The Pew Research Center political typology (formerly the Times Mirror typology) is a political spectrum model developed by the Pew Research Center. It defines a series of voter profiles that identify specific segments of the electorate. First released in 1987 by the Times Mirror Company, the typology is updated every few years to reflect recent changes in the American electorate.
2021 typology In the 2021 Pew Research Center political typology report, nine typology groups are identified, and these groups were organized into coalitions based on support for the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Racial inequality in the United States was found to be the most divisive issue between the different groups. Democratic leaning groups were found to disagree on the scope of government while Republican leaning groups were found to disagree on economic policy. The groups most independent from political parties were found to have low political interest overall.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 5–9.
Republican coalition Faith and Flag Conservatives are highly conservative and highly religious voters. They make up 10% of the public and 23% of the Republican coalition. Flag and Faith Conservatives generally support school prayer and military over diplomacy, while they generally oppose legalized abortion and same-sex marriage. They are also the group most likely to claim that the United States "stands above all other countries in the world" and that illegal immigration is a "very big national problem". Faith and Flag Conservatives are probably the most staunchly pro-Israel of all the typology groups, most of them favoring a greater Israel to end the Israel-Palestine conflict. Faith and Flag Conservatives are more likely to reject the concept of white privilege and to agree that white Americans face more discrimination than African Americans and people of color. 99% of Faith and Flag Conservatives voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and 86% claim that he won the election. Demographically, nearly half of Faith and Flag Conservatives are white evangelical Protestants, and they are the oldest of the typology groups with a median age of 57.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 41–46.
Committed Conservatives are conservative voters that emphasize pro-business views, international trade, and small government. They make up 7% of the public and 15% of the Republican coalition. They hold more moderate views on immigration and race than other groups in the Republican coalition. 96% of Committed Conservatives voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, but they are less likely than other Republican groups to support false claims of electoral fraud. However, they are more likely to support Republicans in Congress. They are also more likely to support the use of COVID-19 vaccines than other Republican groups. Demographically, 82% of Committed Conservatives are white, a majority are ages 50 and older, and they make up the most educated Republican group.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 47–53.
The Populist Right are highly conservative anti-immigrant voters that oppose the role of government and big businesses in American society. They make up 11% of the public and 23% of the Republican coalition. 97% of the Populist Right voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and 85% claim that he won the election. The Populist Right are the most likely to believe that the number of legal immigrants should decrease and that the decreasing proportion of white Americans is bad for society, with 48% agreeing. They are also the Republican group most likely to support raising taxes on the rich. Demographically, 53% of the Populist Right are Protestants and they are one of the least educated groups.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 54–60.
The Ambivalent Right are younger voters that lean conservative on economic and race issues but lean moderate on social issues. They make up 12% of the public and 18% of the Republican coalition. 70% of the Ambivalent Right voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, while 25% voted for Joe Biden, and a majority of the Ambivalent Right reject claims that Trump won the election. They are more likely than other Republican groups to support diplomacy over military strength, legalized marijuana, legalized abortion, and "openness to people from all over the world". Demographically, the Ambivalent Right are younger and more ethnically diverse than other Republican groups, and they are the least religious Republican group, with 27% identifying as religiously unaffiliated.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 61–67.
Democratic coalition
The Outsider Left are younger liberal voters that are skeptical of the political system and both major political parties. They make up 10% of the public and 16% of the Democratic coalition. Nearly all of the Outsider Left believe that the American political system unfairly favors powerful interests, and about half say that the government is wasteful and inefficient. They are the group most likely to say that no political candidate represents their political views and the group least likely to say that there is a "great deal of difference" between the parties. 94% of the Outsider Left voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. In the Democratic primary, 38% supported Bernie Sanders, 18% supported Elizabeth Warren, and 12% supported Joe Biden. Demographically, the Outsider Left are the youngest group, with 83% being under the age of 50. The group is racially diverse, with only 49% being white Americans. They are also one of the least religious groups, with 51% identifying as religiously unaffiliated.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 75–80.
