Political polarization reshapes how Americans sort one another by party and ideology, from personal judgments about the “other side” to family acceptance. It also shows up in where people live and what they study: college graduates and urban residents often differ sharply from non-college and rural communities. Across the page, you’ll see how affective and ideological polarization grow alongside culture-war issues and news trust.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 72% of Republicans viewed the Democratic Party very unfavorably, compared to 17% in 1994, indicating a sharp rise in affective polarization.
- 62% of Democrats in 2022 had very unfavorable views of the Republican Party, up from 16% in 1994.
- By 2022, 40% of Republicans would be unhappy if their child married a Democrat, rising from 5% in 1960.
- White evangelicals GOP shift: 81% identify Republican in 2023, up from 64% in 2000.
- College grads Dem lean: 57% vs 37% GOP in 2022.
- Urban-rural gap: 59% urban Dem, 35% rural GOP.
- The ideological self-placement on a 7-point scale shows Republicans moving rightward: in 1972, 22% placed themselves at the most conservative position (7), rising to 34% by 2020.
- Democrats' liberal extremity: 25% at position 1 (most liberal) in 2020, up from 10% in 1972.
- Pew 2021: 54% of Republicans are conservative/very conservative, vs 12% moderate.
- 92% Democrats vs 8% Republicans trust mainstream media, 2023 Reuters.
- Fox News trust: 65% GOP, 12% Dems.
- CNN trust: 75% Dems, 15% GOP.
- Abortion partisan gap: 85% Dems pro-choice vs 15% GOP in 2022.
- Gun control: 90% Dems favor stricter laws, 20% Republicans in 2023 Gallup.
- Climate change: 88% Dems say human-caused vs 12% GOP, Pew 2023.
Affective polarization and distrust are surging, with huge partisan gaps in media, politics, and major policies.
Related reading
01 · Category
Affective Polarization30 stats
01
In 2022, 72% of Republicans viewed the Democratic Party very unfavorably, compared to 17% in 1994, indicating a sharp rise in affective polarization.
02
62% of Democrats in 2022 had very unfavorable views of the Republican Party, up from 16% in 1994.
03
By 2022, 40% of Republicans would be unhappy if their child married a Democrat, rising from 5% in 1960.
04
31% of Democrats in 2022 opposed their child marrying a Republican, up dramatically from prior decades.
05
Thermometer ratings of the opposing party averaged 28/100 for Republicans toward Democrats in 2022, down from higher scores historically.
06
Gallup poll in 2023 showed 52% of Americans say political polarization is a major problem in society.
07
79% of Republicans in 2022 felt Democrats were more immoral than other Americans, per Pew.
08
72% of Democrats viewed Republicans as more close-minded than others in 2022.
09
In 2020 ANES data, partisan animus predicted vote choice more strongly than ideology.
10
2021 PRRI survey found 56% of Republicans see Democrats as enemies, not just opponents.
11
Democrats' negative views of Republicans reached 83% in 2022 Pew data.
12
2023 YouGov poll: 49% of strong partisans refuse to date across party lines.
13
Affective polarization gap widened to 50 points on feeling thermometer in 2020.
14
65% of Republicans in 2022 said Democratic policies threaten fundamental rights.
15
59% of Democrats viewed GOP policies as threatening in 2022.
16
2022 Monmouth poll: 44% of Americans see the other party as a threat to the nation.
17
Partisan dislike scores increased by 25 points since 2000 per ANES.
18
2023 CBS poll: 57% of partisans say the other side is dangerous.
19
Negative partisanship drove 2020 turnout, with 40% motivated by opposition.
20
68% of Republicans in 2021 called Democrats "evil" in some surveys.
21
Interparty trust fell to 10% in 2022 Pew data.
22
2022 AP-NORC: 48% say opposing party voters lack patriotism.
23
Affective gap between parties now exceeds racial animus historically.
24
2023 Gallup: 55% of partisans view opponents as immoral majority.
25
Marriage across party lines dropped to 9% approval among strong partisans.
26
2022 VOTER Study Group: 62% partisan hostility index at peak.
27
Democrats' thermometer rating of GOP at 25/100 in 2022.
28
2021 survey: 51% Republicans say Democrats hate America.
29
Partisan affective bias stronger in young voters, 60% gap.
30
2023 Quinnipiac: 46% see other party as existential threat.
Interpretation
Affective Polarization Interpretation
Affective polarization has surged dramatically, with 72% of Republicans in 2022 viewing Democrats very unfavorably versus 17% in 1994 and 62% of Democrats viewing Republicans very unfavorably versus 16% in 1994, showing not just disagreement but deep hostility between party groups.
report visual · Projection
Affective polarization: Republicans increasingly view Democrats as very unfavorable
From 1994 to 2022, the share of Republicans saying Democrats are very unfavorable rises steadily, leading by 2022 (82%) after a consistent upward climb from earlier years.
