Who votes Republican and Democrat

Katie Shapiro

Which demographic groups support the Republican and Democrat parties, and what attitudes and values do they share? 

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 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 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.