Nationwide opinion polling for the 1940 United States presidential election
This article provides a list of scientific, nationwide public opinion polls that were conducted relating to the 1940 United States presidential election .
Presidential election
Polling aggregates
Candidates
Franklin Roosevelt
Wendell Willkie
Undecided
Poll Source
Field Date(s)
Sample Size
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Wendell WillkieRepublican
Others
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Election Results
November 5, 1940
54.7%
44.8%
0.5%
-
10.0
Gallup Poll News Service
November 2, 1940
3,094 (A)
51.1%
47.4%
0.4%
1.1%
3.7
Gallup Poll News Service
October 24, 1940
10,325 (A)
47.7%
44.2%
0.2%
7.9%
3.5
Gallup Poll News Service
October 23, 1940
3,161 (A)
48.2%
43.5%
0.3%
8.00%
4.7
Gallup Poll News Service
October 22, 1940
11,860 (A)
49.9%
41.8%
0.4%
7.9%
8.1
Gallup Poll News Service
October 19, 1940
5,525 (A)
48.3%
45.1%
0.5%
6.2%
3.2
Gallup Poll News Service
October 9, 1940
3,134 (A)
50.0%
41.4%
0.6%
7.9%
8.6
Gallup Poll News Service
October 5, 1940
6,221 (A)
46.7%
45.6%
0.4%
7.5%
1.1
Gallup Poll News Service
September 30, 1940
3,089 (A)
48.8%
42.0%
0.3%
8.8%
6.8
Gallup Poll News Service
September 20, 1940
2,957 (A)
48.3%
40.7%
0.1%
11.0%
7.6
Gallup Poll News Service
September 14, 1940
7,489 (A)
47.6%
42.4%
0.5%
9.5%
5.2
Gallup Poll News Service
September 3, 1940
4,536 (A)
42.7%
42.8%
0.3%
14.2%
0.1
Gallup Poll News Service
August 21, 1940
3,117 (A)
43.2%
43.6%
0.3%
12.2%
0.4
Gallup Poll News Service
August 9, 1940
3,117 (A)
40.3%
43.8%
0.6%
13.8%
3.5
Gallup Poll News Service
August 8, 1940
5,790 (A)
42.1%
46.0%
0.9%
11.1%
3.9
Gallup Poll News Service
July 31, 1940
3,060 (A)
43.6%
45.8%
0.3%
10.3%
2.2
Gallup Poll News Service
July 19, 1940
3,117 (A)
42.7%
43.4%
0.5%
13.4%
0.7
Gallup Poll News Service
July 16, 1940
1,626 (A)
44.3%
43.1%
0.3%
12.4%
1.2
Gallup Poll News Service
July 11, 1940
2,490 (A)
46.4%
39.8%
-
13.8%
6.6
Gallup Poll News Service
July 3, 1940
3,121 (A)
42.0%
45.7%
-
12.3%
3.6
Gallup Poll News Service
Jun 11, 1940
3,091 (A)
52.7%
29.9%
-
17.3%
22.9
Gallup Poll News Service
May 29, 1940
3,159 (A)
54.5%
29.3%
-
15.9%
25.2
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Bruce BartonRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
August 10, 1938
45.5%
30.9%
23.6%
14.6
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Thomas DeweyRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
June 11, 1940
54.0%
34.7%
11.3%
19.3
Gallup Poll News Service
May 29, 1940
53.7%
35.6%
10.5%
18.1
Gallup Poll News Service
May 23, 1940
54.3%
37.2%
8.5%
17.1
Gallup Poll News Service
May 16, 1940
54.2%
35.7%
11.6%
18.5
Gallup Poll News Service
May 3, 1940
45.0%
47.6%
11.6%
2.6
Gallup Poll News Service
April 23, 1940
48.3%
44.3%
7.5%
4.0
Gallup Poll News Service
April 9, 1940
48.4%
43.3%
8.4%
5.1
Gallup Poll News Service
January 30, 1940
47.6%
43.2%
9.3%
4.4
Gallup Poll News Service
January 30, 1940
45.4% [a]
43.0% [b]
11.6%
2.4
Gallup Poll News Service
December 2–7, 1939
42.4%
43.3%
14.7%
0.9
Gallup Poll News Service
November 8, 1939
42.2%
45.0%
12.8%
2.8
Gallup Poll News Service
September 22, 1939
50.8%
36.4%
12.9%
14.4
Gallup Poll News Service
June 7, 1939
42.9%
44.6%
12.5%
1.7
Gallup Poll News Service
February 17, 1939
40.1%
49.3%
10.5%
9.2
Gallup Poll News Service
August 10, 1938
42.9%
36.3%
20.8%
6.6
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Herbert HooverRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
June 11, 1940
61.0%
26.3%
12.7%
34.7
Gallup Poll News Service
May 18, 1939
53.4%
36.2%
10.4%
17.2
