Political Polarization

Unfavorable views of both Trump and Biden are more common among young adults and those who “lean” to a party.

Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.

Untethered from partisan politics and uninterested in keeping up with political news, here is how some Americans view the current state of U.S. politics.

Americans’ views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. By contrast, just 10% say they always or often feel hopeful about politics.

House Republicans held the fifth-smallest majority in U.S. history at the start of the current congress, tied with the 107th and 83rd Congresses.

Increasingly, Republicans and Democrats view not just the opposing party but also the people in that party in a negative light. Growing shares in each party now describe those in the other party as more closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent than other Americans. Nearly half of younger adults say they "wish there were more parties to choose from."

On average, Democrats and Republicans are farther apart ideologically today than at any time in the past 50 years.

The share of Americans who say having political conversations with those they disagree with is “stressful and frustrating” has increased.

Republicans and Democrats differ substantially over several sources of meaning in life, including faith, freedom, health and hobbies.

Pew Research Center’s political typology sorts Americans into cohesive, like-minded groups based on their values, beliefs, and views about politics and the political system. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics.