Elon Musk turned democrats off Tesla when he needed them most
Live MintFor years, the biggest cohort of Tesla buyers, politically speaking, has been Democrats. The proportion of Democrats buying Tesla vehicles fell by more than 60%, according to car buyers surveyed in October and November by researcher Strategic Vision. Other surveys have captured a pullback in consumers’ consideration of Tesla vehicles since Musk acquired the social-media platform in late 2022 and held court on contentious social issues. Among 2022 model-year buyers, Democrats made up 40% of Tesla customers and 39% in 2023, according to Strategic Vision’s surveys. Those differences were further highlighted in the past year amid a contentious Republican primary season where candidates took aim at President Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee seeking a second term, and his work to support development and adoption of EVs in the U.S. Former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the White House, has made attacks on electric cars a regular talking point during his campaign, even as he and Musk appear to have a bromance in the works ahead of November.