---
title: "Politics: Sept. 18"
description: "Politics A monthly digest of research on public attitudes on politics and major policy issues · Subscribe ↗ From our research The share of those with bachelor’s degrees who say “working class” describes them extremely or very well, compared with 66% of those without bachelor’s degrees. Read more."
date: "2026-09-18"
authors:
  - name: "Reem Nadeem"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/politics/politics-sept-18/"
---

# Politics: Sept. 18

---

September 18, 2026

## Politics

*A monthly digest of research on public attitudes on politics and major policy issues* · **[Subscribe ↗](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)**

---

[      ](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/09/10/the-u-s-electorates-changing-racial-and-ethnic-makeup/)

## [The U.S. electorate’s changing racial and ethnic makeup](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/09/10/the-u-s-electorates-changing-racial-and-ethnic-makeup/)

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, we looked at the [racial and ethnic composition of the U.S. electorate](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/09/10/the-u-s-electorates-changing-racial-and-ethnic-makeup/) – some 250 million eligible adults. The share of White eligible voters has declined since 2006, while the shares of Hispanic and Asian voters have nearly doubled.

[      ](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/08/how-republicans-and-democrats-see-their-own-ideology-and-their-partys/)

## [How Republicans and Democrats see their own ideology – and their party’s](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/08/how-republicans-and-democrats-see-their-own-ideology-and-their-partys/)

Democrats and Republicans vary a lot in how they rate themselves ideologically, and most [don’t see themselves in perfect alignment with their party](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/08/how-republicans-and-democrats-see-their-own-ideology-and-their-partys/). Only about a quarter in each coalition give themselves same rating they give their party on an 11-point liberal-conservative scale.

[      ](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/08/31/who-sees-themselves-as-working-class/)

## [Who sees themselves as working class?](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/08/31/who-sees-themselves-as-working-class/)

Most Americans today (60%) think of themselves as working class. While the identity is widely adopted by people across all income and educational groups, [seeing oneself as working class](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/08/31/who-sees-themselves-as-working-class/) has a heavy political tinge and also differs by race and ethnicity.

- **From 2021:** [Two decades later, the enduring legacy of 9/11](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/)

reportSep 16, 2026

## [Weighting polls on party affiliation and past vote](https://www.pewresearch.org/methods/2026/09/16/weighting-polls-on-party-affiliation-and-past-vote/)

short readSep 16, 2026

## [2026 primary season yields greatest preelection House turnover in over 3 decades](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/16/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades/)

reportAug 6, 2026

## [Most Americans favor the death penalty for those convicted of murder](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/08/06/most-americans-favor-the-death-penalty-for-those-convicted-of-murder/)

short readSep 14, 2026

## [The U.S. Constitution is among the hardest in the world to amend](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/14/the-us-constitution-is-among-the-hardest-in-the-world-to-amend/)

short readSep 2, 2026

## [Americans have grown more skeptical that a woman will be president in their lifetime](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/02/americans-have-grown-more-skeptical-that-a-woman-will-be-president-in-their-lifetime/)

short readAug 11, 2026

## [Most Americans are uncomfortable with transgender athletes on sports teams that don’t match their birth sex](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/11/most-americans-are-uncomfortable-with-transgender-athletes-on-sports-teams-that-dont-match-their-birth-sex/)

short readAug 6, 2026

## [Most U.S. senators appointed since 1990 have run to keep their seat – and most have won](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/06/most-us-senators-appointed-since-1990-have-run-to-keep-their-seat-and-most-have-won/)

#### From our research

[50%](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/08/31/who-sees-themselves-as-working-class/)

The share of those with bachelor’s degrees who say “working class” describes them extremely or very well, compared with 66% of those without bachelor’s degrees. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/08/31/who-sees-themselves-as-working-class/).