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Alf LandonRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
August 10, 1938
48.8%
38.4%
12.8%
10.4
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Robert TaftRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
June 11, 1940
55.6%
31.0%
13.3%
24.6
Gallup Poll News Service
April 23, 1940
52.0%
38.7%
9.2%
13.3
Gallup Poll News Service
April 17, 1940
50.9%
38.1%
11.0%
12.8
Gallup Poll News Service
January 30, 1940
48.9% [c]
42.7% [d]
8.4%
6.2
Gallup Poll News Service
December 2–7, 1939
45.3%
39.0%
15.7%
6.3
Gallup Poll News Service
October 10, 1939
47.5%
41.8%
10.8%
5.7
Gallup Poll News Service
March 21, 1939
43.3%
42.8%
13.8%
0.5
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltDemocratic
Arthur VandenbergRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
April 23, 1940
51.1%
38.3%
10.7%
12.8
Gallup Poll News Service
December 2–7, 1939
46.4%
37.1%
15.9%
9.3
Gallup Poll News Service
October 3, 1939
53.2%
33.0%
13.9%
20.2
Gallup Poll News Service
July 17, 1939
44.2%
43.5%
12.3%
0.7
Gallup Poll News Service
March 21, 1939
44.5%
37.8%
17.6%
6.7
Gallup Poll News Service
August 10, 1938
44.5%
36.8%
18.7%
7.7
Poll source
Date
James FarleyDemocratic
Thomas DeweyRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 3, 1940
31.9%
53.0%
15.0%
21.1
Gallup Poll News Service
April 3, 1940
33.3%
54.0%
12.7%
20.7
Gallup Poll News Service
April 6, 1939
33.5%
54.2%
12.3%
20.7
Gallup Poll News Service
June 21, 1938
29.8%
38.7%
31.6%
8.9
Poll source
Date
James FarleyDemocratic
Robert TaftRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
April 6, 1939
39.4%
45.3%
15.2%
5.9
Poll source
Date
James FarleyDemocratic
Arthur VandenbergRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
June 21, 1938
32.7%
37.6%
29.8%
4.9
Poll source
Date
John GarnerDemocratic
Thomas DeweyRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
June 18–23, 1939
39.4%
46.8%
13.8%
7.4
Gallup Poll News Service
June 7, 1939
40.3%
42.2%
17.5%
1.9
Gallup Poll News Service
February 17, 1939
43.5%
41.4%
15.1%
2.1
Poll source
Date
John GarnerDemocratic
Robert TaftRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
April 17, 1940
36.7%
42.3%
21.1%
5.6
Gallup Poll News Service
May 2, 1939
40.8%
36.0%
23.2%
4.8
Poll source
Date
John GarnerDemocratic
Arthur VandenbergRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
March 30, 1939
46.9%
43.1%
10.1%
3.8
Gallup Poll News Service
June 21, 1938
34.8%
35.7%
29.5%
0.9
Poll source
Date
Cordell HullDemocratic
Harry HopkinsRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
April 19, 1939
31.3%
47.7%
21.1%
16.4
Poll source
Date
Cordell HullDemocratic
Thomas DeweyRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 23, 1940
46.1%
39.9%
13.5%
6.2
Gallup Poll News Service
May 16, 1940
43.6%
38.2%
18.2%
5.4
Gallup Poll News Service
May 3, 1940
44.4%
41.6%
14.0%
2.8
Gallup Poll News Service
April 23, 1940
42.3%
43.7%
14.1%
1.4
Gallup Poll News Service
April 9, 1940
42.9%
42.3%
14.8%
0.6
Gallup Poll News Service
February 6, 1940
41.3% [e]
43.5% [f]
15.2%
2.2
Gallup Poll News Service
January 30, 1940
39.2% [g]
42.3% [h]
18.5%
3.1
Gallup Poll News Service
July 17, 1939
38.7%
42.7%
18.6%
4.0
Gallup Poll News Service
April 19, 1939
41.0%
42.1%
16.9%
1.1
Poll source
Date
Cordell HullDemocratic
Robert TaftRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 3, 1940
50.4%
32.8%
16.9%
17.6
Gallup Poll News Service
April 23, 1940
46.7%
34.8%
18.6%
11.9
Gallup Poll News Service
April 17, 1940
49.0%
31.4%
19.6%
17.6
Gallup Poll News Service
January 30, 1940
43.4% [i]
40.8% [j]
15.7%
2.6
Gallup Poll News Service
May 2, 1939
36.9%
35.7%
27.4%
