A report released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center has segmented U.S. voters into nine political tribes - four that lean left, four that lean right, and the 'stressed sideliners,' who have a minimal interest in politics.
Pew surveyed 10,221 adults this July, but has been conducting interviews with respondents since January 2020.
While partisan polarization remained high, the research also showed that there are divisions within the Democrats and the Republicans - as members of the coalitions' views vary on issues including racial justice, abortion, taxes and the future role of former President Donald Trump.
Pew Research Center found that Americans make up nine different political tribes, according to a survey conducted in July, but with interviews starting back in January 2020
The Pew Research Center released a report Tuesday that put Americans into nine political groups - four that lean left, four that lean right, and the 'stressed sideliners,' who have a minimal interest in politics
This Pew chart shows the percentages the groups make up overall (left) and then among the political right (center) and political left (right)
FLAG AND FAITH CONSERVATIVES
Pew says this group is 'intensely conservative in all realms.' They make up 23 per cent of Republicans and independents who lean Republican, making them one of the two largest GOP-leaning groups. They are majority white and Christian. They're more likely than other groups to argue that government policies should support religious values. They're also less likely to believe in compromise in politics. Most say that Trump is probably the winner of the 2020 election, believing the so-called 'big lie.' Pew found that 79 per cent of this group believes too much attention has been paid to the January 6 Capitol attack.
COMMITTED CONSERVATIVES
This group holds views that are similar to the 'flag and faith conservatives' but with, as Pew put it, a 'softer edge.' They account for 15 per cent of Republicans and independents who lean GOP. They are pro-business and pro-small government. They would be more likely to support an immigration compromise than flag and faith conservatives and members of the populist right. They also believe the U.S. should prioritize relationships with foreign allies. While members of this group voted for Trump, they're not as enthusiastic about him - preferring former Republican presidents like Ronald Reagan.
'Committed conservatives' are more likely than other GOP groups to believe that the U.S. should look out for its foreign allies
The 'populist right' is more likely than other GOP groups to believe that the economic system in the U.S. is unfair
POPULIST RIGHT
This group tends to be less educated than other groups with members often living in rural communities. It also accounts for 23 per cent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents. They are highly critical of U.S. immigration policy and also U.S. corporations. They are the only Republican group that argues the economic system in the U.S. unfairly supports powerful interests. They believe, which is something that Democratic President Joe Biden has proposed, that taxes should be raised on Americans making
