Changing Partisan Coalitions in a Politically Divided Nation
Amid shifts in demographics and partisan allegiances, registered voters are now evenly split between the Democratic Party and the GOP.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Political Parties & Polarization
Most Americans say Republican and Democratic voters cannot agree on basic facts
Eight-in-ten U.S. adults say Republican and Democratic voters not only disagree on plans and policies, but also cannot agree on basic facts.
Americans see Republicans growing more comfortable, and Democrats less, with sharing their views
Four-in-ten U.S. adults say Republicans are very comfortable expressing their political views, and 36% say the same about Democrats.
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Political Parties & Polarization
Publications
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The Role of Alternative Social Media in the News and Information Environment
In recent years, several new options have emerged in the social media universe, many of which explicitly present themselves as alternatives to more established social media platforms. Free speech ideals and heated political themes prevail on these sites, which draw praise from their users and skepticism from other Americans.
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As Partisan Hostility Grows, Signs of Frustration With the Two-Party System
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.”
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Biden’s Job Rating Slumps as Public’s View of Economy Turns More Negative
Joe Biden’s political standing is at the lowest point of his presidency. Yet Biden is hardly the only focal point of the public’s political discontent: Americans express unfavorable views of both major parties and a range of leading Republican and Democratic political figures, including Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.
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U.S. journalists differ from the public in their views of ‘bothsidesism’ in journalism
55% of journalists surveyed say that every side does not always deserve equal coverage in the news. 22% of Americans overall say the same.
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A growing share of Americans are familiar with ‘cancel culture’
61% of U.S. adults say they have heard at least a fair amount about the phrase “cancel culture,” up from 44% in September 2020.
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Republicans More Likely Than Democrats To Say Partisan Control of Congress ‘Really Matters’
71% of Republican voters say their vote for Congress is “against Biden.”
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Americans at the ends of the ideological spectrum are the most active in national politics
Americans who hold less consistently liberal or conservative views tend to be less engaged in national politics.
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Younger U.S. adults less likely to see big differences between the parties or to feel well represented by them
Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults (59%) see a great deal of difference between the two major political parties, up from 55% just two years ago.
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Both Republicans and Democrats prioritize family, but they differ over other sources of meaning in life
Republicans and Democrats differ substantially over several sources of meaning in life, including faith, freedom, health and hobbies.
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The Behaviors and Attitudes of U.S. Adults on Twitter
A minority of Twitter users produce a majority of tweets from U.S. adults, and the most active tweeters are less likely to view the tone or civility of discussions as a major problem on the site.
