Can Doug Emhoff Beat Back Scandal for the Harris Campaign?
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Key Takeaways
- Few voters are aware of recent assault allegations against Doug Emhoff, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’s husband.
- Those who are aware of it largely dismiss it as politicized or too focused on personal scandal over pressing policy topics.
- Conservatives are outraged, pointing out Democratic hypocrisy around protecting and supporting women, but their outrage alone likely will not move public sentiment.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
300
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
2 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is embroiled in controversy after accusations surfaced that he previously assaulted a former girlfriend. Typically, this type of story would grab headlines and dominate election discussions. Especially after recent media coverage of Emhoff praising him for “redefining masculinity.”
NEW: Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff accused of physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, days after MSNBC host Jen Psaki said Emhoff was “reshaping masculinity.”
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 2, 2024
According to the Daily Mail, Emhoff hit a woman so hard that she physically spun around.
New details also reveal that… pic.twitter.com/dBPc8rcBL5
However, instead of major political scandal, voter awareness and media coverage of Emhoff’s alleged behavior has been muted. MIG Reports data shows many voters are not discussing this story, many news outlets are not covering it, and of those who are, a majority dismiss it.
Voter Awareness Seems Low
Amid many other major political and world events, discussions of recent Emhoff allegations are low. One possible explanation for the low discussion volume regarding Emhoff could be the major news story saturation. But MIG Reports analysis shows a similar, seemingly trivial story, regarding voter reactions to J.D. Vance's physical appearance following the VP debate is high, especially his beard as a physical representation of his identity in politics. This suggests low discussion of Emhoff may be more related to lack of media coverage.
Data gathered over a two-day period shows that online conversations mentioning Doug Emhoff’s alleged behavior generated between 200 and 300 comments. In contrast, discussions about border security during that same period reached nearly 10,000 mentions.
- Discussion of Doug Emhoff allegations: 200-300 over two days
- Discussion of border security: nearly 10,000 over two days
Of those mentioning Emhoff broadly, 57% indicate awareness of the allegations. This stands in sharp contrast to the sustained national focus on topics like Haitian migrants or Trump’s recent comments about removing their protected migrant status.
NEW - In an exclusive interview with @NewsNation @AliBradleyTV
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) October 3, 2024
Trump says he would revoke the temporary protective status of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio.
Bradley: So you would revoke the temporary protected status?
Trump: Absolutely. I'd revoke it, and I'd bring… pic.twitter.com/kqxlmNU67A
The Media’s Strategic Silence
Americans increasingly do not trust the media in how it reports stories or which stories it chooses to report. Around 62% of voters criticize the media for selectively focusing on personal scandals like this while ignoring “substantive issues” that impact the nation. This perspective is largely held among left leaning voters.
Republicans, however, are also critical of the media. They say mainstream outlets are not giving the Emhoff story the same level of attention they would if a Republican figure were involved. Conservatives say, if this had been a Republican's spouse, media outlets would be running continuous coverage. And 65% of this group sees the media’s lack of coverage as an example of partisan favoritism and selective reporting.
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Democrats Versus Republicans
Reactions to the Emhoff story are partisan. Among conservatives, 75% voice distrust in Emhoff’s character, viewing these allegations as believable and evidence of hypocrisy within the Democratic Party. They link this incident to a larger narrative of Democratic moral failures, especially when juxtaposed with the Party’s vocal stance on gender rights and advocacy for women.
It's absolutely hilarious how Doug Emhoff is basically sent around on the campaign trail to call Trump a "misogynist" and a woman hater.
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) October 2, 2024
Today, it was revealed that he "forcefully" slapped around his ex-girlfriend.
(In addition to cheating on his ex-wife with their nanny.) pic.twitter.com/GttaqYop5a
Many point out Democratic moral movements like #MeToo, saying if the allegations are true, Emhoff and Harris by extension are disingenuous at best. Some also point out that Kamala Harris herself only required allegations before condemning Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his SCOTUS confirmation in 2019.
The Kavanaugh hearings last year opened old wounds for many survivors of sexual assault. Allegations must always be taken seriously. pic.twitter.com/zNhw5skC6I
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 17, 2019
Democratic voters are far less engaged with this story. Around 60% of left-leaning commenters actively downplay the allegations or defend Emhoff. They frame the accusations as a smear campaign designed to undermine Harris’s political standing. For them, the story is seen as a distraction from more critical issues, such as policy and governance. They either suggest the allegations or false or dismiss them as inconsequential—further drawing conservative accusations of hypocrisy.
Reactions within Small Pockets of Awareness
Among the limited group discussing the allegations, reactions vary.
- 29% are outraged, noting the limited scrutiny Emhoff receives compared to Republican figures.
- 21% of voters show indifference, arguing a politician’s personal life, including the behavior of their spouse, should not define their ability to govern.
- 70% of 18-34 voters blame the media for sensationalizing personal scandals, viewing such coverage as an unnecessary invasion of privacy.
- 58% of older voters want more personal accountability from public figures, particularly those close to the vice president.
Likely Minimal Impact on the Election
MIG Reports analysis suggests the Emhoff allegations are unlikely to play a significant role in shaping voter behavior or altering the trajectory of Harris’s candidacy. The issue simply hasn’t gained enough traction to make a substantial impact.
Given that 57% of voters who were aware of the story are already dismissing it as politically motivated, and with such a small volume of commentary overall, this story is not likely to sway Independent voters or motivate a shift in voter sentiment. The fact that more significant issues, such as border security and inflation, are dominating voter attention makes it unlikely that Emhoff’s personal life will become a deciding factor in the election.
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