Gender at the Vermont Primary

 

Bernie Sanders scored a decisive win in his home state of Vermont picking up 51% of the vote in a five person field.  In 2016, he won the state with 86% of the vote over Hillary Clinton.

What do we know about the women of Vermont who voted in the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday?

In terms of turnout, women made up a slight majority of Democratic primary voters – totaling 52% of the electorate.

2020 DEM VT PRIMARY TURNOUT

Source: National Election Pool/Edison Research

Because of his sizable overall margin of victory of almost 30 points, home-state favorite Bernie Sanders won across every demographic, including women.  The Vermont Senator captured 51% of female voters.  The next highest vote getter among women was Joe Biden at 20%, followed by Elizabeth Warren at 16%, and Mike Bloomberg at 8%.

WOMEN SUPPORT

And what about the gender gap – how did women differ from men in who they supported?

Men were more likely than women to support Biden (a 4 point gap) and at the far end of the spectrum women were more likely than men to support Warren (an 8 point gap).

VERMONT GENDER GAP

Source: National Election Pool/Edison Research

Overall, the one remaining viable female candidate, Elizabeth Warren, finished in third place with 12% of the vote. Yet among her base of support, white college educated women, she came in second place to Sanders.

WHITE COLLEGE GRADUATE WOMEN

Source: National Election Pool/Edison Research

Note: The Vermont Republican Party did hold a presidential preference contest with President Trump receiving 88% of the vote and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld receiving 10% of the vote. There is no exit poll data available.

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