By: Srija Banerjee
May 7 2020
LGBTQ voters are leaning towards Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, according to exit polls collected from 12 states.
LGBTQ voters are leaning towards Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, according to exit polls collected from 12 states.According to exit polls collected from 12 states where primaries have taken place, 4 out of 10 voters who identify as LGBT have cast their votes in favour of Bernie Sanders. Around 50% of LGBT Americans who cast their vote on Super Tuesday identified as "very liberal", while 30% identified as "somewhat liberal", which can possibly account for the overwhelming support for Sanders. Despite receiving campaign endorsements from Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden's campaign was criticized for not having a comprehensive LGBTQ plan in November, and for his previous policy stances in support of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the "Defense of Marriage Act". The Biden campaign released its plan last Thursday, in efforts to close the gap ahead of the next primaries. However, as of now, Sanders holds the lead among LGBTQ voters who made up 9% of all Super Tuesday Democratic voters.