Conservatives Back Tesla in Bid to Counteract Liberal Boycott
Following a wave of criticism and a perceived decline in its appeal to the left, Tesla is gaining support from a new corner: prominent conservatives. This shift comes amid a backdrop of political tension and controversy surrounding the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.
Last week, President Trump expressed his intent to purchase a Tesla Model S, with Fox News host Sean Hannity quickly following suit, declaring his own purchase of a Model S Plaid. Hannity touted Tesla’s American-made components, signaling their support for the embattled company. This new wave of support is born from a desire to counter the fallout from Musk’s actions and the resulting boycott of Tesla by liberals and Democrats.
But how effective can this rescue mission be? Auto experts, though they acknowledge the potential, remain largely skeptical of its efficacy. With a large number of Democratic buyers apparently abandoning the brand, even high-profile endorsements may not be enough to compensate for the loss. JP Morgan analysts are predicting that Tesla will produce its lowest quarterly output in three years.
Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision, an automotive research and consulting firm, highlighted the challenge, “When you make your product unattractive to half the market, I promise you, you won’t increase your sales.” Edwards has been surveying car buyers for decades and noted the significant political shift in the market.
His surveys, which began in 2016, found that electric vehicle owners were significantly more likely to identify as Democrats or liberals. In fact, electric-car owners were up to four times as likely to identify as Democrats or liberals as to identify as Republican or conservative. The ratio of Tesla owners who identified as Democrats over Republicans has been a consistent two-to-one spread in favor of the Democrats.
The political gap narrowed substantially through 2024. Recent data shows that, as Tesla’s sales have declined, slightly more buyers now identify as Republicans than Democrats, at 30 percent versus 29 percent, suggesting a market transformation is underway.
