DES MOINES REGISTER/CNN/MEDIACOM IOWA POLL
SELZER & COMPANY
Study #2196
602 likely Democratic caucusgoers
September 14-18, 2019
Margin of error: ±4.0 percentage points
3,510 active registered voters
weighted by age, sex, and congressional district
Compared to:
Study #2190
June 2-5, 2019
433 Likely in-person Democratic caucus attenders
3,776 active registered voter contacts
Margin of error: ± 4.7 percentage points
weighted by age, sex, and congressional district
Study #2185
401 likely Democratic caucusgoers
Margin of error: ±5.0 percentage points

March 3-6, 2019
1,618 active registered voter contacts
weighted by age and sex

Study #2182
455 likely Democratic caucusgoers
Margin of error: ±4.6 percentage points

December 10-13, 2018
1,838 active registered voter contacts
weighted by age and congressional district

Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
First, how likely is it you will attend the Democratic party caucuses scheduled for February of 2020—will you
definitely attend, probably attend, might or might not attend, or probably not attend?
Dec-18, Mar-19: How likely is it you will attend one of the caucuses scheduled for February of 2020 when presidential candidates will be
on the agenda—will you definitely attend, probably attend, or probably not attend? (If definitely or probably attend, ask:) Will you
attend the Democratic or the Republican caucus? [Mar-19: Note to interviewer: If respondent asks, virtually or in person? The words I
have are “attend.” In other words, offer no further clarification.]
#Jun-19: This year the Democratic caucuses will be a little different. In addition to the regular meetings on caucus night, the Democratic
Party of Iowa will convene virtual caucuses to take place online or by phone on several days leading up to the traditional, in-person
caucus meetings on February 3rd. Do you think you would definitely participate in the 2020 caucuses—either in person or in a virtual
caucus—probably participate, might or might not participate, or probably not participate?
Definitely
attend
Democratic
caucus
Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

Probably
attend
Democratic
caucus

Might or
might not
attend
Democratic
caucus

Probably not
attend
Democratic
caucus

Not
sure

60

40

-

-

-

62
50
57

38
50
43

n/a
n/a

-

-

#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 1 OF 7

 Have you in the past attended party caucuses to show your preference for presidential candidates, or would this be your
first time to participate? (If attended in the past, ask:) Was that a Republican caucus, a Democratic caucus, or both?
Mar-19, Jun-19: Have you attended caucuses in the past or will this be your first caucus? (If attended in past, ask:) Was that a
Republican caucus, a Democratic caucus, or both?

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

Attended
Republican caucus
in the past

Attended
Democratic caucus
in the past

Attended
both

First
caucus

8

64

9

19

-

4
6
11

72
62
60

7
7
7

17
25
21

1
-

Not
sure

Now, I’m going to mention some candidates for the Democratic nomination for president. For each, please tell me if
your feelings are very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable. If you don’t know
enough about the person to answer, just say so. (Record “don’t know” as “not sure.” Rotate list.)
Net
Fav

Michael Bennet, U.S. senator from Colorado

Net
Unf

Very
Mostly
Mostly
Very
Not
Favorable Favorable Unfavorable Unfavorable Sure

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19

3

17

15

7

57

3
3

16
15

9
5

3
2

70
75

Joe Biden, former vice president of the
United States

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

29

38

17

12

5

34
45
47

38
37
35

14
8
11

10
6
4

4
4
4

Cory Booker, U.S. senator from New Jersey

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

18

42

14

8

18

20
13
18

35
39
31

13
9
6

6
5
6

26
33
39

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

4

14

16

7

59

5
2
2

14
8
9

8
8
5

2
3
3

71
79
82

Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend,
Indiana

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19

33

35

8

5

18

32
5

29
12

7
7

5
4

26
73

Julián Castro, former U.S. secretary of
Housing and Urban Development

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

5

30

24

12

29

7
7
6

27
27
21

10
5
7

4
3
3

53
58
63

Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19

1

10

31

23

35

2
2

14
19

28
21

14
8

40
51

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

3

14

23

11

49

6
5
6

21
22
19

13
8
7

5
5
4

55
61
64

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19

6

20

21

10

43

5
5

18
17

11
9

9
6

57
64

Steve Bullock, governor of Montana

John Delaney, former U.S. representative
from Maryland
John Delaney, U.S. congressman from Maryland

Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. representative from
Hawaii

