Major differences of opinion on cultural issues as well as on the role of government and foreign policy
This spring, the Pew Research Center conducted a comprehensive study of American political values. That survey examined the public’s views on issues such as immigration, race and ethnicity, government, family, gender identity, religious values and foreign policy. Reports released earlier this year examined those attitudes among supporters of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — then the likely presidential nominees of the major parties.
Because Pew Research Center surveys the same adults over time using the American Trends online panel, we can link respondents’ voting preferences across multiple surveys for this analysis. This allows us to analyze the spring poll results against voting preferences collected in a more recent poll from August – when we asked voters about their preferences in the presidential race between Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This analysis uses responses from 4,527 registered voters who participated in both surveys. The values survey was conducted April 8-14, 2024. The voting preferences survey (approval if the presidential election were held today) was conducted August 5-11, 2024.
Everyone who participated in these surveys is a member of the center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through nationwide, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to participate in surveys on a regular basis. This type of recruitment gives nearly all adults in the U.S. a chance to be selected. The surveys were conducted either online or by phone with a live interviewer. The results are weighted by gender, race, ethnicity, party affiliation, education and other factors to represent the U.S. adult population. Read more about the ATP’s methodology.
For the full toplines, see the original reports (link in the text of this report). Here is the survey methodology for this analysis.
The 2024 presidential campaign has changed dramatically since Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic Party’s nominee.
What has not changed are the enormous differences in political values between voters who support Harris and those who support Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Following Harris’ extraordinary rise to the top of the Democratic ticket, this release and accompanying detailed tables serve to update the Pew Research Center’s data on political values that we published earlier this year, when Biden was still in the race.
Cultural values and the 2024 elections
Some of the biggest differences between Harris and Trump supporters lie on issues that have divided Americans for decades, such as the role of guns in society, race and the legacy of slavery.
In addition, voters supporting Harris and Trump have very different views on immigration, gender identity and whether marriage and children should be a priority in society.
Here is the original report on cultural issues, published on June 6, 2024.
And here is current data on Harris and Trump supporters’ views on: Racial and ethnic diversity | Immigration and language | American history | Gender, family, reproductive issues | Gender identity and sexual orientation | Religion | Crime and policing | Guns
Views of the government and the 2024 elections
While Republicans have overwhelmingly expressed a preference for smaller government for decades, most Democrats favor a larger government that provides more services.
This is still the case today: Trump supporters are three times more likely to support a smaller state than Harris supporters.
Other attitudes toward government—including its role in providing health insurance—exhibit similar patterns.
However, a large majority of supporters of both candidates are against any cuts in social benefits.
Here is the original report on the government’s views, published on 24 June 2024.
And here is current data on Harris and Trump supporters’ views on: Scope and role of government
Foreign policy values and the 2024 elections
There are also fundamental differences of opinion between Harris and Trump supporters regarding America’s position in the world.
Harris supporters are more likely than Trump supporters to believe that the United States should take into account the interests of its allies and that this is very important, at least for the United States, to play an active role in world affairs.
Trump supporters are more likely to support policies aimed at maintaining America’s role as the world’s sole military superpower.
Here is the original Foreign Policy report, published August 2, 2024.
And here is current data on Harris and Trump supporters’ views on: Foreign policy, military strength of the USA
Related: War in Ukraine: Major partisan differences over US responsibility and support
