For many, family transcends politics. People form relationships across the aisle because their kids are in the same soccer league or they meet parents with similar concerns in their local communities. Some families fight about politics at Thanksgiving but hug each other before leaving the dinner table.
However, just because family connections often transcend political divides, that does not mean that family issues are immune to the effects of policy decisions. In fact, debates pertaining to family matters can be some of the most contentious in politics because they are so personal. There have been debates about how much parental leave should be standard and whether the United States’ policy decisions are pro-family.
Despite these disputes, there is still a lot of common ground on family and childcare policy. Here are a few examples of data and stories to support that:
- Similar numbers of Republicans (52%) and Democrats (49%) say they derive meaning from their lives through family and children, according to 2021 data from Pew Research Center (Center Bias).
- 81% of Democrats and 84% of Republicans have family dinner at least weekly, according to 2019 data from the American Family Survey.
- Survey results show a strong bipartisan consensus: an overwhelming majority of parents with children under 18, 86% of Democrats and 89% of Republicans, agree that raising children is one of life’s greatest joys.
- While previous American Survey Data reported that Democrats (85%) and Republicans (92%) both believe the divorce rate is going up when in reality it is decreasing, divorce rates in 2022 are at an all time low in the US, 2.4 out of 1000.
- According to 2023 Pew data, 89% of children brought up in Democrat/Left leaning households are likely to adopt those same views. The same is true for Republicans, with 81% of children adopting the views of their parents.
- 54% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats believe that employers should pay for maternity leave, and 66% of Democrats and 82% of Republicans believe that the cost of caring for a child, adult family, friend, or neighbor, should fall on themselves and their family rather than an employer or the government, states the American Family Survey.
- The First Five Years Fund provides some valuable data insights on bipartisan support for child care programs (2023 data):
- The vast majority across party lines agree on the importance of quality child care programs for both children and working parents. This includes 90% of Republicans, 93% of Independents, and 96% of Democrats.
- A significant 82% of respondents support offering tax incentives to businesses that either provide or assist employees in accessing affordable, high-quality early childhood education. This support spans party lines, with 78% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats in agreement.
- Support for increasing funding to Head Start and Early Head Start programs, particularly for families in greatest need, is at 80%. This includes strong bipartisan support, with 71% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats in favor.
- A majority of voters, specifically 55%, believe that investments in child care and early learning initiatives produce positive outcomes not just for individual families and children but also for the broader community.
See more examples of common ground on issues where you might not expect to find it:
- Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Abortion
- Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Social Media Issues
- Here’s Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Crime
- Republicans and Democrats Actually Agree on These Gun Restriction Policies
Clare Ashcraft is the Bridging Intern at AllSides. She has a Center bias.
This piece was reviewed by news assistant Ethan Horowtiz (Lean Right bias) and Andrew Weinzierl, Director of Research & Data Journalism (Lean Left).