Democratic Mainstays are older Democrats that are economically liberal and socially moderate. They make up 16% of the public and 28% of the Democratic coalition. Democratic Mainstays support higher taxes and expansion of the social safety net as well as stronger military policy. They are more likely than other Democratic groups to see violent crime as a "very big" national problem, to oppose increased immigration, and to say that people being too easily offended is a major problem. 92% of Democratic Mainstays voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Demographically, the group is racially diverse with the largest share of African American voters. They are also more religious than other Democratic groups.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 81–87.
Establishment Liberals are highly liberal voters that are loyal to the Democratic Party. They make up 13% of the public and 23% of the Democratic coalition. Establishment Liberals are more likely than other groups to seek compromise and to hold an optimistic view of society. They are the most likely group to support Joe Biden, the Democratic Party, the system of American government, and technology companies. 98% of Establishment Liberals voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. In the Democratic primary, 30% supported Joe Biden, 17% supported Elizabeth Warren, 16% supported Bernie Sanders, and 10% supported Pete Buttigieg. Demographically, they are racially diverse and one of the most educated groups.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 88–93.
The Progressive Left are younger highly liberal voters. They make up 6% of the public and 12% of the Democratic coalition. The Progressive Left typically believe that the scope of government should "greatly expand" and that the institutions of the United States need to be "completely rebuilt" to combat racism. They are the most likely group to say that there are countries better than the United States, that the American military should be reduced, that fossil fuels should be phased out, and that the existence of billionaires is bad for society. 98% of the Progressive Left voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. In the Democratic primary, 35% supported Bernie Sanders, 28% supported Elizabeth Warren, and 15% supported Joe Biden. Demographically, 68% of the Progressive Left is made up of white voters, making it the least racially diverse group of Democratic coalition. They lean younger and less religious, and they are the most likely group to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 94–100.
Stressed Sideliners Stressed Sideliners make up the portion of the American electorate that do not strongly associate with any political ideology and have low interest in politics. They make up 15% of the public, 13% of the Democratic coalition, and 15% of the Republican coalition. 45% lean Democratic, 45% lean Republican, and 10% do not lean toward either party. As a whole, Stressed Sideliners generally lean liberal on economic issues and lean conservative on social issues. They generally support raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and believe that the American economic system unfairly favors the powerful. They are also the group most likely to agree with the statements that "most big issues facing the country today don't have clear solutions" and "you can't be too careful in dealing with people". 49% voted for Donald Trump while 48% voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. However, Stressed Sideliners are less likely to vote than other groups, with only 45% voting in 2020. Demographically, 57% of Stressed Sideliners are white, 56% are women, and they are one of the least wealthy and least educated groups.Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. 2021. pp. 68–74.
Previous typologies
1987 typology The 1987 report defined nine values and orientations that underlie political ideologies in the United States: religious faith, tolerance, social justice, militant anti-communism, alienation, American exceptionalism, financial pressure, attitudes toward government, and attitudes toward business corporations.The People, the Press, & Politics. 1987. p. 1. The report establishes 11 voter profiles, and each profile makes up 7-11% of the 1987 adult population in the United States.The People, the Press, & Politics. 1987. pp. 13–17. The same typology groups were used in an updated report released in 1990.The People, The Press & Politics 1990. 1990.
Enterprises were pro-business, anti-government Republicans that wished to reduce the deficit through decreased spending. Moralists were highly conservative, highly religious middle-aged Republicans. Upbeats were young, Republican-leaning voters that believed in American exceptionalism and were optimistic about the governing of the United States. Disaffecteds were middle-aged Republican-leaning voters that were highly skeptical of both government and business. Bystanders were voters that did not vote, typically young and poorly educated. Followers were Democratic-leaning voters that were indifferent to American government but supported spending to reduce unemployment. Seculars were non-religious Democratic-leaning voters. '60s Democrats were upper-middle-class Democrats that supported social justice and government spending. The New Dealers were older blue-collar union Democrats that favored social spending but opposed social tolerance. The Passive Poor were older and poorer Democrats that supported American government and social justice. The Partisan Poor were low income Democrats that supported social justice and showed strong partisan support.
1994 typology