8 |
42 |
56 |
30 |
|
Not sure |
20 |
-- |
25 |
28 |
Here are some current laws and policies that are either in place or being considered in the U.S. related to transgender issues. Would you favor or oppose laws or policies that do each of the following?
[Questions from Tables 7-12 were asked in a random order]
Protect transgender individuals from discrimination in jobs, housing, and public spaces such as restaurants and stores.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Favor |
34 |
19 |
54 |
|
Favor |
28 |
25 |
29 |
|
Neither favor nor oppose |
21 |
30 |
10 |
|
Oppose |
6 |
8 |
3 |
|
Strongly Oppose |
9 |
15 |
4 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
3 |
2 |
0 |
Require transgender individuals to use public bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Favor |
41 |
65 |
23 |
|
Favor |
15 |
13 |
17 |
|
Neither favor nor oppose |
18 |
10 |
20 |
|
Oppose |
10 |
5 |
15 |
|
Strongly Oppose |
10 |
5 |
19 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
5 |
3 |
6 |
Make it illegal for public school districts to teach about gender identity in elementary schools.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Favor |
37 |
57 |
18 |
|
Favor |
13 |
12 |
12 |
|
Neither favor nor oppose |
16 |
7 |
22 |
|
Oppose |
14 |
8 |
22 |
|
Strongly Oppose |
18 |
14 |
24 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Require that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Favor |
53 |
76 |
33 |
|
Favor |
18 |
11 |
21 |
|
Neither favor nor oppose |
13 |
5 |
23 |
|
Oppose |
6 |
3 |
10 |
|
Strongly Oppose |
7 |
4 |
10 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
4 |
1 |
4 |
Require health insurance companies to cover medical care for gender transitions.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Favor |
10 |
4 |
21 |
|
Favor |
17 |
10 |
27 |
|
Neither favor nor oppose |
20 |
12 |
22 |
|
Oppose |
17 |
20 |
13 |
|
Strongly Oppose |
33 |
52 |
14 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
4 |
1 |
3 |
Make it illegal for health care professionals to provide someone younger than 18 with medical care for a gender transition.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly Favor |
38 |
59 |
21 |
|
Favor |
17 |
13 |
19 |
|
Neither favor nor oppose |
14 |
6 |
20 |
|
Oppose |
12 |
6 |
17 |
|
Strongly Oppose |
17 |
15 |
21 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Now, I'm going to read you names of several terms, public figures, and groups. Please rate your feelings toward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. If you don't know the name, please just say so.
[Questions from Tables 13-17 were asked in a random order]
Donald Trump. Are your feelings...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very Positive |
26 |
56 |
5 |
|
Somewhat Positive |
18 |
27 |
5 |
|
Neutral |
11 |
7 |
7 |
|
Somewhat Negative |
9 |
5 |
10 |
|
Very Negative |
34 |
4 |
72 |
|
Don’t know well enough/Not sure |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Elon Musk. Are your feelings...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very Positive |
19 |
41 |
4 |
|
Somewhat Positive |
16 |
26 |
5 |
|
Neutral |
15 |
15 |
9 |
|
Somewhat Negative |
12 |
10 |
12 |
|
Very Negative |
33 |
6 |
69 |
|
Don’t know well enough/Not sure |
4 |
2 |
2 |
The Department of Government Efficiency, often referred to as DOGE. Are your feelings...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very Positive |
22 |
43 |
6 |
|
Somewhat Positive |
15 |
22 |
9 |
|
Neutral |
19 |
17 |
16 |
|
Somewhat Negative |
9 |
7 |
12 |
|
Very Negative |
23 |
5 |
43 |
|
Don’t know well enough/Not sure |
12 |
7 |
13 |
DEI, that is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. Are your feelings...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very Positive |
21 |
9 |
45 |
|
Somewhat Positive |
18 |
15 |
22 |
|
Neutral |
23 |
20 |
18 |
|
Somewhat Negative |
10 |
14 |
3 |
|
Very Negative |
19 |
35 |
6 |
|
Don’t know well enough/Not sure |
9 |
8 |
6 |
Federal Government Employees. Are your feelings...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very Positive |
16 |
12 |
25 |
|
Somewhat Positive |
26 |
27 |
29 |
|
Neutral |
33 |
34 |
30 |
|
Somewhat Negative |
14 |
17 |
8 |
|
Very Negative |
6 |
7 |
3 |
|
Don’t know well enough/Not sure |
6 |
4 |
6 |
Tell us whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements.
The federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly agree |
21 |
35 |
15 |
|
Somewhat agree |
17 |
23 |
13 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
16 |
17 |
12 |
|
Strongly disagree |
32 |
16 |
49 |
|
Not sure/Refused |
13 |
9 |
12 |
On a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is Not a Problem and 10 is Extremely Serious Problem, please tell us how serious a problem you believe each of the following to be in America.
