Pew survey: Voters’ attitudes about race and immigration are even more divided than in 2016

American voters' attitudes shifted more favorable towards immigrants since 2016 but the differences between supporters of Donald Trump and Joe Biden are starkest over the role of race in U.S. society, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.

An increasing share of registered voters – Trump and Biden supporters alike – say the growing number of newcomers to the country strengthens American society. In PEW's latest survey, 60% say this, while 37% say this threatens the nation’s customs and values. In 2016, opinion was divided: 50% said increasing numbers of newcomers to the U.S. were more of a threat to American customs and values, while 46% said they strengthened society.

While fewer Trump supporters have a negative view of immigrants than Biden supporters, more have a favorable view of immigrants than was the case four years go. Only about a third of Trump supporters (32%) say immigrants do more to strengthen society, but this is a 13 percentage point increase from 19% in 2016. 

The 13% jump in favor of immigrants by Republicans also occurred among Democrats. Biden supporters are more likely than Clinton supporters four years ago to say the growing number of newcomers strengthens society (84% vs. 71%).

While there are many differences of opinion among voters over a wide spectrum of subjects -- from foreign policy, the economy to the handling of the coronavirus pandemic -- it is over race and gender that the divide is the most widest between the two sets of voters.

Among all registered voters, 44% say it is a lot more difficult to be a Black person than a White person in this country; 32% say it is a little more difficult, while 23% say it is no more difficult. The share of voters who say it is a lot more difficult to be Black has increased 9 percentage points since 2016.

Additionally, across a range of political values – around race, gender and family, immigration and religion – there are stark contrasts between voters who support Trump and those planning to vote for Biden in November. 

One can see that the views of Trump supporters are more entrenched that Biden supporters, who are more inclined to be influenced by the current racial reckoning occurring throughout the country and its institutions. Still, overall, the movement towards a more liberal outlook is occurring, however slight, even among conservatives.

Among key findings from the report:

• The gap in opinions between Trump and Biden supporters in views of whether it is a lot more difficult to be Black is considerably larger than the difference between Trump and Clinton supporters in 2016. This change has come entirely among supporters of the Democratic candidates: 74% of Biden supporters say it is a lot more difficult to be Black than White, while a smaller majority of Clinton supporters (57%) said this in 2016. Among Trump supporters, there has been virtually no change since 2016. Currently, 9% say it is a lot more difficult to be Black than White; 11% said this four years ago.

• Biden supporters today are more likely than Clinton supporters four years ago to say that White people benefit a great deal from advantages in society that Black people do not have. Currently, 34% of all registered voters say White people benefit a great deal from advantages that Black people lack, up from 23% in July 2016. This increase has come only among supporters of Democratic candidates: 59% of Biden supporters say White people benefit a great deal from societal advantages that Black people do not have. Fewer than half (40%) of Clinton supporters said this four years ago. Just 5% of Trump supporters say White people have a great deal of unfair advantages, which is virtually unchanged from 2016 (4%).

• There is a growing divergence between supporters of Biden and supporters of Trump on attitudes about gender and family: Among Biden supporters, 79% say women still face significant obstacles that make it harder for them to advance; a smaller majority of Clinton supporters (72%) expressed this view in 2016. By contrast, a somewhat smaller share of Trump supporters expresses this view today (26%) than did so four years ago (31%).

• An increasing share of registered voters – Trump and Biden supporters alike – say the growing number of newcomers to the country strengthens American society. 60% say this, while 37% say this threatens the nation’s customs and values. In 2016, opinion was divided: 50% said increasing numbers of newcomers to the U.S. were more of a threat to American customs and values, while 46% said they strengthened society. Only about a third of Trump supporters (32%) say immigrants do more to strengthen society, but this is a 13 percentage point increase from 19% in 2016. Biden supporters are more likely than Clinton supporters four years ago to say the growing number of newcomers strengthens society.

The Pew survey was conducted between July 27-Aug. 2 among 11,001 U.S. adults (including 9,114 registered voters) on Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel. Click here for the full report.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A word of caution, this is news sprinkled with opinion. Readers are encouraged to seek multiple news sources to formulate their own positions.