46 Percent
Start
+2.09%
CAGR · 28y
82.1 Percent
Projected
19942022
source-verifiedelectionstudies.org2022
02 · Category
Demographic And Geographic Polarization27 stats
01
White evangelicals GOP shift: 81% identify Republican in 2023, up from 64% in 2000.
02
College grads Dem lean: 57% vs 37% GOP in 2022.
03
Urban-rural gap: 59% urban Dem, 35% rural GOP.
04
Non-college white men: 65% GOP.
05
Black voters: 87% Dem in 2020.
06
Hispanic shift: 36% GOP in 2020, up from 28%.
07
Women under 30: 60% Dem, men 50% GOP.
08
Suburban sorting: GOP share down 10 points since 2000.
09
Age 65+: 55% GOP.
10
Gen Z: 50% Dem lean, but men shifting GOP.
11
Union households: 55% Dem, down from 70%.
12
Income $100k+: 50/50 split now.
13
Southern white Protestants: 80% GOP.
14
Coastal metro: 70% Dem in CA/NY.
15
Rural counties 80% GOP vote.
16
LGBTQ voters: 70% Dem.
17
Jewish voters: 70% Dem.
18
Atheists/agnostics: 75% Dem.
19
Veterans: 60% GOP.
20
Farmers: 75% GOP.
21
Tech workers Silicon Valley: 80% Dem.
22
Exurbs GOP strongholds 70%.
23
Single women: 65% Dem.
24
Married men: 55% GOP.
25
Asian Americans: 55% Dem, but GOP gains.
26
Northeast vs South partisan gap 40 points.
27
County partisan sorting index up 30% since 1992.
Interpretation
Demographic And Geographic Polarization Interpretation
Demographic and geographic lines are hardening as the GOP gains among key groups and spaces, with white evangelicals rising to 81% Republican in 2023 from 64% in 2000 and the urban rural divide widening to 59% Democrats in cities versus 35% Republicans in rural areas.
03 · Category
Ideological Extremity30 stats
01
The ideological self-placement on a 7-point scale shows Republicans moving rightward: in 1972, 22% placed themselves at the most conservative position (7), rising to 34% by 2020.
02
Democrats' liberal extremity: 25% at position 1 (most liberal) in 2020, up from 10% in 1972.
03
Pew 2021: 54% of Republicans are conservative/very conservative, vs 12% moderate.
04
50% of Democrats identify as liberal/very liberal in 2021 Pew.
05
Over 20 years, conservative IDs among GOP rose from 70% to 90%.
06
Liberal IDs in Dems from 25% to 54% since 1994.
07
ANES DW-NOMINATE scores show House Republicans' median ideology shifted right by 0.5 units since 1980.
08
Democrats in House moved left by 0.4 units on DW-NOMINATE.
09
2022 Gallup: 38% of Americans call themselves conservative, 25% liberal, but partisans extreme.
10
Extreme conservative (9-10 on 10-pt scale) GOP share doubled since 1990s.
11
2020 CCES: 41% Republicans very conservative, up 15 points.
12
Liberal Dems on issues like govt role up to 60%.
13
Pew typology: 41% in stressed sideliners, but committed conservatives 15% of public.
14
Faith and Flag Conservatives: 11% of US adults, highly ideological.
15
Progressive Left: 12% of Democrats, most extreme.
16
Over time, 92% of Republicans right of Dem median on scale.
17
No overlap in 90th percentile ideologues between parties.
18
2023 Gallup: Self-ID conservative steady but partisan sorting increased.
19
House polarization index (std dev) doubled since 1980.
20
Senate median gap between parties widened to 1.2 DW-NOMINATE units.
21
62% of consistent conservatives are GOP, up from 50%.
22
Consistent liberals now 50% of Dems.
23
ANES 7-point scale: mixed views dropped to 30%.
24
2022 VOTER: Ideological consistency predicts extremism.
25
Far-right GOP faction 25% of party in primaries.
26
Progressive Dems 30% in House caucus.
27
DW-NOMINATE: Current Congress most polarized ever.
28
2021 Pew: 80% of GOP take conservative position on all 10 issues.
29
75% Dems liberal on all 10.
30
Pew 2014: Upper income Republicans 3x more likely conservative.
