May 2025 Current Events Survey
Galvanize Action surveyed ideologically-moderate white women across the US to see how they were feeling about current events.
QUESTION #1
On Friday, May 9th, the mayor of Newark, NJ, was arrested and charged with trespassing at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. The mayor entered the facility with three New Jersey Congress members and was asked by federal police to leave, as he himself was not a congressman. After the mayor returned to the public side of the fence at the facility, the federal agents returned and placed him under arrest for trespassing. He was later released from jail. (Source: The Associated Press)
Based on the description above, which of the following statements best reflects your view of the situation?
| I HAVE NOT heard about this, but based on the summary, it seems like a potential threat to democratic norms. | 29% |
| I HAVE NOT heard about this, but based on the summary, I don’t have an opinion about it. | 22% |
| I HAVE NOT heard about this, but based on the summary, it seems like the mayor violated the law and was held accountable. | 22% |
| I HAVE heard about this, and I see it as a potential threat to democratic norms. | 11% |
| I HAVE heard about this, and I don’t have a strong opinion about it. | 9% |
| I HAVE heard about this, and I believe the mayor violated the law and was held accountable. | 7% |
- A large majority (73%) of moderate women surveyed had not heard about this incident.
- This incident was viewed by 40% as a potential threat to democratic norms, 31% did not have an opinion, and 29% believed the mayor violated the law and was held accountable.
QUESTION #2
Is your opinion of President Trump favorable or unfavorable?
| Strongly favorable | 15% |
| Somewhat favorable | 23% |
| Somewhat unfavorable | 20% |
| Strongly unfavorable | 42% |
- The majority of moderate women surveyed (62%) have an unfavorable opinion of President Trump at this time.
QUESTION #3
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling the economy?
| Strongly approve | 14% |
| Somewhat approve | 22% |
| Somewhat disapprove | 20% |
| Strongly disapprove | 43% |
- The majority of moderate women surveyed (63%) disapprove of the way President Trump is handling the economy.
QUESTION #4
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling immigration?
| Strongly approve | 20% |
| Somewhat approve | 22% |
| Somewhat disapprove | 20% |
| Strongly disapprove | 38% |
- A slight majority of moderate women surveyed (58%) disapprove of the way President Trump is handling immigration.
QUESTION #5
To what extent are you concerned, if at all, about funding cuts to Medicaid?
| Not at all concerned | 7% |
| Slightly concerned | 28% |
| Very concerned | 23% |
| Extremely concerned | 42% |
- Comparing these responses to a similar question we asked a different group of ideologically-moderate white women last month*:
- the same percentage (7%) of respondents said “not at all concerned” in April and May;
- the level of concern expressed in the May survey was slightly lower than April with 42% saying “extremely concerned” in May and 52% giving that response in April.
*The April 2025 survey asked: “To what extent are you concerned, if at all, about funding cuts to Medicare and Medicaid?”
QUESTION #6
To what extent are you concerned, if at all, about funding cuts to public education?
| Not at all concerned | 8% |
| Slightly concerned | 23% |
| Very concerned | 26% |
| Extremely concerned | 42% |
- The majority of moderate women surveyed (68%) are very or extremely concerned about funding cuts to public education.
METHODOLOGY
- Audience: Ideologically Moderate US White Women
- Sample size: 599
- Dates in field: May 19, 2025 to May 21, 2025