1.2
Poll source
Date
Cordell HullDemocratic
Arthur VandenbergRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 3, 1940
49.8%
31.4%
18.8%
18.4
Gallup Poll News Service
April 23, 1940
46.5%
33.5%
19.9%
13.0
Gallup Poll News Service
March 25, 1940
48.4%
38.6%
13.0%
9.8
Gallup Poll News Service
February 6, 1940
39.5% [k]
43.3% [l]
17.2%
3.8
Poll source
Date
Cordell HullDemocratic
Wendell WillkieRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 14, 1940
36.3%
45.4%
18.0%
9.1
Poll source
Date
Paul McNuttDemocratic
Robert TaftRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 16, 1940
30.0%
38.6%
31.5%
8.6
Gallup Poll News Service
July 26, 1939
31.1%
39.0%
30.0%
7.9
Poll source
Date
Paul McNuttDemocratic
Arthur VandenbergRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 16, 1940
31.1%
39.8%
29.1%
8.7
Poll source
Date
Paul McNuttDemocratic
Wendell WillkieRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 16, 1940
32.0%
29.4%
42.7%
2.6
Poll source
Date
Henry WallaceDemocratic
Thomas DeweyRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
May 10, 1939
31.7%
51.2%
17.2%
19.5
Poll source
Date
Henry WallaceDemocratic
Robert TaftRepublican
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
April 3, 1940
33.2%
45.9%
20.9%
12.7
Gallup Poll News Service
May 10, 1939
34.2%
42.5%
23.3%
8.3
Poll source
Date
Franklin RooseveltNew Deal
Thomas DeweyRepublican
John GarnerConservative-Democratic
Undecided
Leading by (points )
Gallup Poll News Service
June 7, 1939
37.8%
36.9%
14.0%
11.3%
0.9
Polling for the Republican Presidential Nomination
Polling aggregates
Candidates
Wendell Willkie
Thomas Dewey
Robert Taft
Arthur Vandenberg
Herbert Hoover
Undecided
Poll source
Date
Leading by (points )
Gallup[1]
November 27, 1938
-
33%
18%
18%
6%
6%
-
5%
-
-
-
-
-
17%
- [m]
15
Gallup[2]
February 17, 1939
-
14.04%
8.32%
10.92%
2.08%
3.64%
2.08%
-
-
2.08%
-
-
-
8.84%
48%
3.12
Gallup[3]
March 22, 1939
-
23.00%
5.98%
6.90%
2.30%
1.84%
0.92%
0.92%
-
-
-
-
-
4.14%
54%
16.10
Gallup[4]
May 10, 1939
-
31.86%
8.85%
7.67%
2.36%
1.77%
1.77%
0.59%
0.59%
0.59%
-
-
0.59%
2.36%
41%
16.10
Gallup[5]
July 7, 1939
-
47%
13%
19%
6%
4%
3%
1%
1%
2%
-
-
-
4%
- [m]
28
Gallup[6]
August 13, 1939
-
26.55%
8.26%
14.75%
3.54%
1.77%
1.18%
-
1.18%
-
-
-
-
1.77%
41%
11.80
Gallup[7]
October 13, 1939
-
33.54%
14.62%
23.22%
3.54%
3.44%
2.58%
-
0.86%
-
0.86%
0.86%
-
2.58%
14%
10.32
Gallup[8]
November 10, 1939
-
39%
18%
26%
5%
3%
3%
1%
-
-
1%
1%
-
4%
- [m]
13
-
44%
31%
25%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- [m]
13
Gallup[9]
January 7, 1940
-
37.80%
6.93%
10.08%
3.15%
0.63%
0.63%
0.63%
0.63%
-
-
-
-
1.89%
37%
27.72
Gallup[10]
May 8, 1940
2.16%
48.24%
8.64%
10.08%
1.44%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.16%
28%
38.16
Gallup[11]
May 17, 1940
3.70%
45.88%
10.36%
9.62%
1.48%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.96%
26%
35.52
Gallup[12]
May 31, 1940
6.80%
38.08%
10.88%
8.16%
1.36%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.72%
32%
27.20
Gallup[13]
June 12, 1940
13.43%
41.08%
10.27%
9.48%
1.56%
0.79%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.37%
21%
27.65
Gallup[14]
June 21, 1940
19.14%
31.02%
5.28%
5.28%
3.96%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.32%
34%
11.88
Gallup[15]
July 8, 1940
44%
29%
13%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
14%
- [m]
15
Polling for the Democratic Presidential Nomination
Poll source
Date
Leading by (points )
Gallup[16]
July 31, 1938
-
23%
12%
16%
5%
2%
-
-
-
2%
3%
-
-
3%
-
-
5%
25%
- [m]
7
Gallup[17]
March 26, 1939
-
42%
10%
10%
5%
2%
-
-
-
2%
-
8%
2%
3%
-
-
-
14%
- [m]
32
Gallup[18]
May 21, 1939
