United in Concern: Why Education Needs More Spotlight in Our Divided Electorate

The 2024 election stirred strong feelings among voters, but one issue stood out as lacking attention: education. Many supporters of both Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris felt the candidates didn’t focus enough on this important topic.

A recent poll by All4Ed revealed that 55% of voters thought they heard too little about education during the campaign. This included 54% of Harris backers and 56% of Trump supporters. Conducted from October 30 to November 5 by Lake Research Partners and the Tarrance Group, the poll highlighted a shared concern across the political spectrum.

Only 30% of voters felt the candidates addressed education sufficiently, while just 3% believed they heard too much about it. According to Celinda Lake, the president of Lake Research Partners, voters did not see education as a major focus in this election. Brian Nienaber from the Tarrance Group echoed this sentiment, noting that few voters thought they heard enough on the subject.

Specific groups, like men over 50, public school parents, and Latino men, were especially vocal about wanting more discussion on education. At least 60% from each group believed the topic received inadequate attention.

Interestingly, more respondents remembered Harris mentioning education than Trump. The poll found that 38% recalled her discussing the issue, compared to 26% for Trump. Additionally, 21% of voters couldn’t remember either candidate addressing education at all.

The poll also highlighted that voters, regardless of party, rejected Trump’s idea to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Many expressed support for increased federal funding for education, but not at the cost of higher taxes. There was broad agreement on the value of work-based education and career-connected learning, showing a strong desire among voters for practical education solutions.

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