60% of voters fall into a political middle, new data shows

Pew Research Center estimates that 60% of the American electorate identifies with a messy political middle, a figure that challenges the common perception of a deeply split nation. This group sits between the ideological extremes, which Pew calculates represent only 21% of the population.

The research suggests that political polarization is often overstated by public discourse. Kristin Laurin, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, noted that people frequently overestimate their political differences because they avoid discussing politics with friends and family. She observed that this silence allows assumptions to grow, leading individuals to believe their neighbors hold views far more extreme than they actually do.

The gap between perceived and actual division was evident in a recent exchange between Shanna Berry and Alma Ong. The two women, who are friends in their early 50s, were asked about the U.S. capture of Venezuela's former president, Nicolas Maduro, in January. Berry, a retired hairdresser and Air Force veteran, supported the move despite questions about its legality. Ong, a Buddhist who grew up in London, was surprised to find she agreed with Berry on every point.

"I agree with absolutely everything she just said," Ong said. "That was amazing!" Laurin described the moment as a textbook example of how political silence breeds misunderstanding. She explained that political elites and social media platforms amplify rage to drive engagement, which further widens the perception gap between the parties.

Public reaction to specific events also reveals this overlap. In April, former FBI Director James Comey was indicted after posting a photo of seashells that the Department of Justice claimed was a death threat against the president. Both Democrats and many conservatives expressed shock at the move. Stan Fletcher, a restaurateur near the Chesapeake Bay who voted for President Trump three times, argued that the indictment violated the First Amendment.

"Comey has always been an opinionated guy," Fletcher said. "But no one should be indicted for their opinion, ever." He believes that 95% of America consists of moderates, but that the public only hears from the most vocal supporters on both sides.

Pew classifies Americans into nine distinct groups based on values and attitudes. One such group, the Pragmatic and Polite Right, includes 56% Republicans and 37% Democrats. This demographic places a high value on civility and holds conservative economic views while remaining moderate on race and immigration. Jocelyn Kiley, who leads politics research at Pew, said that looking beyond party labels reveals significant variation and overlap. "Actually, this kind of messy political middle is larger than those groups on the ideological right and the ideological left," Kiley said.