6 facts about U.S. political independents
Partisan divides in America are as wide as they’ve ever been in the modern political era. But what about those who identify as independents?
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
Politics
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Majority of Public Favors Same-Sex Marriage, but Divisions Persist
A majority of Americans (61%) favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while about half as many (31%) oppose same-sex marriage. Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over legal marriage for gays and lesbians – though support has increased significantly in both parties over the past 15 years.
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In year of record midterm turnout, women continued to vote at higher rates than men
Over half of women and men who were eligible to vote cast ballots in 2018. Compared with 2014, turnout increased by double digits among both genders.
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The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking
Blacks have long outnumbered whites in U.S. prisons. But a significant decline in the number of black prisoners has narrowed the gap.
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A new perspective on Americans’ views of Israelis and Palestinians
In a new survey, the Center reassesses how it asks Americans about Israelis, Palestinians and their respective governments.
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U.S. Public Has Favorable View of Israel’s People, but Is Less Positive Toward Its Government
While 64% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Israeli people, fewer than half view the Israeli government favorably. There are wide partisan gaps in opinions of Israelis and Palestinians.
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Sharp Rise in the Share of Americans Saying Jews Face Discrimination
Today, 64% of Americans say Jews face at least some discrimination, a 20-percentage-point increase from 2016. Partisans are divided in their views of discrimination against Jews – and many other groups.
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Gender gap widens in views of government’s role – and of Trump
Gender differences in the U.S. about the size and scope of government have been evident for more than a decade, but they have widened in recent years.
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Little Public Support for Reductions in Federal Spending
When Americans are asked to make up the budget for the federal government, they have little appetite for austerity measures. Asked about 13 different government program areas, from veterans benefits to foreign aid, no more than about a quarter favor reducing spending in any specific area. The survey by Pew Research Center, conducted March 20-25 […]
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How Republicans and Democrats View Federal Spending
If you were making up the budget for the federal government this year, would you increase spending, decrease spending or keep spending the same for … See related report: “Little Public Support for Reductions in Federal Spending”
