This archived essay reviews polling about whether U.S. adults would support a generally well-qualified presidential candidate from a particular religious, racial or social group. The figures are historical snapshots, not measures of every individual or community.
1937–2015: changing willingness to support candidates
Repeated polling asked respondents whether they would vote for a qualified candidate who belonged to a specified group. The archived results below show the share answering positively at selected dates.
| Group | 1937 | 1959 | 1967 | 1978 | 1999 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atheist | — | 22% | — | 40% | 49% | 45% | 49% | 58% |
| Baptist | — | 94% | — | — | 94% | — | 92% | — |
| Black | 37% | 49% | 53% | 77% | 95% | 94% | 94% | 92% |
| Catholic | 60% | 70% | 90% | 91% | 94% | 95% | 92% | 93% |
| Gay or lesbian | — | — | — | 26% | 59% | 55% | 67% | 74% |
| Jewish | 46% | 72% | 82% | 82% | 92% | 92% | 89% | 91% |
| Mormon | — | — | — | 75% | 79% | 72% | 76% | 81% |
| Woman | 33% | 57% | 57% | 76% | 92% | 88% | 93% | 92% |
| Muslim | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 60% |
Across the period represented, willingness to support candidates from several religious, racial and gender groups increased substantially. The pattern was uneven: people associated with atheism, Islam and same-sex relationships continued to face more hesitation in the later figures than many other groups.
What the historical comparisons suggest
In the late 1970s, respondents were especially reluctant to support a gay or lesbian candidate, while acceptance rose markedly in later surveys. Atheists also remained among the least accepted groups in the available comparisons, although their figures improved over time.
The results should not be read as proof that one community is uniformly prejudiced. Opinions vary with familiarity, political context, wording and the respondent's own religious or social identity.
1995 survey on perceptions of religions
A separate 1995 survey asked adults whether selected religions had a positive or negative effect on U.S. society. The following figures describe responses among people familiar with each tradition.
| Religion | Positive | Negative | Undecided | Unfamiliar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christianity | 85% | — | — | 6% |
| Judaism | 58% | — | — | 23% |
| Islam | about 42% | about 51% | about 7% | 35% |
| Buddhism | 45% | 51% | 4% | 35% |
| Mormonism | 43% | 27% | 30% | 26% |
| Atheism | 13% | — | — | — |
The survey's missing values and category choices limit what can be concluded. It nevertheless illustrates how unfamiliarity can accompany negative impressions, particularly when people have little direct contact with a tradition.
Religious familiarity and social distance
The archived comparison reported different assessments among regular churchgoers, people who did not attend services, Christians describing themselves as born again, and non-Christians. The broad pattern was more favorable views of Christianity among churchgoers and more negative views of several minority or non-theistic positions among some strongly identified Christian respondents.
Such results may reflect differences in education, community networks, media exposure and theological teaching as well as religious identity. They should be considered alongside later research rather than treated as timeless conclusions.
Why context matters
- Polls measure stated responses to a particular question, not every form of discrimination.
- Labels such as “Mormon,” “Muslim” or “atheist” can carry different meanings across generations.
- Historical events and political campaigns can temporarily change familiarity and public sentiment.
- Comparisons across decades require care because survey methods and social norms evolve.
Related reading
References and archive note
This page preserves a historical discussion of polling conducted mainly between 1937 and 2015. Original poll reports and links may have changed or become unavailable. Readers seeking current estimates should consult recent, methodologically transparent public-opinion research.
- Historical Gallup polling on willingness to support presidential candidates from different groups.
- A 1995 survey of public perceptions of the social impact of selected religions.
- Later demographic and religious-identification surveys used in the original comparison.