A Deep Dive Into Party Affiliation

[brooklynite]

Source: Pew Research Center

Democrats hold advantages in party identification among blacks, Asians, Hispanics, well-educated adults and Millennials. Republicans have leads among whites – particularly white men, those with less education and evangelical Protestants – as well as members of the Silent Generation.

A new analysis of long-term trends in party affiliation among the public provides a detailed portrait of where the parties stand among various groups in the population. It draws on more than 25,000 interviews conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2014, which allows examination of partisan affiliation across even relatively small racial, ethnic, educational and income subgroups. (Explore detailed tables for 2014 here.)

The share of independents in the public, which long ago surpassed the percentages of either Democrats or Republicans, continues to increase. Based on 2014 data, 39% identify as independents, 32% as Democrats and 23% as Republicans. This is the highest percentage of independents in more than 75 years of public opinion polling. (For a timeline of party affiliation among the public since 1939, see this interactive feature.)

When the partisan leanings of independents are taken into account, 48% either identify as Democrats or lean Democratic; 39% identify as Republicans or lean Republican. The gap in leaned party affiliation has held fairly steady since 2009, when Democrats held a 13-point advantage (50% to 37%).

Read more: http://www.people-press.org/2015/04/07/a-deep-dive-into-party-affiliation/

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C'mon conservatives...the Duggers can't do it all themselves.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. So Democrats have a large identification lead

but get trounced in the Senate, in Governorships, in state legislatures, in the House (albeit largely through gerrymandering there).

Sort of seems like Dems aren't offering candidates that excite all of those identified Dems and 'leaners'.

Lot of wasted opportunities there.

[brooklynite]

2. That's a broad brush...

We get trounced when we don't show up to vote (2010, 2014). We win big when we do (2006, 2008, 2012).

[F4lconF16]

4. Annnnnd we don't show up to vote because...?

Oh yeah, there's no one to excite the voters. Or, in an unfortunate number of cases, actively piss off the voters.

It's going to happen next year, too, I'm afraid.

[brooklynite]

5. The blue dogs seemed pretty exciting when we won the House back in 2006...

[geek tragedy]

6. Democrats don't show up when there isn't a Presidential election.

Not so much to do with ideology as to do with media attention and larger cultural interest.

That's the lock that needs to be picked, how to get people to pay attention every two years instead of every 4 years.

It's not that they aren't seeing issues to their liking, they just tune out for about 45/48 months.

[F4lconF16]

7. I think that's a reasonable argument.

I think people also fail to grasp the importance of midterm elections. That combined with voter apathy makes for pretty rough elections for Democrats.

[geek tragedy]

8. Everyone knows who the President is. Most people don't know who their House representative is. nt

[F4lconF16]

10. Exactly. And our education and information supply keeps it that way.

The biggest thing we can do to affect change for the better is to raise the consciousness of the people around us. Make them aware of the world outside their backyard. Help them to realize that we are real people with a real effect on the world around us, and that there are many, many, many of us.

[YOHABLO]

12. This is not about being entertained (excited), as if it were ''American Idol".

It's about the direction our country is going. You owe those who fought very hard for their right to vote. Even if you don't like the Democratic choice, go and vote for an Independent, or write a candidate in. Presidents can be persuaded to do what the masses insist upon. It happens. FDR had to have some persuasion as well as LBJ. If Hillary Clinton is ''our candidate'' as it may well be, then we have to let her know that Progressive voices will be heard. Trust me, she'll be talking the ''progressive talk'' when campaigning, but will she enact on those promises once elected to office? That's always the chance we have to take. Obama did not follow through on many issues. So if Hillary is up against Jeb or Rand, are you going to just sit there on the couch? I will vote for Hillary.

[F4lconF16]

3. Looks about like what you'd expect, really.

Not shocked about the Mormon community--pretty much describes part of where I grew up perfectly.

[onehandle]

9. A plurality of Catholics are still Democratic.

Much to the dismay of some at DU because it weakens their argument.

[geek tragedy]

11. Because of Hispanic Catholics. White Catholics are decisively Republican-leaning nt