Only 31% of Battleground Voters Familiar With ESG

The use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores in evaluating financial services has increased rapidly, but most voters in key “battleground” states are not familiar with the practice.

A new telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute finds that just 31% of Likely Voters in six battleground states are familiar with ESG scores, which are a kind of social credit scoring system used by financial institutions, investors, and some governments. Fifty-six percent (56%) aren’t familiar with ESG scores, while 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Among battleground state voters who are familiar with ESG, 63% would support a law to stop financial institutions like banks and insurance companies from using non-financial ESG scores when evaluating individuals and businesses applying for products or services, such as a loan, including 44% who would Strongly Support such a law. Thirty-two percent (32%) oppose a law to prevent the use of ESG scores by financial institutions, including 18% who Strongly Oppose such a law.

“It warms my heart that most Americans who are aware of ESG scores oppose their implementation in the United States,” said Chris Talgo, research fellow with The Heartland Institute. “The use of biased, non-financial ESG scores is a fundamental threat to all Americans who value liberty and the notion of equal opportunity and equal treatment for all – regardless of their political affiliations, religious views, and opinions.”

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The survey of 5,605 Likely Voters in six battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) was conducted on July 5-12, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Under the European Union’s new Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), many large American businesses, as well as small and medium-sized companies in their supply chains, will be forced to adhere to European rules or else pay a large fine or face lawsuits. While 39% of battleground state voters support efforts by the European Union to control American business practices, including 19% who Strongly Support the EU’s efforts, 48% are opposed, including 36% who Strongly Oppose efforts like the CSDDD. Another 14% are not sure.

Fifty percent (50%) of voters in battleground states would support a U.S. federal or state law that would protect American companies from being required to comply with the EU’s new supply chain law, including 31% who would Strongly Support such measures. Thirty-three percent (33%) are opposed to protecting American companies from the new European Union policy, including 17% who Strongly Oppose such protection, while another 17% are not sure.

Forty-six percent (46%) of battleground state voters would support a law to stop large public corporations from refusing to do business with people based on their political or religious views, practices, or associations, including 28% who would Strongly Support such a law. Thirty-seven percent (37%) are opposed, including 25% who would Strongly Oppose such a law, while 17% are not sure.

While 61% of Democratic voters in battleground states support efforts by the European Union to control American business practices, that opinion is shared by only 20% of Republicans and 34% of voters unaffiliated with either major party. Among battleground state voters familiar with ESG scores, 63% of both Republicans and Democrats, and 57% of unaffiliated voters, would support a law to stop financial institutions like banks and insurance companies from using non-financial ESG scores when evaluating individuals and businesses applying for products or services.

Most American voters want more domestic oil and gas production even though about half believe climate change has reached dangerous levels.

With Vice President Kamala Harris replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party candidate, former President Donald Trump now leads by seven points in his bid to return to the White House. 

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to the public as well as to Platinum Members.

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