---
title: "Extramarital Affairs, Political Candidates and Public Opinion"
description: "When asked last May, nearly six-in-ten (57%) Republicans said they would be less likely to support a candidate who had an extramarital affair. Americans overall have a more unforgiving view of a candidate's past infidelity than they did in 2007."
date: "2011-11-30"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/11/30/extramarital-affairs-political-candidates-and-public-opinion/"
---

# Extramarital Affairs, Political Candidates and Public Opinion

The public now has a more negative view of a candidate’s past infidelity than was the case in 2007. Just under half (46%) of people now say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who had an extramarital affair in the past; a relatively similar percentage ( 49%) say this would not matter to them. In 2007, 39% of people said they would be less likely to support a candidate who had an affair — the majority (56%) said it would not matter to them.

More Republicans (57%) than Democrats (42%) say they would be less likely to support a candidate who has had an extramarital affair. The gap was much wider in 2007, when 62% of Republicans and only 25% of Democrats expressed this view.

The public continues to be far more forgiving of a past divorce; only 11% say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who has been divorced. Most people (85%) say this would nor matter to them. Republicans are somewhat more likely than Democrats to view a candidate’s divorce negatively.

These results come from a survey conducted May 25-30 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2011/06/02/section-2-candidate-traits-and-experience/?src=prc-number)