Pew research identifies 60% 'messy middle' in US electorate

Pew Research Center estimates that 60 percent of the American electorate falls into a political middle ground that defies standard left-right labels. This group, described by researchers as a 'messy middle,' holds views that frequently cross partisan boundaries. The finding challenges the common perception that the country is evenly split between two ideologically rigid camps. Instead, the data reveals a diverse electorate where values and attitudes do not align neatly with party affiliation.

Jocelyn Kiley, who leads politics research at the non-partisan organization, explained that looking beneath party labels reveals substantial variation and overlap. Kiley stated that the messy middle is larger than the groups on the ideological right or left. Pew classifies Americans into nine distinct groups based on their values and attitudes. One such group, the 'Pragmatic and Polite Right,' includes 56 percent who identify as Republicans or lean Republican and 37 percent who identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. This group values civility in politics and holds conservative economic views while remaining more moderate on race and immigration.

The perception of extreme polarization often stems from how people interact with one another and with media. Kristin Laurin, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, noted that people frequently avoid political conversation to prevent conflict. This silence leads individuals to overestimate their differences with others. Laurin observed that friends often make incorrect assumptions about each other's views, only to discover they believe similar things once they speak. She attributed the exaggeration of division to politicians painting opponents as extreme and social media amplifying rage to drive engagement.

A recent incident involving former FBI director James Comey illustrated this cross-partisan alignment. In April, Comey was indicted for posting a photo of seashells that the Department of Justice deemed a death threat against the president. The move drew criticism from both Democrats and conservatives. Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University Law School, expressed disbelief at the situation, stating, 'I must be in a parallel universe to be talking about the shell art of James Comey.' At a riverside restaurant near the Chesapeake Bay, both Republicans and Democrats sided with Comey and the First Amendment.

Stan Fletcher, a restaurateur who voted for President Trump in all three of his campaigns, agreed with the backlash against the indictment. Fletcher said, 'Comey has always been an opinionated guy. But no one should be indicted for their opinion, ever.' He believes that 95 percent of America falls under a bell curve of moderates. According to Fletcher, the public hears mostly from the extremes on both sides. He described these vocal minorities as 'the wackos on the left and the wackos on the right.'

Shanna Berry and Alma Ong, both in their early 50s, demonstrated this hidden agreement in January. Berry, a Christian, retired hairdresser, and Air Force veteran, supports President Trump. Ong, a Buddhist and self-described liberal, does not. When asked about the U.S. capture of Venezuela's then-president Nicolas Maduro, Berry said the end of the regime was necessary. She noted she was unsure of the legalities and jaded by the focus on oil, but believed many Venezuelans were happy. Ong was surprised by the response, saying, 'I agree with absolutely everything she just said. That was amazing!'

Pew estimates that the groups farthest to the right, labeled the 'No Apologies Right' and 'Faith First Conservatives,' make up just 21 percent of the population. The organization offers a quiz for individuals to identify which of the nine groups they belong to. Kiley acknowledged that political division is real but emphasized the nuance beneath the surface. She said, 'We are a highly polarized country and there's also a lot of nuance underneath that.'