#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 2 OF 7

 Net
Fav

Favorability, continued.
Kamala Harris, U.S. senator from California

Net
Unf

Very
Mostly
Mostly
Very
Not
Favorable Favorable Unfavorable Unfavorable Sure

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

23

40

15

9

13

31
23
19

32
35
29

8
4
6

5
5
4

23
33
41

Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator from
Minnesota

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

17

36

16

6

26

12
13
16

32
30
22

14
9
5

4
6
3

38
41
54

Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. representative
from Texas

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

13

43

18

9

18

15
19
28

39
33
25

13
8
7

8
4
4

25
36
36

Sep-19
#Jun-19

3

10

19

9

59

2

14

10

4

70

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

26

33

24

13

5

32
37
43

37
34
31

17
16
12

8
9
10

5
4
4

Sep-19

2

5

14

8

72

Sep-19
Dec-18

7

19

21

11

41

5

15

14

6

61

Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from
Massachusetts

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

44

31

11

7

8

38
25
30

33
38
353

10
12
7

7
8
16

12
17
14

Marianne Williamson, author

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19

2

7

25

23

42

2
1

7
7

11
7

7
4

73
80

Sep-19
#Jun-19
Mar-19
Dec-18

7

29

22

10

32

5
2
1

14
5
4

10
7
6

5
5
6

66
81
83

Beto O’Rourke, U.S. congressman from Texas

Tim Ryan, U.S. representative from Ohio
Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont

Joe Sestak, former U.S. representative from
Pennsylvania
Tom Steyer, businessman
Tom Steyer, hedge fund manager and activist

Marianne Williamson, author and activist

Andrew Yang, businessman

#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 3 OF 7

 Which one of the following Democrats would be your first choice for president? (Read list and rotate.)
And who would your second choice be? (If None of these or Not sure in first choice question, record “No first choice”
in second choice question and do not ask. Read list only if necessary.)
(Ask all.) I’m going to read the list one more time, excluding any names you may have already mentioned. This time,
please tell me if the person is someone you are actively considering or not. Just answer yes or no. (Read list, excluding
answers to first and second choice questions. Mark all yeses. Same order as first choice question.)

First
Choice

Second
Choice

Total selecting as
either first or
second choice
(added across
columns,
not recalculated)

Actively
considering

Candidate
footprint
(Added
across
columns, not
recalculated:
1st/2nd choice
and actively
considering)

Michael Bennet

Sep-19
1
1
8
9
#Jun-19
1
1
8
9
Mar-19
1
1
2
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Joe Biden
20
10
30
30
60
#Jun-19
23
13
36
25
61
Mar-19
27
19
46
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
32
18
50
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Cory Booker
3
4
7
35
42
#Jun-19
1
6
7
36
43
Mar-19
3
3
6
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
4
7
11
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Steve Bullock
1
1
8
9
#Jun-19
1
1
9
10
Mar-19
1
*
1
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
*
*
*
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Pete Buttigieg
9
9
18
37
55
#Jun-19
15
9
24
28
52
Mar-19
1
1
2
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Julián Castro
1
1
2
20
22
#Jun-19
1
1
20
21
Mar-19
1
2
3
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
1
1
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Bill de Blasio
*
*
*
7
7
#Jun-19
*
*
*
6
6
Mar-19
*
*
*
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
John Delaney
1
1
9
10
#Jun-19
1
1
2
16
18
Mar-19
1
1
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
1
1
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Tulsi Gabbard
2
1
3
12
15
#Jun-19
2
2
12
14
Mar-19
2
2
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Kamala Harris
6
10
16
39
55
#Jun-19
6
14
20
32
52
Mar-19
7
11
18
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
5
6
11
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Amy Klobuchar
3
4
7
30
37
#Jun-19
2
1
3
29
32
Mar-19
3
3
6
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
3
2
5
n/a
n/a
An asterisk indicates the candidate received no responses. A dash indicates at least one respondent selected the candidate, but the
percentage rounds down to zero.
#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 4 OF 7

 First
Choice

Second
Choice

Total selecting as
either first or
second choice
(added across
columns,
not recalculated)

Actively
considering

Candidate
footprint
(Added
across
columns, not
recalculated:
1st/2nd choice
and actively
considering)

Beto O’Rourke

Sep-19
2
2
4
34
38
#Jun-19
2
4
6
33
39
Mar-19
5
6
11
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
11
12
23
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Tim Ryan
*
*
*
7
7
#Jun-19
*
7
7
Sep-19
Bernie Sanders
11
10
21
29
50
#Jun-19
16
11
27
29
56
Mar-19
25
13
38
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
19
14
33
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Joe Sestak
*
4
4
Sep-19
Tom Steyer
2
1
3
18
21
Dec-18
1
1
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Elizabeth Warren
22
20
42
29
71
#Jun-19
15
14
29
32
61
Mar-19
9
12
21
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
8
10
18
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
Marianne Williamson
6
6
6
6
#Jun-19
*
n/a
n/a
Mar-19
*
Sep-19
Andrew Yang
2
2
4
20
24
#Jun-19
1
1
2
13
15
Mar-19
n/a
n/a
Dec-18
1
1
n/a
n/a
Sep-19
None of these (VOL)
2
1
13
#Jun-19
7
2
8
Mar-19
3
2
n/a
Dec-18
4
3
n/a
Sep-19
Not sure
14
7
2
#Jun-19
6
5
5
Mar-19
10
6
n/a
Dec-18
6
6
n/a
Sep-19
No first choice
n/a
16
#Jun-19
n/a
13
Mar-19
n/a
13
Dec-18
n/a
10
An asterisk indicates the candidate received no responses. A dash indicates at least one respondent selected the candidate, but the
percentage rounds down to zero.