[Questions from Tables 19-33 were asked in a random order]
Elections are not secure enough
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.4 |
7.1 |
5.9 |
Illegal immigration
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.2 |
8.8 |
5.7 |
It is too hard to vote
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
3.1 |
2.4 |
4.1 |
Opioid addiction
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
8.2 |
8.4 |
8.2 |
The country turning its back on God
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.5 |
7.6 |
5.8 |
Not enough young people in elected office
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.2 |
5.4 |
7.1 |
Not enough working-class people in elected office
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.2 |
7.1 |
7.4 |
The country not doing enough to take care of the poor
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.4 |
6.4 |
8.6 |
Addressing climate change
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.2 |
4.9 |
7.9 |
Too many Americans are not Christians
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
4.4 |
5.7 |
3.7 |
Wealthy people donating a lot of money to help candidates
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.9 |
6.3 |
7.6 |
Corporations donating a lot of money to help candidates
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.2 |
6.7 |
7.6 |
Not doing enough to protect the environment
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.0 |
5.8 |
8.4 |
People talking about bad things that happened in America’s past
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
4.5 |
5.2 |
4.2 |
People not respecting the American Flag
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.5 |
8.1 |
5.2 |
We want to ask you how well you feel certain phrases describe both the Democratic and Republican Parties.
[Questions from Tables 34-49 were asked in a random order]
How well does the phrase “too extreme in its positions” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
35 |
60 |
12 |
|
Somewhat well |
21 |
21 |
16 |
|
Not very well |
19 |
8 |
34 |
|
Not at all well |
15 |
7 |
32 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
4 |
6 |
How well does the phrase “governs in an honest and ethical way” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
15 |
7 |
39 |
|
Somewhat well |
25 |
11 |
44 |
|
Not very well |
19 |
22 |
9 |
|
Not at all well |
31 |
57 |
3 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
3 |
4 |
How well does the phrase “respectful and tolerant of different types of people” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
25 |
10 |
55 |
|
Somewhat well |
27 |
21 |
33 |
|
Not very well |
16 |
24 |
6 |
|
Not at all well |
22 |
41 |
1 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
10 |
5 |
4 |
How well does the phrase “respects the country’s democratic institutions and traditions” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
21 |
7 |
49 |
|
Somewhat well |
27 |
19 |
39 |
|
Not very well |
19 |
29 |
4 |
|
Not at all well |
22 |
41 |
3 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
5 |
5 |
How well does the phrase “supports policies that interfere too much in people’s lives” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
27 |
46 |
12 |
|
Somewhat well |
24 |
26 |
20 |
|
Not very well |
21 |
13 |
29 |
|
Not at all well |
15 |
8 |
30 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
14 |
7 |
9 |
How well does the phrase “too extreme in its positions” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
31 |
10 |
61 |
|
Somewhat well |
23 |
24 |
21 |
|
Not very well |
20 |
32 |
6 |
|
Not at all well |
15 |
28 |
8 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
6 |
5 |
How well does the phrase “governs in an honest and ethical way” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
17 |
37 |
8 |
|
Somewhat well |
27 |
43 |
8 |
|
Not very well |
18 |
12 |
19 |
|
Not at all well |
28 |
4 |
61 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
10 |
4 |
4 |
How well does the phrase “respectful and tolerant of different types of people” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
18 |
35 |
6 |
|
Somewhat well |
25 |
42 |
10 |
|
Not very well |
20 |
15 |
22 |
|
Not at all well |
26 |
4 |
58 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
4 |
4 |
How well does the phrase “respects the country’s democratic institutions and traditions” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
21 |
41 |
7 |
|
Somewhat well |
26 |
38 |
14 |
|
Not very well |
18 |
10 |
24 |
|
Not at all well |
24 |
5 |
50 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
6 |
5 |
How well does the phrase “supports policies that interfere too much in people’s lives” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
24 |
10 |
47 |
|
Somewhat well |
23 |
21 |
25 |
|
Not very well |
22 |
32 |
11 |
|
Not at all well |
19 |
32 |
11 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
12 |
5 |
7 |
How well does the phrase “is good at getting their way” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
19 |
30 |
13 |
|
Somewhat well |
28 |
36 |
19 |
|
Not very well |
26 |
18 |
38 |
|
Not at all well |
15 |
10 |
25 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
13 |
7 |
6 |
How well does the phrase “is good at getting their way” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
26 |
16 |
46 |
|
Somewhat well |
35 |
37 |
36 |
|
Not very well |
19 |
30 |
7 |
|
Not at all well |
8 |
11 |
8 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
12 |
7 |
4 |
How well does the phrase “is willing to do what it takes to win elections” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
33 |
56 |
17 |
|
Somewhat well |
22 |
22 |
25 |
|
Not very well |
21 |
12 |
30 |
|
Not at all well |
12 |
6 |
22 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
12 |
5 |
7 |
How well does the phrase “is willing to do what it takes to win elections” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
37 |
22 |
64 |
|
Somewhat well |
26 |
34 |
20 |
|
Not very well |
17 |
25 |
8 |
|
Not at all well |
8 |
13 |
5 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
6 |
4 |
How well does the phrase “will not compromise to achieve their goals” describe the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
24 |
35 |
22 |
|
Somewhat well |
26 |
25 |
29 |
|
Not very well |
21 |
17 |
27 |
|
Not at all well |
18 |
20 |
15 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
12 |
4 |
7 |
How well does the phrase “will not compromise to achieve their goals” describe the REPUBLICAN PARTY?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very well |
28 |
24 |
42 |
|
Somewhat well |
28 |
37 |
20 |
|
Not very well |
19 |
23 |
13 |
|
Not at all well |
13 |
11 |
19 |
|
Not sure/prefer not to answer |
11 |
5 |
5 |
Which of the following comes closest to your opinion about what to do with monuments or memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War?
