# If a nominee drops out, most Americans want a new primary

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/if-a-nominee-drops-out-most-americans-want-a-new-primary/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from September 25 to 30, 2026. If a party's nominee withdraws after winning the primary, 58.8% of Americans would rather hold a new primary, while 21.8% would let the party organization pick a replacement. Another 19.4% aren't sure.

Strong preference for a new primary accounts for 44.8%, compared with 7.4% who strongly prefer the party organization. The question describes a nominee who withdraws after winning the primary.

## Topline

Which would you prefer: require a new primary election or allow the party organization to select the nominee?

If a nominee drops out, most Americans want a new primary.

- Strongly prefer new primary: 44.8%
- Not sure / Don’t Know: 19.4%
- Not so strongly prefer party organization: 14.4%
- Not so strongly prefer new primary: 14.0%
- Strongly prefer party organization: 7.4%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: Democracy, Politics, & Participation
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-14](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-14)

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-14](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-14)