A newly published poll indicates that a majority of voters agree with a New York jury levying a guilty verdict on 34 felony charges against former President Donald Trump.

But that same poll seems to show that Trump’s legal trials haven’t had much of an impact on the voter opinions for November's presidential contest. 


What You Need To Know

  • A new Monmouth University Polling Institute survey finds that former President Donald Trump's felony convictions haven't changed which way voters are leaning
  • But enthusiasm for the election has risen as months have passed, especiallly among Republican voters
  • About one out of every five registered voters are "double haters," who aren't enthusiastic about either candidate; 54% of double haters are not planning to vote for either candidate

Essentially, a newly released Monmouth University Polling Institute survey suggests the election is currently neck and neck between the two — but it’s a topic that people are getting more and more interested in.

“Many Americans are skeptical about these high profile trials and there is a clear partisan gap depending on which defendant we are talking about. Still, the results indicate Republicans have a higher level of distrust in our judicial process than Democrats do,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

The survey, published Thursday, found that voter support for Trump and President Joe Biden has held at similar trends for more than a year. About half of all surveyed registered voters, 49%, say they will definitely not vote for Biden — while 49% of surveyed voters said that they will definitely not vote for Trump. About 31% of voters said they will definitely vote for Biden, with 12% saying they’ll probably vote for the Democratic incumbent. Meanwhile, 32% say they’re certain to vote for Trump, and 12% say they’re probably voting for the GOP challenger.

Where the poll finds movement is in voter enthusiasm: about 48% of voters are enthusiastic for the election as of June, compared to 39% in April. The difference comes along party lines: About 71% of Republicans are excited for the November election, compared to 46% of Democrats and just 34% of independent voters.

“Voter enthusiasm has a limited impact on actual turnout. But it is interesting how the partisan gap on this metric continues to favor Republicans as enthusiasm increases the closer we get to Election Day,” Murray said.

Republicans — or, at the least, voters with conservative-leaning opinions — are also most likely believe that the decision to bring 34 felony charges of falsifying business records was politically motivated: 93% of Republicans and 89% feel the charges were political in nature. (80% of Democrats and 70% of liberals felt politics weren’t a likely motivator.)

The poll also singles out a particular group it identifies as "double haters" — votes who dislike both candidates. A majority of the double haters, 54%, plan to not vote for either candidate, while 28% say they’re inclined to vote for Biden and 19% for Trump. About 19% of registered voters, or one in every five, fall in the double hater camp.