If there is ever a time for voters to be highly engaged in politics – it’s October of a presidential election. And our recent survey of more than 800 women across the nation shows this engagement is higher than ever. The stakes are high: nearly half of women surveyed say this will be the most important election of their lifetime.

While nearly everyone agrees a candidate’s issue positions and qualifications are most important – there is also a lot of excitement about electing America’s first female president, plain and simple. Nine in ten Democrats and seven in ten Independents agree it would be exciting to help make history. An overwhelming majority tell us it’s important to elect more women to political office (71% saying important). While most women insist the country is more open to a woman president than it was 8 years ago when Hillary Clinton ran (68% agree), four in ten also report they know someone who wouldn’t vote for a woman for president.

With women nationally, Harris leads Trump by 15 points (54% Harris – 39% Trump) – and a similar margin believe that Harris WILL win (50% – 35%). The Harris-Walz team has also worked to gain a reservoir of trust not only on issues like abortion and inflation, but on leadership qualities across the board – who cares about people like you, who will be a strong leader, and who will make the country a better place for future generations.

And broadly speaking, women need this change: more than half are anxious or worried about how things are going in the U.S., and 64% tell us their personal financial situation has gotten worse in the past few years (up 8 points from 2023). More than six in ten are more burned out than usual – higher than we’ve ever seen it – even in this post-pandemic era.

This research underscores the growing political power and influence of women in the United States. It highlights the issues that matter most to them and their hopes for the future. As we approach the upcoming November elections, it’s clear that the voices and votes of women will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our nation.

To learn more about this new research, check out our key takeaways, memo, and our press release.

Register for the virtual discussion of “She Votes 2024: From Issues to Impact” on Wednesday, October 9th at 6pm with Amanda Hunter, Lindsay Vermeyen, Elena Schneider, and Betsy Fischer Martin here.