While Politicians Grow More Divided, American Voters Largely Remain Centered

In an era where political divisions appear to be intensifying, the question arises: does a political middle ground still exist, and if so, where can it be found?

Among elected representatives, the political center seems to have diminished. Members of the two main parties are drifting further apart in their ideological stances, with conservatives consolidating within the Republican Party and liberals within the Democratic Party. This alignment has sharpened political contrasts, creating a perception of a rigid, zero-sum conflict, as political analyst Lee Drutman notes, where previous flexible coalitions have given way to entrenched partisan battles.

However, the landscape among voters tells a different story: the political center appears to remain vibrant.

Many Americans still identify as moderates or independents. Approximately 30 percent describe themselves as moderates, while 21 percent consider themselves only somewhat conservative and 15 percent somewhat liberal. When focusing on party affiliation, over 40 percent of voters identify as independents, although a majority of these lean toward one of the two major parties.

Yet, these political labels only partially capture the complexity of voter beliefs. The question remains whether so-called moderates and independents hold centrist views along the traditional left-right spectrum or if their opinions span a broader, less linear range of issues.

To explore this, inspired by Drutman’s research, I have conducted surveys over several years asking voters about their economic, social, and cultural attitudes. This approach aims to understand voter alignment beyond simple ideological labels or party self-identification.