In a polarized nation, local governments are oases of compromise and community, study finds

Local governments are uniquely able to combat growing national polarization, according to a new study out Wednesday from the nonprofit research organization CivicPulse and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The study, which involved interviews with more than 1,400 local elected policymakers and local civil service leaders, found that 87% of those surveyed said political polarization negatively affects the country “a great deal” or “a lot.” But just 31% of local officials said that political polarization negatively impacts their local communities to that extent.