Political polarization in the United States

Political polarization is a prominent component of politics in the United States.^[1] Scholars distinguish between ideological polarization (differences between the policy positions) and affective polarization (a dislike and distrust of political out-groups), both of which are apparent in the United States.^[2][3][4] In the last few decades, the U.S. has experienced a greater surge in ideological polarization and affective polarization than comparable democracies.^[5]

Differences in political ideals and policy goals are indicative of a healthy democracy.^[6] Scholarly questions consider changes in the magnitude of political polarization over time, the extent to which polarization is a feature of American politics and society,^[7] and whether there has been a shift away from focusing on triumphs to dominating the perceived abhorrent supporters of the opposing party.^[6]

Polarization among U.S. legislators is asymmetric, as it has primarily been driven by a rightward shift among Republicans in Congress.^{[8][9][10][11]} Polarization has increased since the 1970s, with rapid increases in polarization during the 2000s onwards.^[12] According to the Pew Research Center, members of both parties who have unfavorable opinions of the opposing party have doubled since 1994,^[13] while those who have very unfavorable opinions of the opposing party are at record highs as of 2022.^[14]

According to Gallup, in 2025 the percentage of Americans self-identifying as politically moderate reached a record low of 34%. Among Republicans, 77% self-identified as conservative, 18% as moderate, and 4% as liberal. Among Democrats, 55% self-identified as liberal, 34% as moderate, and 9% as conservative.^[15]