Study Finds Opposition to Opposing Party Drives Affiliation and Leanings Among US Adults

A majority of American adults who identify with or lean toward a political party are motivated significantly by the view that the opposing party's policies are harmful, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from May 26 to June 1, 2026. The findings, based on responses from 9,750 members of the center's American Trends Panel, examine the factors influencing partisan affiliation and why independent voters choose to lean toward a party rather than identify with it.

Among self-identified partisans, majorities point both to the positive impact of their own party's policies and the negative impact of the opposing party's policies. According to the survey, 72% of Republicans say a major reason for their party identification is that GOP policies are good for the country, while 73% cite the belief that Democratic policies are harmful. Similarly, 66% of Democrats identify with their party because they see its policies as beneficial, and 75% say a major reason is that Republican policies are bad for the nation. Pew noted that the share of Democrats citing the harm of GOP policies grew from 68% in 2022 to 75% in 2026.

Other reasons for partisan affiliation were cited less frequently. The survey found that 53% of Republicans and 56% of Democrats identify with their party because it sticks up for people like them, while 48% of Republicans and 46% of Democrats cite having a lot in common with other party members. Family and social circles play a smaller role, with 16% of Republicans and 18% of Democrats identifying with their party primarily because their friends and family do.

For political independents who lean toward a party, negative views of the opposing side are the primary driver. The study shows that 56% of Republican leaners and 64% of Democratic leaners say a major reason they lean toward their preferred party is that the opposing party's policies are harmful. In contrast, 34% of Republican leaners and 27% of Democratic leaners cite the perceived benefits of their preferred party's policies as a major factor. Additionally, under 30% of leaners on both sides say they lean toward a party because it sticks up for people like them or because they share common ground with its members.

The research also examined why independents decline full party affiliation. Roughly 40% of both Republican and Democratic leaners reported that disagreement on some important issues is a major reason they do not fully identify with the party, a figure that has increased since 2022.

Frustration with party leadership was also cited as a significant barrier. According to the data, 44% of Democratic leaners say frustration with leadership is a major reason they do not identify as Democrats, up from 40% in 2022, 38% in 2018, and 28% in 2016. Among Republican leaners, 40% cited frustration with GOP leadership as a major factor, which the center reported is relatively unchanged since 2018 but down compared to 2016.

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