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U.S. Voters Overwhelmingly Support $2,000 Direct Payments, New Polling Shows

New polling from Data for Progress and The Lab, a policy vertical of The Appeal, shows that voters across party lines overwhelmingly support direct payments of $2,000.


Following the deadliest week yet of the COVID-19 pandemic, President-elect Joe Biden on Friday reiterated his support for $2,000 pandemic relief payments to struggling Americans as part of a multi-trillion-dollar package. The measure is also backed by Senate Democrats and incoming majority leader Chuck Schumer. 

New polling from Data for Progress and The Lab, a policy vertical of The Appeal, shows that voters across party lines overwhelmingly support direct payments of $2,000. While over 80% of voters—including 74% of Republicans—support a one-time payment in that amount, strong majorities—60% and 62%, respectively—also support making them recurring and retroactive for the duration of the pandemic. 

The overwhelming Republican support for $2,000 direct payments undermines the objections of Senate Republicans, who last month blocked such a proposal in favor of more modest $600 payments. As the data show, such opposition is out of touch with the preferences of voters. Our findings: 

  • 81% of voters support a one-time payment of $2,000 as part of the next COVID-19 relief package, including 90% of Democrats, 79% of independents, and 74% of Republicans. 
  • 60% of voters want recurring monthly payments of $2,000 until the pandemic is over, including three out of four Democrats and 57% of independent voters. 
  • 62% of voters support $2,000 payments for past months in which Americans did not receive any form of relief. 

Polling & Findings

Would you support or oppose sending a $2,000 one-time payment to most
Americans as part of a coronavirus relief measure?

Would you support or oppose monthly payments of $2,000 that intend to
provide financial assistance for the past months in which Americans did not
receive coronavirus relief?

Would you support or oppose recurring monthly payments of $2,000 to most Americans for the duration of the pandemic?

Polling Methodology

From January 8 to January 11, 2021, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1233 likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, and voting history. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error is ±2.8 percentage points.