How would you describe your level of enthusiasm for your first-choice candidate [CANDIDATE NAME]—are you
extremely enthusiastic, very enthusiastic, mildly enthusiastic, or not that enthusiastic? (Asked only of those who selected
a first choice candidate, but total based on all.)

Sep-19
#Jun-19

Extremely
enthusiastic

Very
enthusiastic

Mildly
enthusiastic

Not that
enthusiastic

Not
sure

28

39

16

2

-

16

31

41

12

1

1

13

No first-choice candidate

#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 5 OF 7

 Regardless of your level of enthusiasm, would you say your mind is made up to support [FIRST CHOICE CANDIDATE]
or could you still be persuaded to support another candidate as your first choice? (Asked only of those who selected a
first choice candidate, but total based on all.)

Sep-19

Mind is
made up

Could be
persuaded

20

63

Not
sure

1

No first-choice candidate

16

Which is more important to you personally: (Read items. Rotate.)
That the winner of the Iowa Democratic
caucus be a candidate for president with a
strong chance of beating Donald Trump
Sep-19
#Jun-19
Dec-18

That the winner of the Iowa Democratic
caucus be a candidate for president who
shares your positions on major issues

Not sure

63

31

6

65
54

31
40

4
6

Do you think that Donald Trump’s presidency has permanently changed the way American government works, or do you
think it is possible that American government could return to the way it was before Trump once he leaves office?
Permanently changed the way
government works
Sep-19

30

Government will return to the way it
was before Trump

59

Not
sure

11

I’m going to mention positions some candidates have taken. For each, please tell me which of three options best fits
your view: that you are personally comfortable with the position and candidates should run on it; that you are personally
comfortable with the position but fear candidates running on it could cost Democrats the election; or that you are not
comfortable with the position and think it is bad policy. (Rotate list.)
Comfortable/
Should be policy

“Medicare for All,” shifting to a completely government-run
health system
Free tuition to a public four-year college
A proposal called the Green New Deal
Raising taxes on the wealthy
Restoring the ban on assault-style weapons
Moving the country in a socialist direction

41
36
48
74
69
20

Comfortable/
could cost
Not comfortable/
election
bad policy

28
25
16
13
15
32

24
31
12
7
8
37

Not
Sure

8
8
24
6
8
11

#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 6 OF 7

 I have a question about what you think makes a candidate electable. I’m going to mention some pairs of phrases that
describe types of candidates. For each pair, please tell me which of the two better fits your definition of the more
electable candidate. (Rotate list. Alternate items)
1st

16

Can excite the Democratic base

35

Will get in the mud as needed to
take on Donald Trump
Takes positions that move the
country to the left

O
R
O
R
O
R

Represents a new generation of
leadership

O
R

28
57

Not
Sure

2nd

Can excite new voters to show
up and vote
Will take the high road against
Donald Trump
Takes positions that seek to
find common ground with
Republicans
Has a long history of serving in
government

74

10

54

11

63

9

28

14

Did you happen to watch all or part of the debate among 10 Democratic candidates that was on television last
Thursday evening?
Yes, all
Sep-19

Yes, part

21

No, did not watch

35

Not sure

38

6

Which is more important to you personally? [Alternate choices.]
For Iowa to be the first test of Democratic
presidential candidates, even if it means
not everyone who wants to can participate
on caucus night
Sep-19

For Iowa to hold a primary instead of a
caucus so everyone can vote, even if it
means Iowa would no longer be the first test

42

44

Not
sure

14

ABOUT THE POLL
The Iowa Poll, conducted September 14-18, 2019, for The Des Moines Register, CNN and Mediacom by Selzer & Co.
of Des Moines, is based on telephone interviews with 602 registered voters in Iowa who say they will definitely or
probably attend the 2020 Democratic caucuses.
Interviewers with Quantel Research contacted 3,510 randomly selected active voters from the Iowa secretary of state’s
voter registration list by telephone. The sample was supplemented with additional phone number lookups. Interviews
were administered in English. Responses for all contacts were adjusted by age, sex, and congressional district to reflect
their proportions among active voters in the list.
Questions based on the sample of 602 voters likely to attend the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses have a maximum
margin of error of plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. This means that if this survey were repeated using the same
questions and the same methodology, 19 times out of 20, the findings would not vary from the true population value by
more than plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. Results based on smaller samples of respondents—such as by gender or
age—have a larger margin of error.
Republishing the copyright Iowa Poll without credit to The Des Moines Register, CNN, and Mediacom is prohibited.

#Jun-19: Percentages are among likely Democratic caucus participants who said they would definitely or probably attend in person as opposed to
participating in a virtual caucus.
___________________
SELZER & COMPANY
PAGE 7 OF 7