American Businesses Perceived as Nonpartisan: Axios/Harris Poll Data Analysis

The latest Axios/Harris Poll 100 survey has revealed that 40% of American businesses are perceived as being nonpartisan, even in today’s hyper-polarized environment. This is a significant finding, as it shows that companies like Procter & Gamble, UPS, and BP have been able to maintain a good reputation with consumers without getting involved in hot-button issues or cultural controversies.

What’s interesting is that certain industries seem to be less polarizing than others. For example, fast food chains like Chipotle and Pizza Hut have a partisan split of less than 0.6, while energy companies like General Electric, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP are viewed as overwhelmingly nonpartisan.

On the other hand, companies like Target, AB InBev, and Pfizer are seen as skewed to the left, while the Trump Organization, Fox News, and X are perceived as right-wing. Overall, corporate America is deemed as more left-leaning, with 41 companies on the list viewed as left-leaning compared to just 19 seen as right-leaning.

In response to criticism for commenting on social or geopolitical issues unrelated to their business operations, CEO appetite for making such statements has decreased. However, it’s worth noting that all eight nonpartisan companies with “good” reputations did make pledges or donations to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

This data sheds light on the evolving landscape of corporate reputation and the challenges companies face in navigating political and social issues. To delve deeper into the 2024 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings and how companies are riding a red wave ahead of the election, check out the full report.