Most of the long-term change in Americans’ political views occurred after 2000 and can be explained by one overarching factor — an increasing likelihood of Democrats (including independents who lean Democratic) to self-identify as liberal. Democratic liberal identification has increased by about one percentage point each year, from 30% in 2001 to 44% in 2016. As a result, liberalism now ranks as the top ideological group among Democrats.
Meanwhile, there has been an eight-point decline since 2001 in the percentage of Democrats identifying as conservative and a six-point decline in the percentage of Democrats who are moderate.
Among Democrats, all major demographic and regional subgroups have warmed to the liberal label since 2001. However, the most movement has been among older Democrats and non-Hispanic whites.
Whereas in 2001, the youngest Democrats — those younger than 30 — were far more likely than older Democrats to call themselves liberal, the age groups are fairly similar today. Between 40% and 49% of Democrats of all ages now call themselves liberal.
On the other hand, the sharp increase in liberals among white Democrats, from 32% in 2001 to 50% in 2016 — has created more ideological separation between white and nonwhite Democrats. Over the same period, the percentage of nonwhites identifying as liberal increased only nine percentage points, from 27% to 36%.
Change in Liberal Ideology Among Democrats, by SubgroupBased on Democrats and independents who lean Democratic
2001 2016 Change % % (pct. pts.) Total Democrats 30 44 +14 Men 30 42 +12 Women 30 45 +15 East 31 47 +16 Midwest 28 44 +16 South 27 37 +10 West 37 51 +14 High school or less 23 34 +11 Some college 31 43 +12 College graduate only 37 53 +16 Postgraduate 45 59 +14 18 to 29 40 49 +9 30 to 49 30 44 +14 50 to 64 28 40 +12 65+ 23 42 +19 Non-Hispanic white 32 50 +18 Total Hispanic and nonwhite 27 36 +9 Gallup Republicans Maintain Strong Conservative Orientation
In contrast to the leftward shift in how Democrats describe their views, Republicans (including independents who lean Republican) have maintained a strong tendency to identify as conservative. However, the extent of this has varied slightly. At 63%, the percentage conservative today is higher than in 2001, but below the peak of 67% in 2009 and 2010.
Thirty percent of Republicans identify as political moderates, while fewer than one in 10 say they are political liberals.
Via Gallup