(options 1-4 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Leave them just as they are |
32 |
41 |
12 |
48 |
17 |
|
Leave them, but add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation |
35 |
39 |
23 |
38 |
27 |
|
Move them to a museum |
21 |
15 |
34 |
10 |
35 |
|
Remove them completely |
7 |
2 |
19 |
3 |
15 |
|
Not sure |
6 |
4 |
12 |
2 |
6 |
Some people say the confederate battle flag reminds them of white supremacy and racial conflict. Other people say the confederate battle flag is a symbol of southern heritage and pride.
Do you think the flag is more a symbol of racial conflict or of southern pride?
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Racial Conflict |
30 |
22 |
49 |
10 |
59 |
|
Southern Pride |
36 |
48 |
10 |
62 |
14 |
|
Equally Both |
26 |
24 |
29 |
23 |
22 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
7 |
12 |
6 |
5 |
In your opinion, was the Civil War mainly about slavery, mainly about states’ rights, or about both equally?
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Slavery |
26 |
23 |
32 |
15 |
40 |
|
States’ rights |
19 |
23 |
11 |
30 |
10 |
|
Equally Both |
49 |
48 |
49 |
51 |
47 |
|
Not sure |
6 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
3 |
Figure 1: There appears to be a strong overlap between Christian Identity and American Identity. Those who most want to tear down the wall between Church and State are also the most protective of American Symbols.
Figure 2: Among those who feel America is less Christian than it should be, many feel that the solution is for the government to formally declare that America is a Christian Nation.
The April 2025 Winthrop Poll was an online and telephone survey conducted and paid for by Winthrop University. The survey is a sample of 1,546 weighted adult residents of South Carolina. The sample includes a probability sample of landlines, a non-probability sample from an online panel curated by Dynata, and a mixed probability and non-probability sample of cell phones (non-probability sample verified by Dynata, aka “Smart Cell). 78.4% of weighted respondents came from the online panel. 20.0% of weighted respondents were contacted via cell phone. 1.5% of the weighted respondents were contacted via Land Line. Data from 1,546 (weighted) respondents were collected between April 4 and April 12, 2025. Results using all respondents have a margin of error of +/-2.49% at the 95% confidence level (weighted data). All subgroups will have a higher margin of error.
The April 2025 Winthrop Poll was conducted online and was paid for by Winthrop University (1, 2). The online sample is a non-probability sample drawn from panels of adult residents of South Carolina curated by and purchased from Dynata (4, 5). The sample includes a probability sample of landlines, a non-probability sample from an online panel curated by Dynata, and a mixed probability and non-probability sample of cell phones (non-probability sample verified by Dynata, aka “Smart Cell). 78.4% of weighted respondents came from the online panel. 20.0% of weighted respondents were contacted via cell phone. 1.5% of the weighted respondents were contacted via Land Line. (4, 5). Data were weighted on sex, race, and age based on data from the US Census Bureau (9). Full question wording for released results is included (3). Participants responded using CAPI via computer or smartphone for the online sample and were hand-dialed by trained interviewers from Winthrop University’s Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research using a CATI system for the telephone sample; the survey averaged 18.2 minutes (unweighted) (6). Data were collected between April 4 and April 12, 2025 (7). Weighted data include a sample of 1,546 respondents which translates to a margin of error of +/-2.49% at the 95% confidence level for results using all respondents; all subgroups will have a higher margin of error (8). Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research personnel conducted quality control by eliminating data with inappropriate responses (didn’t match the question asked), “line” data (strings of the same number punched in in a long row), respondents who failed the attention check questions, or completions recorded too quickly for an individual to have actually read the questions for data collected online (10). All survey research contains unmeasured error and results should be seen as informative, not definitive (11).
Numbers correspond to the AAPOR Transparency Initiative Disclosure Elements found HERE.
