Americans Are Getting More Conservative: Gallup

More Americans self-identify as conservative than at any point in the past decade, according to a new Gallup survey.

Some 38% of respondents to the poll described themselves as conservative or very conservative with respect to social issues. That’s up five percentage points from last year, eight points from 2021 and the highest it’s been since 2012, Gallup said Thursday.

By comparison, 31% of respondents described themselves as social moderates, and 29% identified as socially liberal or very liberal, down five percentage points from 2022.

The trend could make it easier to pass conservative-backed legislation, particularly in red states, Gallup said, pointing to legislation already passed over the last year on abortion, transgender issues and classroom discussions around race.

Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey polled 1,011 randomly chosen adults representing all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. last month.

Since 2021, conservative social views have made double-digit gains among adults between the ages of 30 and 64, according to Gallup. Such views have made smaller gains among younger Americans, while holding steady among those older than 64.

Economic conservatism is also gaining steam, with 44% of respondents describing themselves as conservative or very conservative on fiscal issues, compared to 40% in 2022. That also marks the highest point since 2012, when 46% of respondents self-identified as fiscally conservative.

About a third described themselves as economic moderates, and 21% said they were liberal or very liberal. The 21% figure is flat compared to 2022, and down four percentage points from 2021.

Republicans tend to be more committed to conservative fiscal policies than Democrats are to liberal ones, contributing to the disparity, Gallup said. In last month’s poll, 79% of respondents who identified as Republicans favored conservative economic stances, while just 48% of self-identified Democrats supported liberal fiscal policy.

The poll was conducted as President Biden and Congress debated a bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and trim federal spending, Gallup noted.