America’s big company CEOs traditionally lean heavily Republican in presidential elections. But not his year. Nearly six in ten Fortune 500 CEOs favor Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump according to a survey conducted last month by Fortune.
The survey, which was sent to all Fortune 500 CEOs, asked which candidate they would favor most as the next President of the United States. Of those who answered, 58% said Clinton; 42% said Trump.
That’s a huge number for Clinton considering her overwhelming support by organized labor.
What’s different for business executives this year?
The presumptive Republican nominee has made proposals that reshape the modern Republican Party. Most of the 500 operate on a global scale and strongly disagree with Trump’s call for raising trade barriers and engaging in trade war with nations like China.
Some CEO’s have also been rattled by Trump’s stance on immigration, his threat to default on U.S. debt and his comments showing little understanding of public finance.
Trump also opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive Pacific trade deal covering 40 percent of the world’s economy. Clinton championed it as Secretary of State but now says she opposes it.
Looking past the election, the CEOs were optimistic about their own company’s growth prospects. Fully 70% said they expect to employ more people two years from now than they do today.