Editor’s note: A few too many of you thought we were serious when we said El*n M*sk was joining the “DFP Board” last week!!! While we don’t have a board, you can be confident that we would never take Musk’s money, dear reader. Here’s hoping he doesn’t buy Twitter, our favorite platform to doomscroll on, too.

Anyway, back to the news:

KBJ Will Take The Bench!

One hundred fifteen justices have served on the court throughout its 233-year history, and Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first Black woman to do so.

A new poll from Data for Progress finds a majority of likely voters support Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court by a +28-point margin. Support includes 82 percent of Democratic voters and 59 percent of Independent voters.

A February poll found a majority of voters support the decision from President Biden to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court by a +38-point margin.

We agree. She’s fucking awesome.

Read the full polling analysis here

Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:

Read the Room, Cuomo.

A new poll from Data for Progress finds Andrew Cuomo pursuing an independent statewide run could jeopardize New York Democrats’ chances of holding the governorship in November. Republican challenger Congressman Lee Zeldin lags behind Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in the race. Fifty-one percent of New York likely voters would vote for Hochul while 36 percent would vote for Zeldin in a hypothetical head-to-head — a margin of 15 points.

The prospects of beating Zeldin are considerably lower for former governor Andrew Cuomo should he have filed to run as a Democrat in the 2022 race for governor. Forty-four percent of New York likely voters would vote for Cuomo and 41 percent would vote for Zeldin in a hypothetical head-to-head — a margin of just 3 points, placing his chances of winning within the poll’s ±3 percent margin of error.

The poll also finds 60 percent of New York voters think Cuomo should not run for statewide office again. Incumbent Kathy Hochul is a stronger candidate for New York governor this November election than Republican challenger Lee Zeldin. These findings also make clear former governor Andrew Cuomo — who has publicly toyed with the idea of once again seeking public office — should think again, as it’s clear that a wide majority of New York likely voters do not want to see the former disgraced governor return to statewide office.

Read the full polling analysis here.

Voters Support Expanding Access to Pregnancy-Related Healthcare

New polling from Data for Progress finds a majority of voters are either misinformed or not aware of any change in the rate of women and pregnant people dying from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes. Thirty-five percent of voters report that they do not know about these changes, including Democrats at 33 percent, Independents at 40 percent, and Republicans at 33 percent.

Ending the devastating number of maternal mortality victims relies on the expansion of healthcare during and after pregnancy. This expansion has overwhelming support from voters by a +79-point margin. This includes Democrats by a +90-point margin, Independents by a +78-point margin, and Republicans by a +67-point margin.

We also find the majority of voters support the prioritization of maternal care after learning that maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are higher than any other developed nation. Voters support a proposed plan to improve and expand access to healthcare during and after pregnancy by a +59-point margin, including Democrats by a +82-point margin, Independents by a +54-point margin, and Republicans by a +37-point margin.

Voters strongly support expanding access to pregnancy-related healthcare. It is critical that we create safe, inclusive spaces for pregnant people to create happy and healthy lives for themselves and their children. Congress should put forward its plan to ensure every pregnant person has equal and comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare.

Read the full polling analysis here. (While this blog and survey uses largely gendered language to refer to people who are pregnant or give birth, we acknowledge that not all child bearers are women or identify with the terms “mother” or “maternal.” We recognize and appreciate every person that gives birth, regardless of their gender identity.)

Joan Rivers Rolls In Her Grave Over Fur Ban

A proposed bill in the nation’s capital would address the prolonged confinement and inhumane methods by which animals are killed for fur. This comes on the heels of a growing consumer movement away from fur apparel, including hundreds of fashion brands, such as icons Prada, Ralph Lauren, and Gucci, that have opted out of fur sales. Their main motivation: awareness of the unethical and inhumane conditions in fur farms.
Recent Data for Progress polling shows that almost two-thirds of likely voters, including 71 percent of Democrats, 60 percent of Independents and over half of Republicans, want to ban the practice of raising animals solely for fur production.