Beyond the Base: Why Child Care Matters to Republican Voters Too

New public opinion research from the Bipartisan Policy Center and Cygnal challenges some common assumptions about voter priorities and suggests there is a meaningful, bipartisan opportunity for federal and state lawmakers to work together on child care. This issue, despite recent polarization, still resonates strongly with voters across party lines as a growing number of American parents struggle to find access to quality, affordable child care.

While child care has traditionally been viewed as a Democratic policy priority, new research reveals a significant shift in public sentiment that challenges this long-standing perception. The results of new BPC and Cygnal polling show that child care is no longer a niche or partisan concern but is increasingly seen as a mainstream economic and workforce issue. In fact, support for a government role in addressing child care challenges has grown meaningfully among Republican primary voters between 2024 and 2025.

This new polling exploring the views of Republican primary voters found that access to child care is seen as a significant challenge, and these voters want elected officials to make this issue a priority. In fact, three-quarters of likely Republican primary voters view child care as a serious problem for American families. This concern is especially pronounced among parents (86%) and business owners (85%).

These findings reflect a broader shift in public opinion that is reshaping how child care is viewed across the political spectrum. A national poll from First Five Years Fund shows broad alignment across the political spectrum with 89% of all voters stating they want candidates who have a clear plan to make child care affordable and high-quality. This includes 80% of Republicans, 88% of Independents, and 95% of Democrats.

5 Key Takeaways from Republican Primary Voters, Parents, & Business

Several important takeaways emerged from this poll:

1. Republican Voters Take the Child Care Crisis Seriously
   • More than 3 in 4 (76%) say finding affordable, reliable child care is a serious challenge, including almost half who believe it’s an “extremely” or “very” serious challenge.
   • This concern is even higher among parents (86%) and business owners (85%).
   • Nearly three-quarters (72%) want Congress to reduce the financial burden of child care — 84% of business owners and 83% of parents agree.
2. Parents and Employers are Sounding the Alarm
   • 72% of business owners and 75% of parents report turning down jobs, promotions, or reducing work hours due to child care gaps.
   • Respondents under 65 (57%) are more than twice as likely as older voters (24%) to say they or someone they know faced career impacts from child care challenges.
3. Child Care is an Economic Issue
   • 69% say parents use child care to enable full-time work — 65% of business owners and parents agree.
   • 63% believe affordable, reliable care is essential for businesses to attract and retain workers (76% of business owners, 78% of parents).
   • 64% worry shortages will hamper hiring and retention (80% of business owners, 83% of parents).
   • 38% expect job losses in their community due to care shortages in coming years.
4. Growing Recognition of the Need for Government to Play a Role
   • 53% of likely Republican primary voters now say government is most responsible for helping parents access high-quality child care — up 7 points from last year.
   • Support for increasing public funding for child care has risen by 8 net points to 59%, with business owner support up 12 net points.
   • Among supporters of increased funding, support for raising taxes rose from 44% to 61% among parents and from 48% to 60% among business owners.
5. Advancing Child Care Solutions Aligns with Pro-Family, Pro-Work Values
   • 71% say making child care more affordable is one of the most pro-family, pro-worker actions government can take — up from 42% in 2024.
   • 56% would be more likely to vote for candidates who support child care funding; business owner support increased by 8 points since 2024.

This BPC-Cygnal polling reveals a clear and urgent message from Republican primary voters: child care remains a critical challenge that impacts American families, employers, and the broader economy. Republican primary voters are joining a growing chorus across the political spectrum calling for solutions that reflect pro-family, pro-work values.

The economic stakes are high, and the opportunity is real. Whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent, this data underlines the broad public call for Congress to lead with meaningful action, ensuring affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care solutions that support working families and strengthen our nation’s workforce. The path forward is bipartisan, and the public is ready.

— Originally published by Brittany Walsh on the Bipartisan Policy Center blog, July 1, 2025