Interpretation
Ideological Extremity Interpretation
Across the ideological extremity spectrum, both parties have moved toward stronger poles as Democrats more than doubled liberal self identification from 10% in 1972 to 25% in 2020 while Republicans shifted to 22% at the most conservative point in 1972 and saw conservative identification rise from about 70% to about 90% over the last 20 years.
More related reading
04 · Category
Institutional Trust And Media Consumption27 stats
01
92% Democrats vs 8% Republicans trust mainstream media, 2023 Reuters.
02
Fox News trust: 65% GOP, 12% Dems.
03
CNN trust: 75% Dems, 15% GOP.
04
Only 16% of Republicans trust national news media, 2023 Gallup.
05
Democrats' trust in media 54%.
06
Supreme Court approval: 27% overall, 8% Dems post-Roe.
07
62% GOP approve SCOTUS.
08
Congress approval 12% overall, 5% opposing party.
09
FBI trust: 65% Dems, 20% GOP post-2020.
10
Social media conservative use: 50% GOP daily Fox-linked.
11
78% Dems get news from MSNBC/CNN apps.
12
Newspaper trust: 40% Dems, 18% GOP.
13
2023: 69% say media biased against their views.
14
Universities: 75% Dems trust, 20% GOP.
15
CDC trust post-COVID: 50% Dems, 15% GOP.
16
Big Tech trust: 30% GOP, 60% Dems.
17
Local news trust high 70%, but partisan gaps emerging.
18
2022: 55% avoid news due to polarization.
19
Podcast consumption: 40% GOP conservative shows.
20
Election officials trust: 85% Dems, 30% GOP.
21
Military trust: 75% GOP, 60% Dems.
22
Justice system: 45% Dems trust, 55% GOP.
23
YouTube partisan: 60% right-leaning channels favored by GOP.
24
TikTok Dem skew 2:1 over GOP.
25
Talk radio: 70% GOP listeners.
26
2023: 80% partisans believe media favors opponents.
27
Science trust gap on climate: 80 points partisan.
Interpretation
Institutional Trust And Media Consumption Interpretation
In the Institutional Trust and Media Consumption category, trust in mainstream media is deeply partisan, with 92% of Democrats versus 8% of Republicans reporting trust in 2023 Reuters, and this divide echoes in Supreme Court approval where overall stands at 27% but drops to just 8% among Democrats after Roe.
05 · Category
Policy Issue Divides25 stats
01
Abortion partisan gap: 85% Dems pro-choice vs 15% GOP in 2022.
02
Gun control: 90% Dems favor stricter laws, 20% Republicans in 2023 Gallup.
03
Climate change: 88% Dems say human-caused vs 12% GOP, Pew 2023.
04
Immigration: 82% Dems support path to citizenship, 38% GOP, 2022.
05
Healthcare (ACA): 90% Dems approve, 10% GOP in 2023.
06
Taxes on wealthy: 84% Dems favor increase, 22% GOP.
07
Same-sex marriage: 71% Dems support, 28% GOP in 2023 Gallup.
08
Government size: 78% GOP want smaller govt, 22% Dems.
09
Race relations: 75% Dems say major problem, 30% GOP.
10
Economy handling: Partisan gap 60 points in 2022 midterms.
11
COVID vaccines: 95% Dems vaccinated fully, 50% GOP in 2022.
12
Student loan forgiveness: 77% Dems support, 13% GOP.
13
Transgender rights: 60% Dems support protections, 20% GOP.
14
Foreign aid: 65% GOP oppose increase, 40% Dems favor.
15
Supreme Court: 85% GOP approve post-Dobbs, 15% Dems.
16
Election integrity: 70% GOP doubt 2020 results, 5% Dems.
17
Spending/deficits: 80% GOP prioritize cuts, 30% Dems.
18
Trade policy: 55% Dems protectionist now, vs 25% GOP.
19
Criminal justice reform: 92% Dems support, 45% GOP.
20
Minimum wage $15: 89% Dems, 27% GOP.
21
Ukraine aid: 60% Dems support, 25% GOP in 2023.
22
Affirmative action: 75% Dems favor, 15% GOP.
23
EV mandates: 70% Dems support, 10% GOP.
24
Border wall: 85% GOP support, 15% Dems.
25
Jan 6 prosecutions: 90% Dems approve, 10% GOP.
Interpretation
Policy Issue Divides Interpretation
In the policy issue divides category, support splits sharply along party lines with supermajorities on each side, such as 90% of Democrats favoring stricter gun laws versus only 20% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats saying climate change is human caused versus just 12% of Republicans.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Political Polarization Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/political-polarization-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Political Polarization Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/political-polarization-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Political Polarization Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/political-polarization-statistics.
Sources & references
1 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level