Donald Trump is leading President Joe Biden by 9 percentage points among voters aged 50 and older in Arizona, according to 2024 voter survey data released Wednesday by AARP.
The survey found Trump ahead of Biden 52% to 43%, but the two candidates are nearly tied among women voters in this age group.
“Older voters, those 50 and older, will make up a majority of voters in Arizona,” said Bob Ward, a partner at Fabrizio Ward, who conducted the poll along with Impact Research. “Our survey shows this group at 55%, the same as in 2020.”
This significant voter bloc constitutes a majority of the Arizona electorate and will be crucial in determining the winner of this battleground state.
According to the survey, the top issues for voters aged 50 and older are immigration, the economy, inflation, and social security.
“If you look at people who say social security is a very or extremely important issue to them, and that’s three out of four older voters in Arizona, Trump is winning. I’ve been in politics for a long time, and you typically think of social security as a Democratic issue rather than a Republican one,” Ward said, adding that this “should be an enormous wake-up call to the Biden campaign.”
Voters interviewed by ABC15 expressed a desire for a president who will address border security, maintain international peace amid the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, and reduce the costs of groceries and gas.
“I think last year we got a $4 raise on disability, whoopee! Take care of Americans first,” Gene, 87, told ABC15. “People can’t afford to put gas in their cars, and people can’t afford their apartments anymore. I’m 87 years old, and I’ve never been so unhappy with my country because of the state it’s in right now. We need Trump, and we need him badly.”
Steven, another Arizona voter, is looking for a candidate who can restore democracy.
“Biden has a reputation for caring about people and trying to make life a little easier,” Steven told ABC15.
The survey also found that 22% of voters aged 50 and older will not vote strictly along party lines, indicating a significant group that could still be persuaded.
“They’re telling us they are considering a Republican or a Democrat, or they’re undecided in one race and decided in another. They’re open to hearing candidates’ messages. That’s a substantial portion of the largest slice of the electorate saying they’re open to listening,” Ward said.
Regarding Arizona’s Senate race, the survey found Democrat Ruben Gallego leading Republican Kari Lake 48% to 45% among all likely voters aged 18 and older.