-
50%
13%
9%
3%
3%
-
-
-
2%
2%
3%
2%
2%
-
-
-
11%
- [m]
37
Gallup[19]
June 14, 1939
-
23.03%
5.88%
7.84%
1.47%
1.47%
-
-
-
0.49%
1.47%
2.45%
0.98%
-
-
-
-
3.43%
51%
15.19
Gallup[20]
August 4, 1939
-
46%
12%
12%
13%
2%
-
-
-
1%
1%
3%
1%
-
-
-
-
8%
- [m]
33
Gallup[21]
September 13, 1939
-
45%
10%
10%
21%
2%
-
-
-
1%
-
1%
1%
-
-
-
-
9%
- [m]
24
Gallup[22]
November 6, 1939
83%
8%
3%
1%
3%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2%
- [m]
75
-
45%
13%
8%
18%
3%
-
-
-
2%
-
-
1%
-
2%
1%
-
8%
- [m]
75
Gallup[23]
January 3, 1940
58.85%
9.75%
1.50%
0.75%
3.00%
0.75%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.75%
25%
49.10
-
27.84%
3.84%
2.40%
8.16%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5.76%
52%
19.68
Gallup[24]
February 19, 1940
58.50%
7.50%
4.50%
0.75%
1.50%
-
0.75%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.50%
25%
51.00
-
20.00%
12.50%
4.00%
5.50%
0.50%
2.00%
0.50%
1.50%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.20%
50%
7.50
Gallup[25]
May 15, 1940
-
11.55%
25.85%
8.80%
3.30%
-
2.20%
0.55%
0.55%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.20%
45%
14.30
Gallup[26]
July 1, 1940
76.36%
1.66%
2.49%
0.83%
0.83%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.83%
17%
73.87
-
11.96%
24.44%
6.24%
4.68%
-
1.56%
0.56%
0.56%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.08%
48%
12.48
Notes
^ Running-mate is Fiorello La Guardia
^ Running-mate is Robert Taft
^ Running-mate is Fiorello La Guardia
^ Running-mate is Thomas Dewey
^ Running-mate is James Farley
^ Running-mate is Arthur Vandenberg
^ Running-mate is Robert Jackson
^ Running-mate is Robert Taft
^ Running-mate is Robert Jackson
^ Running-mate is Thomas Dewey
^ Running-mate is James Farley
^ Running-mate is Thomas Dewey
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l On occasion it seems that Gallup would not mention how many of those polled were Undecided, and would subsequently only announce the results of those who were Decided on a candidate. Possibly this information is in the Gallup Brain Archives.
References
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 127.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 140.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 146.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 153.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 164.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 173.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 185.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 189.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 199.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 222.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 224.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 226.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 228.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 229.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 231.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 112.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 147.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 155.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 159.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 171.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 180.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 189.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 199.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 208.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 224.
^ Gallup, George (1972). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, 1935-1971 . Vol. I. p. 230.