Key Points• Perceptions of the presidential race could have some impact down the ballot.• Ticket-splitting is on the decline, but plenty of voters will vote for different parties for president and House, perhaps to the benefit of candidates from both parties.• We are making 14 House rating changes, 10 in […] Read more »
In Views of U.S. Democracy, Widening Partisan Divides Over Freedom to Peacefully Protest
In assessing the state of U.S. democracy, Americans continue to give their country negative ratings for living up to several key democratic ideals and principles. And in some cases, these assessments have turned less positive since 2018. Notably, the share of Americans who say the phrase “people are free to […] Read more »
Ethnic antagonism erodes Republicans’ commitment to democracy
Growing partisan polarization and democratic “backsliding” in various parts of the world have raised concerns about the attachment of ordinary Americans to democratic institutions and procedures. I find that substantial numbers of Republicans endorse statements contemplating violations of key democratic norms, including respect for the law and for the outcomes […] Read more »
Biden’s GOP endorsements show the cracks in Trump’s coalition
Joe Biden is attracting more crossover endorsements from prominent members of the opposing party than any other presidential candidate from either side in decades. That doesn’t guarantee the former vice president victory in November, but history suggests it could signal a lasting break in the Republican coalition that provides new […] Read more »
Americans See Skepticism of News Media as Healthy, Say Public Trust in the Institution Can Improve
In a year filled with major news stories – from impeachment to a contentious election, from a global pandemic to nationwide protests over racial injustice – Americans continue to have a complicated relationship with the news media. While large swaths of the public often express negative views toward journalists and […] Read more »
Democrats have voter registration advantage in four states
Even before the COVID-19 outbreak and the economic slump, President Donald Trump faced a big challenge in his 2020 re-election effort: a changing American electorate. Young voters have been a challenge for Trump since he entered politics (he lost voters under 40 by double digits in 2016) and every year […] Read more »