Democratic primary preferences vary widely by age, education, religious affiliation % of Dem Lean Dem voters who name as their first choice for the Democratic nomination [OPEN-END] Biden 11 5 5 25 12 6 5 19 10 5 5 30
At this early stage of the presidential race, there are notable demographic differences in the preferences of Democratic voters. Roughly four-in-ten Democrats (41%) ages 65 and older name Biden as their first choice for the nomination, as do about a third of Democratic voters ages 50 to 64 (32%). Biden’s support is much lower among younger Democrats; among those under age 30, just 7% name the former vice president as their first choice.
In contrast with Biden, Sanders draws much more support among Democrats under 30 (24%) than those 65 and older (4%). Unlike Biden and Sanders, there are only modest differences across age groups in support for Warren and Harris.
Biden is the first choice of 29% of black Democratic voters, compared with about 10% each for Sanders and Harris. A relatively large proportion of black Democrats (45%) express no preference in the open-ended question. Among white Democrats, preferences are more divided, with 26% naming Biden as their first choice, 20% naming Warren, and smaller shares supporting Harris (12%), Sanders (10%) and Pete Buttigieg (9%).
Democratic primary preferences vary widely by age, education, religious affiliation  | % of Dem Lean Dem voters who name  | as their first choice for the Democratic nomination [OPEN-END]  | Biden  | Warren  | Sanders  | Harris Buttigieg Other DK/Ref  | 26  | 16  | 11  | Dem/Lean Dem RV  | 12  | 5  | 5  | 25  | Men  | 27  | 17  | 14  | 12  | 6  | 5  | 19  | 10  | Women  | 24  | 14  | 10  | 5  | 5  | 30  | White  | 26  | 20  | 10  | 12  | 6  | 17  | Black  | 29  | 10  | 2  | 45  | 9  | Hispanic  | 27  | 14  | 15  | 8  | 5  | 31  | Ages 18-29  | 18  | 4 5 6  | 8  | 30  | 24  | 8  | 4 4 5  | 30-49  | 19  | 17  | 15  | 12  | 26  | 50 64  | 32  | 13  | 11  | 27  | 65+  | 41  | 16  | 12  | 19  | Very liberal  | 35  | 19  | 6  | 13  | 11  | 6  | Liberal  | 20  | 12  | 13  | 8  | 17  | 24  | Mod/Cons  | 10  | 31  | 11  | 34  | 3 5 6  | Postgrad  | 23  | 25  | 6  | 13  | 13  | 14  | 4-year degree  | 24  | 21  | 16  | 3  | 14  | 12  | Some college  | 25  | 13  | 15  | 12  | 26  | HS or less  | 28  | 11  | 2  | 40  | 9  | 3 5 5 6 8  | 29  | 8  | 8  | 5  | 36  | Protestant  | 9  | White mainline  | 27  | 15  | 10  | 15  | 20  | 8  | O 4 5 6  | Black Protestant  | 34  | 2  | 8  | 46  | Catholic  | 38  | 11  | 11  | 24  | White Catholic  | 45  | 12  | 17  | 9  | Unaffiliated  | 5  | 18  | 23  | 16  | 13  | 19  | Note: Based on Dem/Lean Dem registered voters  | Source: Survey of U.S adults conducted July 22 Aug 4. 2019  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 