Narrow majorities in U.S. House have become more common but haven’t always led to gridlock
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.
Political Polarization
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Political Polarization
Publications
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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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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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How the political typology groups compare
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.
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Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology
Pew Research Center’s political typology provides a roadmap to today’s fractured political landscape. It organizes the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values. Even in a polarized era, the 2021 survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions.
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How America Changed During Donald Trump’s Presidency
Donald Trump’s four-year tenure in the White House revealed extraordinary fissures in American society but left little doubt that he is a figure unlike any other in the nation’s history.
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Voters Say Those on the Other Side ‘Don’t Get’ Them. Here’s What They Want Them to Know.
Biden and Trump supporters tell us in their own words about America’s political divisions
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America is exceptional in the nature of its political divide
The U.S. is not the only country wrestling with political fissures. But the pandemic has revealed how pervasive the divide in U.S. politics is.
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2020 election reveals two broad voting coalitions fundamentally at odds
If one takeaway from the election is historic voter participation, another may be the political polarization that has come to define the U.S.
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In a Politically Polarized Era, Sharp Divides in Both Partisan Coalitions
Partisanship remains the strongest factor dividing the American public. Yet there are substantial divisions within both parties on fundamental political values, views of current issues and the severity of the problems facing the nation.
