5 facts about Americans’ views of government
The public has long been divided over the role of government, but on certain issues there is bipartisan agreement that government should play a major role.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Andrew Daniller
Research Associate
Andrew Daniller is a research associate at Pew Research Center, where he studies public opinion on U.S. politics and policy, including political polarization, trust in government and elections, and a wide range of policy areas. He regularly presents to outside groups on these topics and discusses findings with the news media. Before joining the Center, Andrew was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focused on how news media affect views of elections and campaigns.
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From ‘traditional’ to ‘open-minded,’ how Americans describe themselves
Roughly six-in-ten Republicans (58%) describe themselves as traditional, but just 19% of Democrats say the same.
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Republicans, Democrats continue to differ sharply on voting access
Six-in-ten Americans say any U.S. voter should have the option to vote early or absentee without having to document a reason.
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Americans see little bipartisan common ground, but more on foreign policy than on abortion, guns
Across six issue areas, the share of adults who say there is at least some common ground between the parties has declined by an average of 12 points since 2023.
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7 facts about Americans’ views of money in politics
72% of U.S. adults say that there should be limits on the amount of money individuals and organizations can spend on political campaigns.
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Republicans view Reagan, Trump as best recent presidents
About four-in-ten Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (41%) say Reagan has done the best job as president over the past 40 years, compared with 37% who say Trump.
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Republican Gains in 2022 Midterms Driven Mostly by Turnout Advantage
68% of U.S. adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election turned out to vote in the 2022 midterms. Former President Donald Trump’s voters turned out at a higher rate in 2022 (71%) than did President Joe Biden’s voters (67%).
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Inflation, Health Costs, Partisan Cooperation Among the Nation’s Top Problems
Democrats hold the edge on many issues, but more Americans agree with Republicans on the economy, crime and immigration. Inflation remains the top concern for Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, with 77% saying it is a very big problem. For Democrats and Democratic leaners, gun violence is the top concern, with about 81% saying it is a very big problem.
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More Americans Disapprove Than Approve of Colleges Considering Race, Ethnicity in Admissions Decisions
Half of U.S. adults say they disapprove of selective colleges and universities taking prospective students’ racial and ethnic backgrounds into account when making admissions decisions. 33% approve of colleges considering race and ethnicity to increase diversity at the schools, while 16% are not sure.
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Nearly a Year After Roe’s Demise, Americans’ Views of Abortion Access Increasingly Vary by Where They Live
In states where abortion is prohibited, the share of people who say access to abortion should be easier has increased since August 2019. A majority of residents in those states say it would be difficult to get an abortion in the area where they live today, up 21 points from four years ago.
