September 29, 2020: Given a list of four politically prominent women, 34% recognize that Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 36% mistakenly believe that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first woman on the Court.[1]

Three percent (3%) believe that honor was earned by current Justice Sonia Sotomayor and 3% named Margaret Chase Smith. Smith never served on the Supreme Court but was the first woman to serve in both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Even when presented with a list of names, 23% were not able to identify the name of the first female Supreme Court justice.[1]

Among voters 55 and older, a plurality—but not a majority—correctly identified O’Connor. A plurality of younger voters thought it was Ginsburg.[1] A poll conducted the day after Ginsburg’s passing showed that she was viewed favorably by 64% of voters.

Thirty-one percent (31%) of voters identified Ronald Reagan as the first president to appoint a woman to the Court. A slightly larger number—35%—did not know.[1]

Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

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