Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Patriotism

This blog was updated on 7/3/2024.

Whenever a political bombshell disrupts the summer months, a question reappears around Independence Day: Is there anything worth celebrating this year? Sometimes people will go as far as saying there was never anything to celebrate about American independence. This frustration has come from some voices on the left, earning the stereotypical criticism of the left being less patriotic, but is that accurate?

Related: Surveys Show that Democrats — Not Just Republicans — are Proud to be American

There is more common ground on patriotism between Democrats and Republicans than what the news traditionally highlights. Here are a few examples of data and stories to support that:

• 2023 data from NORC (Lean Left) finds that 93% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats "think it is at least somewhat important to have a sense of patriotism and pride for the country." 
• 2022 data from YouGov shows 90% of Republicans, 74% of Democrats, and 75% of Independents consider themselves very or somewhat patriotic. 
• 2021 data from Gallup (Center bias) suggests that 87% of Republicans, 62% of Independents, and 62% of Democrats are either very or extremely proud to be an American.
• 2021 data from PRRI states that 75% of Americans across party lines agree with the statement “It is still possible for the U.S. to achieve the ideal of our national motto ‘E Pluribus Unum’: ‘From many people, one.’” 
• 2021 data from PRRI states that 92% of Republicans, 72% of independents, and 67% of Democrats agree with the idea that America has always been a force for good in the world. 
• 2022 data from The New Republic (Left) finds 44% of Republicans agree with 48% of Democrats that our political system needs major changes or “a complete overhaul,” while 52% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans believe our political systems are working well or need minor changes. 
• 2021 data from PRRI finds that Republicans and Democrats agree on what traits are important to being “Truly American.” 96% of Democrats and 98% of Republicans say believing in individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, is important to being a true American. They also agree that every citizen being able to vote in elections (94% of Republicans and 96% of Democrats), accepting people of diverse racial and religious backgrounds (92% of Republicans and 96% of Democrats), and respecting American political institutions and laws (93% of Democrats and 96% of Republicans) are important traits of being a true American.

See more examples of common ground on issues where you might not expect to find it:

• Democrats and Republicans Actually Agree on Many Policing Reforms
• Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Abortion
• Here’s Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Crime
• Unexpected Overlaps: Republican Voters Believe Humans Contribute to Climate Change, Support Limiting Emissions
• Republicans and Democrats Actually Agree on These Gun Restriction Policies
• Democrats and Republicans Actually Agree on These Immigration Views and Policies
• Democrats and Republicans Actually Both Support These Free Speech Positions

Clare Ashcraft is the Bridging & Bias Specialist at AllSides. She has a Center bias.

Reviewed by Henry A. Brechter, Managing Editor (Center bias), news assistant Ethan Horowtiz (Lean Right bias), Director of Marketing and Media Bias Ratings Julie Mastrine (Lean Right bias), and news editors Joseph Ratliff (Lean Left bias) and Antonio Ferme (Center bias).