President Joe Biden narrowly trails Republican former President Donald Trump in the race for the 2024 presidential election, according to a poll conducted April 3-10 from the Marquette Law School.
Among registered and likely voters, 51% indicated they support Trump and 49% indicated they support Biden. When including third-party candidates, 41% support Trump and 40% support Biden. Remaining voters support independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 13%, Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 3%, and independent candidate Cornel West at 2%.
Overall, voters surveyed said they are less enthusiastic to vote than before the 2020 election. In the current survey, 47% said they are “very enthusiastic” about voting in November, compared to 67% in March 2020.
Trump leads Biden in net favorability, enthusiasm
Despite the close presidential race, those more enthusiastic to vote considerably preferred Trump to Biden. Trump supporters made up 59% of the “very enthusiastic” voters.
Both Trump and Biden were viewed more unfavorably than favorably, with Biden’s net favorability at -19%, close to Trump’s -13% rating. Biden’s net favorability has been increasingly negative, while Trump’s has been less net negative since its -24% peak in November 2023.
When given seven issues — immigration and border security, the Israel-Hamas war, the economy, foreign relations, Medicare and Social Security, abortion policy and health care — respondents felt the economy was the most important issue.
Respondents perceived Trump as more capable to handle immigration and border security, the Israel-Hamas war, the economy and foreign relations. Biden was perceived as more capable of handling Medicare and Social Security, abortion policy and health care.
Wisconsin Senate race close
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican challenger Eric Hovde each held 50% of support among likely voters polled. When including undecided voters, 44% supported Baldwin, 37% supported Hovde and 18% remained undecided.
Baldwin’s net favorability improved from -3 to 5% since January, while Hovde’s fell from -2 to -5%.
A majority of registered voters (59%) said the state of Wisconsin is on the wrong track, while 41% said it is headed in the right direction.
Supreme Court support low
Of those polled, 53% said they disapprove of the way the U.S. Supreme Court is handling its job. A sizable majority (70% ) of respondents had “some to no confidence” in the Supreme Court as an institution and half of respondents said they think politics motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions.
A majority of respondents guessed most of the current U.S. Supreme Court justices were “probably or definitely” appointed by Republican presidents. A quarter of respondents guessed most were appointed by Democratic presidents.
Three justices were appointed by Democrats and six were appointed by Republicans.
These responses come almost two years after the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a 2022 ruling that overturned the right to abortion granted in Roe v. Wade. A majority of the public — 62% — said they disapproved of the court’s decision to overturn Roe.
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a lower court decision that would significantly restrict access to mifepristone, a medication used in medical abortions. Of Wisconsin voters polled, 60% said the court should rule to keep current access to the medication, and 25% said the court should rule in favor of the lower court and restrict access to the medication.
