American politics are more complex than a simple red-versus-blue divide. A new Pew Research Center survey of more than 10,000 people identified nine distinct political and cultural voter groups, finding that only a minority of Americans are fully committed to either major party.
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June 18, 2026
Are you a Faith First Conservative? A Loyal Liberal? Part of the Tuned-Out Middle? A new Pew Research Center survey says American politics are way more complex than red versus blue, and the findings could reshape how candidates campaign ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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A new report from the Pew Research Center says American politics are not as simple as red versus blue. Pew surveyed more than 10,000 people and split the public into nine distinct groups along political and cultural values. Despite a polarized political environment, the report finds a minority of Americans are truly all-in for either party.
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NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.
Step 1: Read the full Pew Research Center report.
Step 2: Imagine you are advising a political candidate. Choose one of the voter groups discussed in the article and develop a campaign strategy to appeal to that group. What issues would you emphasize? What challenges might you face in attracting their support?
In your strategy, consider the following questions:
Present your strategy in the form of a campaign memo, advertisement, speech outline or presentation, and explain why you believe it would be effective.
Explore our election resources to engage your students in learning about the election process and its significance at every level. Discover lessons on election fundamentals, laws, security, current events, youth involvement, and historic U.S. elections.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
