US Political Involvement
Explore Gallup's research.
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The 32% of Americans who follow political news very closely is down from the prior two readings but typical of years before a presidential election.
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None of the major political events of recent years has altered where Americans place themselves on the ideological spectrum from liberal to conservative.
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Although the U.S. political party affiliation average for 2021 was similar to prior years, the country shifted from a nine-point Democratic preference early in the year to a five-point Republican advantage near the end.
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Americans are paying closer attention to political news this fall than is usual for a year in which there is no presidential election. Republicans maintained their election-year focus on the news, while Democrats shifted their gaze.
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Americans' ideological stance was about the same in 2020 as in 2019, with conservatives and moderates the leading groups, and slightly fewer identifying as liberal.
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Although Americans' party preferences varied over the course of 2020, the average for the year was similar to what it was during the previous four years.