2024 election pet owners/ Trump dog vote/ Harris cat vote/ pet politics/ AP VoteCast data/ dog owners in elections/ cat owners political trends/ WASHINGTON/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pet ownership played a surprising role in the 2024 election. Trump gained strong support from dog owners, while Harris found success with women who owned cats. AP VoteCast data highlights the influence of pet preferences on voter trends, reflecting broader political and cultural divides.
Pet Politics: Quick Looks
- Trump’s Edge: Dog owners, a larger voting bloc, leaned toward Trump.
- Harris’ Strength: Female cat owners strongly backed Harris.
- Voter Breakdown: 15% owned only cats, 30% only dogs, and 20% had both.
- Party Loyalty: Republican dog owners helped secure Trump’s victory.
- Cultural Divide: Pet preferences mirrored deeper political affiliations.
Harris Leads Female Cat Voters, Trump Wins Dog Owners, AP VoteCast
Deep Look
Trump Dominates Among Dog Owners
President-elect Donald Trump secured decisive support from dog owners, a group that constituted nearly half of all voters. Trump won 6 in 10 male dog owners and roughly half of female dog owners. Even voters who owned both cats and dogs leaned Republican, reinforcing the importance of this bloc in Trump’s victory.
Trump’s appeal to dog owners was not explicitly cultivated during his campaign. However, party loyalty played a crucial role, as the majority of dog-only owners identified as Republicans.
Harris Connects with Female Cat Owners
Vice President Kamala Harris found her strongest support among women who owned cats but not dogs. About 60% of this group voted for Harris, reflecting their distaste for both Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance.
Harris’ appeal to cat owners gained momentum after pop star Taylor Swift endorsed her candidacy, calling herself a “childless cat lady.” While Vance’s past comments mocking “childless cat ladies” may have alienated some voters, the data suggests these women were unlikely to vote Republican even before the remarks resurfaced.
In contrast, male cat owners narrowly favored Trump, with just over half supporting the GOP ticket.
The Power of Pet Owners
Pet owners made up two-thirds of the electorate, with 15% owning only cats, 30% owning only dogs, and 20% owning both. Dog owners’ dominance in numbers made them a more influential voting bloc, underscoring why their leanings toward Trump were pivotal.
Harris’ campaign explicitly targeted cat owners, but Democrats may need to reevaluate their strategy to better appeal to dog owners, who are more likely to identify as Republican.
Cultural and Political Implications
The divide between cat and dog owners reflects broader cultural and political fault lines. Dog owners tend to align with traditional Republican values, while cat owners skew Democratic, especially women.
Neither Trump nor Harris owns pets, leaving future campaigns the opportunity to leverage pet ownership as a relatable and strategic point of connection with voters. Adding a furry companion to the campaign trail could add some bite—or purr—to their appeal.
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