The Swing Voter Project, a collaboration between Sago and Engagious, continued through July 2022. This initiative gives swing voters — those who voted for Trump in 2016 and then for Biden in 2020 — the opportunity to participate in monthly online focus groups.

Each respondent group comprises swing voters from the 10 most competitive states in the 2020 U.S. elections. In July 2022, the spotlight was on Wisconsin.

Understanding the Wisconsin Swing Voter Group

For this latest round, we interviewed 14 Trump-to-Biden swing voters across the great state of Wisconsin. Here, we share a recap of their views on Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, inflation, Roe vs Wade, and the Wisconsin primary races.

Do respondents believe that either Trump or Biden are fit for office?

Zero out of 14 respondents believe Joe Biden should run again in 2024.

Only two out of 14 respondents want Trump to run again in 2024.

Reasons against Joe Biden running again include: 

• Too old
• Acts confused
• Too much talk, not enough action
• A puppet where “he says what people want him to say”

Reasons against Donald Trump running again include: 

• Narcissism and his attitude
• His tweets and lack of control over emotions
• Embarrassed the country as president
• Not psychologically fit for office

Age was the biggest factor against both Trump and Biden. Respondents believed both men would be too old to hold office in 2024.

What’s the take on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis?

When shown an unlabeled, official photograph of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, only five out of 14 respondents could identify him.

Overall, sentiment toward Ron DeSantis was negative due to his:  

• Extreme policies
• Anti-democratic ideas
• Being like “Trump without the zaniness”
• Radical nature
• Conspiring with Trump over “fake votes and illegal election”
• Poor handling of Disney-RCID special jurisdiction event

Not all the sentiment was negative, however. Respondents described DeSantis as someone who gets things done.

What are the top three priorities for swing voters in Wisconsin?

Swing voters in Wisconsin shared their top three priorities on laws, policy, and political actions: 

• Eight of 14 respondents believe new laws are needed to curtail gun violence.
• Eleven of 14 respondents shared that high gas prices are affecting their travel plans.
• Getting inflation under control is another top priority.

One respondent shared how they cut back on travel due to high gas prices: “My mom needs help two hours away from me and I used to go weekly, sometimes bi-weekly. And now it’s every two weeks…”

How many swing voters are aware of the U.S. Senate Wisconsin primary races?

Overall, very few respondents have the Wisconsin primary races on their radar.

Only three of 14 swing voters could identify Mandela Barnes and Alex Lasry— two politicians from Wisconsin who are/were running for U.S. Senate — in an unlabeled photo. (Lasry has since dropped out of the race.)

Even Ron Johnson, a familiar face in the U.S. Senate for more than a decade, was only recognized by eight out of 14 respondents.

Overall, sentiment toward Ron Johnson was negative due to his:

• Alleged involvement in $280,000 in cash gift corruption
• Bias on the topic of Homeland Security and Defense
• Delusional nature
• Propensity to lie
• Propensity to cheat
• Outdated political style

Is the January 6 Committee having an impact on swing voters?

Overall, respondents have not been swayed by the January 6 Committee.

Ten of 14 respondents believe Donald Trump should be criminally prosecuted for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Only five of 14 respondents watched Cassidy Hutchinson — former White House aide and assistant to Mark Meadows, Chief of Staff for the Trump presidency — testify about the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Below are two opinions shared by respondents on the topic:

• “I think it is important that the credibility of the U.S. justice system is upheld.”
• “[Jan. 6] was too extreme and something needs to be done about it.”

What did respondents think about the overturning of Roe vs Wade?

All 14 respondents are aware of Roe vs Wade.

Four of 14 respondents were happy with the outcome, while eight were very upset about it.

Only 50 percent of respondents were confident they could define the abortion laws in Wisconsin following the ruling.

When asked if the decision would sway their future vote, one respondent had the following to share: “Yes, it’s a big issue […] but is that going to sway me to vote that way? No. You can’t vote based on one thing that happened…”
We also covered Marco Rubio’s proposed legislation to deny businesses the ability to deduct expenses for tax purposes and reimburse costs when employees travel for an abortion.

Nine of 14 respondents support companies that cover the cost of employee travel to states where abortion is legal.

Respondents were asked if Rubio’s legislation sounded petty — every respondent replied yes.