As the 2024 election approaches and political advertisements intensify, the cultural divide between the two major political parties is becoming more stark. The campaign is unfolding amid heated debates over immigration, growing racial and ethnic diversity, changes in the American family, crime, and reproductive issues—often labeled as “culture wars” or “woke” topics.
As with any election year, shifts in voter registration and participation are evident. Republicans are seeing more switches from Democrat to Republican registration, but a growing number of voters are opting for independent status. According to World Population Review, there are about 35.3 million registered independent voters in the U.S. as of 2024, making up 28.55% of registered voters in states that report party affiliation. Independent voters will have significant impact in this election.
A Pew Research Center study reveals that many independent voters tend to switch from the Democratic Party. While 38% of Americans identify as independents, a large portion lean towards the Democratic Party (17%) compared to the Republican Party (13%), indicating a notable number of independents are former Democrats.
Dissatisfaction with their parties is common among voters. For Democrats, concerns include the age and effectiveness of their leadership, including President Joe Biden, along with high inflation and economic instability. Despite strong economic figures, many Democrats are uneasy about the rising cost of living and the perceived inadequate response to economic challenges.
Immigration policy also contributes to their dissatisfaction, with some feeling current policies are too lenient or poorly managed, impacting border security and local economies.
Among Republicans, there is a generational divide on social issues like immigration, violent crime, and gun policy. Younger Republicans find themselves at odds with the party’s more right-wing base. The ongoing influence of Donald Trump has also alienated some Republicans who are uncomfortable with his stance on government institutions, zealous rhetoric and social issues emphasized by the extreme base of his supporters. Additionally, disagreements over reproductive rights and other social issues create tension within the party.
Moderate Republicans, who make up about 14% of registered voters, support conservative economic policies but hold more centrist views on social issues and prioritize stability, experience in governance and bipartisan cooperation where it makes sense.
Despite these differences, there is common ground between Biden and Trump supporters. Both groups agree on the need for substantial investment in infrastructure, job creation, especially in manufacturing and blue-collar sectors, reducing prescription drug costs, and ensuring affordable healthcare. They also support better education initiatives and expanding technical and vocational training programs.
However, these broader proposals often take a backseat to cultural issues. The Trump camp has been effective in highlighting immigration woes and cultural issues, while the Biden camp focuses on divisive topics related to gender and sexual identities.
Wouldn’t it be great if candidates – both Democrat and Republican – could steer policy and conversation toward those bigger-picture factors that bring voters together? Then perhaps we could start to move forward in this country instead of continuing our backward slide to tribalism.
Moving the conversation toward common goals could help steer the country away from increasing tribalism, which hampers bipartisan cooperation and fuels political instability we are seeing today.
Cindy Allen 