Women ditching the GOP: a seismic shift in political support

Recent polling reveals a significant decline in support for the GOP among women voters, signaling potential electoral challenges ahead.

Told by Peter Ashford · 30 August 2026

A new poll from Bellwether Research and Consulting reveals a dramatic shift in political allegiance among women voters, particularly impacting the GOP. Pollster Christina Matthews observed this change as a potential 'alarm' for the Republican Party, highlighting a notable decline in support among women aged 18 and over.

Conducted on August 21-22, the survey of 1,604 women indicates that white women now favor Democrats by 47% to 39%, a striking reversal from the previous two House elections where they supported Republicans by margins of 55% in 2024 and 53% in 2022. Furthermore, married women are now evenly split between the two parties, a significant departure from past trends where they leaned Republican by 13% and 22% in the last two elections.

Despite this shift, President Biden's approval rating among women remains low at just 32%, with 25% of women who previously voted for him now expressing disapproval. Key issues driving these opinions include economy and cost of living, healthcare, and social security, with 38% ranking the economy as their top priority.

Interestingly, while a majority of women oppose several policies from the Biden administration—including tariffs and data center construction—Republican women show strong support for ICE deportations at 76%. This dichotomy raises questions about the evolving political landscape and highlights the importance of addressing the needs and concerns of women voters as the election cycle approaches.