Poll: Primary voters prize ideology over electability, as their parties get low marks - NBC News

NBC News
March 8, 2026
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2 min read

The Bottom Line

Primary voters prioritize a candidate's ideology over their ability to win general elections, despite low party approval.

How This Affects You

This trend could lead to more extreme candidates winning primaries, potentially limiting choices in general elections and affecting policy outcomes.

AI-Generated Summary

A recent NBC News poll indicates that primary voters prioritize a candidate's ideology over their electability in general elections. This preference is consistent across both Democratic and Republican primary voters, despite a majority expressing low approval for their respective parties. The survey found 56% of voters favor ideology, compared to 36% who prefer electability. This trend suggests potential challenges for parties in nominating candidates broadly appealing to the general electorate.

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