Political Parties & Polarization

As 2020 draws to a close, here are 20 striking findings from our studies, covering notable trends that emerged during the year.

Just 21% of Americans say relations between Republicans and Democrats will get better in the coming year; 37% expect relations to worsen.

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.

If one takeaway from the election is historic voter participation, another may be the political polarization that has come to define the U.S.

What does the 2020 electorate look like politically, demographically and religiously as the race enters its final days?

Just one-in-ten Americans say social media sites have a mostly positive effect on the way things are going in the U.S. today.

The share of social media users who say they have changed their views on an issue has increased since we last asked this question in 2018.

U.S. voters express more negative than positive views of the Senate's top leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer.

Americans have grown more divided on whether offensive content online is taken seriously enough and on which is more important online, free speech or feeling safe.

Many Americans are heading into the 2020 election with a sense of uncertainty that goes beyond their traditional concerns over who will win.