cent poll conducted by the American EV Jobs Alliance offers a complex portrait of Tesla CEO and Trump confidant Elon Musk’s standing with American voters. The survey, which polled 600 registered voters shortly after the November elections, reveals a striking political divide: while Musk enjoys soaring support among Republicans, he is deeply unpopular with Democrats—a dynamic that could have major implications for both his public persona and Tesla’s market position.
“It’s a very mixed bag for Elon,” said Mike Murphy, CEO of the American EV Jobs Alliance and a veteran political strategist. “Republicans love him, but Democrats really hate him. That might be a boost for him as a key figure in the Trump orbit, but it’s a serious challenge for Tesla’s future in the U.S., given that Democrats have been purchasing electric vehicles at a rate five times higher than Republicans.”
The data further underscores a widening gender divide in Musk’s favorability, with women viewing him far more positively than men. Additionally, Musk is now rated more favorably by gasoline and pickup truck drivers than by EV owners themselves—a striking reversal for a figure so closely associated with electric vehicle adoption. The polling also found Musk’s approval significantly lower among voters who see climate change as an urgent issue.
“It’s all upside down,” Murphy observed. “The more skeptical you are about EVs, the more you like Elon Musk. His image has shifted away from being synonymous with electric cars and has become far more aligned with the MAGA movement.”
The poll also examined broader brand perceptions, comparing public favorability of legacy automakers like Ford and Toyota to Tesla. The findings suggest that Tesla’s brand, much like its CEO, has become increasingly polarized along partisan lines.
“Elon could be a ‘Nixon to China’ figure, using his influence to persuade skeptical Republicans to embrace EVs,” Murphy noted. “Or, it could turn into a worst-case scenario for Tesla—where Republicans still reject electric vehicles, and Democrats abandon Tesla for other EV brands.”
The full polling report on Elon Musk’s favorability is available at EVPolitics.org.
The American EV Jobs Alliance, a 501(c)(4) advocacy group, is dedicated to promoting bipartisan support for electric vehicles to protect North American EV manufacturing jobs.
The survey, conducted by Hill Research, targeted voters with a family income of $50,000 or higher—a demographic adjustment aimed at reflecting the new and used car market while still representing two-thirds of voters in a typical presidential election. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4% with a 95% confidence level.
Read full report at https://www.evpolitics.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Elon-Musk-Report-2025.pdf