MLB falls out of favor with Republicans
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MLB is the latest sports league to fall out of favor with Republicans following its decision to pull the All-Star Game out of Atlanta.
By the numbers: In mid-March, MLB's net favorability rating among Republicans was 47%, the highest of the four major U.S. sports leagues. Since then, it has plummeted to 12%, dropping the league below the NFL and NHL, according to new data from Morning Consult.
The big picture: "Baseball isn't the first sport to see its net favorability among Republicans significantly decrease as a result of ... embracing social justice issues," writes Morning Consult's Alex Silverman.
- "The NFL's popularity among Republicans took a major hit in 2017 after then-President Donald Trump rebuked NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem."
- "The NBA's stock hit new lows among Republicans last summer for its embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement."
Of note ... Republicans may be down on MLB, but baseball's billionaire owners certainly aren't down on them.
- Over the past three election cycles, MLB owners donated roughly $20.4 million to campaigns and super PACs.
- $15.2 million (74.5%) went to Republicans, while $5.2 million (25.5%) went to Democrats, per FiveThirtyEight and ESPN research.
