Download US politics: The values of Republican and Democrat voters

Volume 24, Number 3, February 2015
US politics
The values of Republican and
Democrat voters
Katie Shapiro
Which demographic groups support the Republican and Democrat parties, and what attitudes
and values do they share? This A2 article considers the evidence
Exit poll analysis reveals the key demographic groups from which the Republicans and Democrats
gain support. The Democrats, for example, win a significant majority of votes from ethnic minorities
and those who earn less than $50,000 and do not attend church. This article seeks to explain social
and political values which are shared within and across these demographic groups to illustrate the
attitudes of a ‘typical Democrat’ or ‘typical Republican’. Clearly, not every Republican or Democrat will
share exactly the same beliefs as everyone else in their party. However, they are likely to hold a
number of the values which characterise the party of their affiliation.
Tax, wealth distribution and the role of government
Voters earning less than the approximate median income in the USA of $50,000 tend to vote
Democrat while those earning over this threshold are typically Republican voters. This helps to explain
the parties’ different approaches regarding taxation and the role of government. Republicans believe
in more limited government and lower taxation while Democrats believe in a bigger role for
government and emphasise economic equality as a goal.
Interestingly, a Gallup poll in October 2014 showed that the economy was a priority issue for both
Democrats and Republicans. However, 75% of Democrats ranked the question of income and wealth
distribution as ‘very or extremely important’ (compared to 54% of Republicans) while 82% of
Republicans cited the federal budget deficit as ‘very or extremely important’ (compared to 63% of
Democrats). These perspectives help us to understand the opposition within the Republican Party to
Obamacare and the impasse on the federal budget in 2013.
Immigration
Democrat voters are more likely to favour a legal path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the USA.
In a Pew Research Center survey in February 2013, 43% of Republicans stated that better border
security was a top priority (compared to 14% of Democrats) while 32% of Democrats felt that creating
a legal path to citizenship was a key concern (compared to 11% of Republicans).
The Hispanic vote tends strongly towards the Democrats (71% of this group voted for Obama in
2012), but the support is not as consistent as the black vote (93% supported Obama in 2012) and
displays significant variations of opinion. For example, interestingly, there are divisions on the question
of immigration reform among Hispanics. While 41% of Hispanics believe that creating a legal path to
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citizenship should be a priority (compared to 21% of whites), a significant number of Hispanics also
agree with the need for increased border security (49% said that this was as important as creating a
legal path to citizenship).
Social and moral values
Republicans tend to share more socially conservative beliefs on the questions of gay marriage,
abortion and the legalisation of marijuana. This can be explained by the demographics of their
support. Of white evangelical Protestants, 79% voted for Romney, while only 20% backed Obama.
Religiously unaffiliated voters and Jewish voters backed Obama in 2012 (70% and 69%, respectively).
Gay marriage
Overall public opinion in the USA has evolved dramatically since the ban of single-sex marriage in ten
states in 2004: according to a CBS/CNN poll in September 2014, 54% of Americans are now positive
towards gay marriage. However, there are clear divides on this question between Republican and
Democrat voters. According to a Pew Research Center poll, 39% of Republicans or those leaning
towards the Republican Party support single-sex marriage (compared to 69% of Democrats).
Nevertheless, the issue provokes generational divides: 61% of Republicans and Republican leaners
under 30 years favour same-sex marriage while just 27% of Republicans aged over 50 years are in
favour.
Abortion
One of the main differentiators between Republican and Democrat voters is the issue of abortion, with
Republicans likely to take a right-to-life position and Democrats tending towards a pro-choice
standpoint. A Gallup poll in May 2014 found that 59% of Democrats felt that abortion was ‘morally
acceptable’ compared to 28% of Republicans.
Marijuana
The legalisation of marijuana in states such as Colorado reflects a wider acceptance of the legalisation
of marijuana in recent years across both parties. However, Republicans continue to be less supportive
of this policy: a poll in April 2013 found that 37% of Republicans supported legalisation compared to
59% of Democrats.
Gun control and background checks
Republicans generally prioritise the right to own guns over the need for gun control. According to a
Pew Research Center poll taken in the wake of the shootings in the school in Newtown in December
2012, 69% of Republicans said that protecting gun rights was more important than gun control, while a
similar number of Democrats (72%) said gun control was most important. It is worth noting, however,
that a large majority of voters in both parties back a federal law introducing background checks prior to
the sale of guns. A CBS poll in June 2014 found that 98% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans
supported such legislation.
The environment
Republicans and Democrats also have very different views on the urgency of climate change. When
asked in 2013 whether climate change was a ‘major threat’, only 25% of Republican voters agreed,
compared to 65% of Democrats. Among those Republicans who aligned themselves with the Tea
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Party movement, the level of scepticism was even higher, with only 10% viewing the issue as a key
concern.
Conclusion
As this article outlines, there are clear areas of policy division between ‘typical’ Republican and
Democrat voters. Nevertheless, we should avoid oversimplifying the differences between the two sets
of voters. It should be noted, for example, that a significant number of Republicans do not view moral
issues as being of high importance in determining their party allegiance.
An interesting typology outlined by the Pew Research Center labels different ideological groups within
each party. For example, within the Republican Party it identifies Business Conservatives and
Steadfast Conservatives. While the former group prioritises small government, the latter group focuses
on moral issues — 74% of Steadfast Conservatives agree with the statement that ‘Homosexuality
should be discouraged by society’, compared with 31% of Business Conservatives.
Within the Democrat Party, significant divisions are also noted. The so-called Solid Liberal (socially
progressive) wing may make up the backbone of Democrat support. However, the survey identifies
another important (albeit smaller) constituent within the party, the Faith and Family group, which
believes that a belief in God is necessary to have ‘moral and good values’.
Katie Shapiro teaches politics at Highgate School.
This resource is part of POLITICS REVIEW, a magazine written for A-level students by subject experts.
To subscribe to the full magazine go to www.hoddereducation.co.uk/politicsreview
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