Border Security Trumps Ukraine Funding: Swing Voters Reveal Priorities in New Poll
Rob Bluey /
An overwhelming 75% of swing voters say they oppose allocating more U.S. funds for Ukraine before the border crisis is addressed, reveals a new survey conducted by pollster Scott Rasmussen across six battleground states.
The poll, conducted on behalf of The Heritage Foundation, was released Monday amid the latest debate over U.S. aid playing out in Congress. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news and commentary outlet.)
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is preparing to unveil a funding package for Ukraine that faces an uncertain future due to a backlash from conservatives.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, last week challenged the Washington establishment, arguing it was a matter of practical constraints and limitations in U.S. capacity to provide more aid.
“Ukraine’s challenge is not the G.O.P.; it’s math,” Vance wrote for The New York Times. “Ukraine needs more soldiers than it can field, even with draconian conscription policies. And it needs more matériel than the United States can provide. This reality must inform any future Ukraine policy, from further congressional aid to the diplomatic course set by the president.”
Over the past two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has allocated $113 billion in funding to Ukraine, averaging approximately $900 per American household. The Biden administration is seeking an additional $60 billion for Ukraine from U.S. taxpayers to sustain efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The United States has already sent more than $113 billion in aid to Ukraine with no debate, no clear strategy, no spending offsets, and no real accountability. Alarmingly, two separate Pentagon audits reveal that large tranches of this funding are mostly unaccounted for. That’s unacceptable,” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said.
“Not a single U.S. taxpayer dollar should be going to Ukraine until our own borders are secure, [President Joe] Biden proposes a coherent strategy for ending the conflict, and full accountability for past and future funding secured,” Roberts added. “The American people know they deserve better and expect policies—and leaders—that put their country first. Congress would be wise to listen to them.”
>>> Majority of GOP, Independent Voters Want to End US Aid to Ukraine
The survey, conducted by Rasmussen and RMG Research Inc., polled 1,000 swing voters across the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin on behalf of The Heritage Foundation. Swing voters aren’t strongly aligned with either political party but have an outsized impact on elections.
“Swing voters are sending a resounding message: Prioritize border security before further commitments abroad,” Rasmussen told The Daily Signal. “The overwhelming opposition to allocating additional funds to Ukraine without addressing our own border concerns underscores the urgent need for policymakers to listen to the electorate’s priorities.”
In response to what holds greater importance, 50% of respondents said they prioritize border security, while only 11% said they prioritize Ukraine funding. Additionally, 29% said they believe both issues hold equal significance, with only 6% stating that neither is a priority and 5% expressing uncertainty.
A majority of respondents, 54%, said they believe directing funds to secure the border outweighs financing the war effort in Ukraine. Conversely, 23% advocate equal allocation of funds to both causes, while a mere 10% support allocating more money to Ukraine than to border security.
Upon learning about the $113 billion in U.S. funds already allocated to Ukraine, 56% of swing voters said they believe America has provided excessive funding. Only 12% said the U.S. has provided insufficient aid.
Those surveyed represent a mix of undecided voters and those expressing differences between presidential and congressional races. A majority, 54%, identify as politically independent while 25% are Republicans and 20% are Democrats.
RMG Research Inc. conducted the survey April 2-4. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.