Read the memo here and the press release here.

POLITICO’s Elena Schneider reported on the findings in the news story, “Americans remain wary of electing a female president, new poll reveals.”

Join the Women & Politics Institute on Wednesday, October 8th at 6pm ET for a virtual presentation and discussion as we explore these findings and what they mean for the future of women’s leadership and American politics. WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin will facilitate the panel discussion with Viva de Vicq, Senior Director of Breakthrough Campaigns, who conducted the survey. Details and registration here.

As the non-partisan Women & Politics Institute at American University marks its 25th anniversary, a new nationwide survey underscores both the progress women have made in politics and the barriers that remain. The poll, She Leads: Progress and Persistent Barriers for Women in Politics, finds that while voters strongly support electing more women and trust them on key issues, lingering biases and double standards continue to shape the path to the presidency.

Key Takeaways

The Presidency: Progress Meets Resistance

• Open bias at the top: Four in ten Americans say they personally know someone who would not vote for a woman president.
• Youth paradox: Younger voters, despite broadly backing more women in office, are the least open to electing a female president themselves.
• Lingering Harris effect: Voters are split on whether Vice President Kamala Harris made it easier or harder for a woman to become president, with Republicans and independents leaning toward “harder.”
• Stereotypes endure: The first female president is imagined narrowly, a married Democratic mother under 65 with political experience, and voters say she must be both “tough” and “likable.”

Positive Momentum for Women in Politics

• Generational shift among men: Two-thirds of men under 50 say women in office are better at solving the country’s problems.
• Broad support: 83% of voters say it is important to elect more women, with especially strong enthusiasm among Democrats and Gen Z.
• Trust advantage: Women leaders are trusted more than men to make childcare affordable, set abortion laws, and advance women’s equality.
• Government effectiveness: Across age groups, voters believe government works better when more women serve.
• Organizational value: 83% of voters say institutions that encourage women to run for office, like the nonpartisan Women & Politics Institute, are vital to democracy.

The Bigger Political Picture

• 2028 outlook: While most voters see the 2028 election as “more important” than usual, Democratic women stand out, with a majority calling it one of the most important of their lifetimes.
• Political engagement: Women’s engagement has declined since 2024, though a majority remain tuned in.
• Trump backlash among women: A majority of women disapprove of Donald Trump and say he has hindered women’s equality, compared to just one in three men.
• Economic mood: Pessimism is rising, especially among women over 50.
• Podcast Politics: More than half of voters listen to political podcasts monthly; younger men credit “bro culture” shows with shaping the 2024 election outcome.

The survey of 801 registered voters nationwide was conducted online by Breakthrough Campaigns from September 3–6, 2025. The margin of error for the dataset overall is ±3.46 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.