As an issue, education has taken on an almost entirely new dimension in the last several months, especially in light of DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts that have hit everything from research grants to some of the tests administered as part of the Nation’s Report Card portfolio. Data from the most recent survey for Winning the Issues (April 8-10) sheds light on voters’ preference to handle the issue of education within this new context.
Overall, voters maintain their preference for Democrats (36-51 R-D), continuing a trend of voter preference for Democrats on the issue that began after April 2022, the last time the two parties tied (42-42). Democrats retain a +15 advantage, a notable margin but well shy of the mid-20s and 30s margins they enjoyed at various points in 2007-9.
What about under the hood? Republicans and Democrats tend to prefer their own parties by sizable double-digit margins, leaving it to independents to tip the scale in one direction or the other or split themselves. That is just what happened in April 2022 (42-42 R-D overall). In that survey, independents also split, with 36% preferring Republicans, 34% preferring Democrats, and 30% undecided. Since then, their preference for Democrats has grown. Currently, they prefer Democrats 26-49, a margin of 23 points, with 25% undecided.
The preference for Democrats has continued to grow, but one party need not have a monopoly on the issue. Notably absent from the policy discussion, has been any concrete plan for achieving what should be our primary goal in education: improving student academic outcomes. If Republicans can present a clear, forward-looking agenda that addresses this issue, they may yet be able to tie and even surpass Democrats again.
