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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Partisan Antipathy: More Intense, More Personal
Division and animosity between the two political parties in the U.S. has deepened. Most partisans view the other side as ‘closed-minded’; Republicans see Democrats as ‘unpatriotic.’
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Most Democrats Are Excited by ‘Several’ 2020 Candidates – Not Just Their Top Choice
A majority of Democratic voters who prefer one of the presidential candidates are excited about several candidates vying for the party’s nomination. Far fewer are enthused only by their first choice.
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46% of U.S. social media users say they are ‘worn out’ by political posts and discussions
Well before the 2020 election, many U.S. social media users are already exhausted by how many political posts they see on these platforms.
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6 facts about Democrats in 2019
Self-identified liberals make up a larger share of the Democratic Party than they once did. Democrats are united in their opposition to Donald Trump.
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How often people talk about race with family and friends depends on racial and ethnic group, education, politics
Most black and Asian adults say race or race relations come up in their conversations with family and friends at least sometimes.
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Republicans see a national political climate comfortable for Democrats, but less so for GOP
When Republicans assess the climate for political discourse, they see a more hospitable environment for Democrats than for members of their own party.
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Public Highly Critical of State of Political Discourse in the U.S.
Majorities of Americans say the tone of political debate in the country has become more negative, less respectful, less fact-based and less substantive in recent years.
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Trump’s Staunch GOP Supporters Have Roots in the Tea Party
Republicans who did not agree with the tea party during Obama era were somewhat less likely to remain affiliated with GOP years later. Republicans who had positive views of the tea party movement in 2014 or 2015 were among Trump’s most enthusiastic backers during the 2016 campaign.
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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?
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Political Independents: Who They Are, What They Think
Most independents are not all that “independent” politically. And the small share of Americans who are truly independent stand out for their low level of interest in politics.
