Election Analysis: How Parties and Ideologies Divide Voters
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Key Takeaways
- Americans are divided along political and ideological lines, but themes of anti-establishment sentiment and disillusionment with politics is a core theme.
- Election discussions prioritize economic issues, national security, and ideological battles between the Democratic and Republican candidates.
- Independent voters possess an anti-establishment attitude toward both major parties, worrying about economic transparency and fairness.
- Trump voters are focused on border security, economic policies, and national security. Harris voters focus on optimism and confidence in her economic management.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
75,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
1 Day
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
MIG Reports analysis of American voter perspectives reveals how sentiment determines voting choices based on key issues. Many issues remain partisan, with Democrats supporting Kamala Harris’s stance and Republicans supporting Trump’s.
Independent voters are likely to be a critical voter group in 2024, enhancing the importance for each candidate to appeal to them. Several trends in sentiment and behavior overlap, suggesting a rough sketch of these voting demographics and indicating where they may place votes.
The top voter issues generating volume consistently over time are:
- The U.S. border
- Economic concerns
- Ideological disagreements
- National security and international affairs
- The Trump and Harris presidential campaigns
Voter conversations vary across political affiliation, with different emphasis and sentiment within each.
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Border Security
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There is strong disapproval toward Biden-Harris border policies and calls for a return to Trump-era measures which were more effective. Much of the conversations revolves around illegal immigrants and the perception of open borders. Voters are dissatisfied with the Biden-Harris administration, citing concerns about unchecked immigration, national security, and rising crime rates.
Kamala Harris's role as border czar often leads to criticism and accusations that she is failing to secure the border. Many also say she is actively encouraging illegal crossings. The discussion also ties border security to broader social issues like crime and the economy. People believe the impact of illegal immigration touches many areas of American life. This suggests border security will be a critical issue as Americans cast their votes.
Trump Voters
Republican conversations about the 2024 election highlight border security as a critical issue. There are strong sentiments favoring Donald Trump’s policies over Kamala Harris’s. Because people link immigration policies to other high-priority issues like national security and economic concerns, its importance increases.
Voters are frustrated with the Biden-Harris administration, saying Trump's policies were more effective. The discourse frames the upcoming election as a pivotal moment, with border security presented as integral to future stability.
Discussion among Democrats and Independents is much lower than among Republicans.
Economic Issues and Housing
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Worries about the economy are consistent across all voter groups, with significant worry about inflation, taxes, and government spending. There is widespread dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration’s policies.
Voters associate rising costs of living and inflation with "Bidenomics” and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Many voters view these policies as exacerbating economic challenges rather than alleviating them. There is a consistently strong narrative linking economic instability directly to government mismanagement.
There is notable discontent regarding proposed changes like the "no tax on tips” proposal both Trump and Harris have presented. Many voters are skeptical about the sincerity of these reforms, suggesting they’re simply rhetorical promises that will not be kept.
Housing Affordability
The cost of housing further amplifies economic anxieties for Americans. There is pervasive frustration in online discussion over the lack of affordable housing and rising rent and mortgage rates. People view the housing crisis as symptomatic of broader economic instability. This, many also blame on Biden and Harris.
For many voters, there is a clear overlap between economic stressors and housing costs. Many tie their financial struggles to expensive housing, blaming politicians for focusing on less important issues and neglecting critical economic realities.
Independents
Independent voters are concerned about economic transparency and fairness. The economy dominates conversations among Independents who are skeptical of the reliability of economic indicators like the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and job reports. They question the accuracy of inflation data and express a desire for more transparency from the government.
Discussions also focus on the fairness of government spending. They contrast the plight of the working class with perceived preferential treatment for the wealthy, including large corporations. Sentiment is mixed, with some rejecting increased social assistance, calling it socialism, while others criticize economic inequality.
Among Independents, there is criticism of Kamala Harris’s policies. Some fear her leadership will worsen economic challenges and bring communist economic policies.
Republicans
Trump voters are optimistic about his economic policies, expressing urgency to return to his leadership and avoid further economic decline. Republicans highlight low taxes—including Trump's “no tax on tips” proposal—and tout Trump’s tax reform proposals. These, they associate with economic growth and middle-class support.
Inflation is also a significant concern as many draw a sharp contrast between today’s prices and those under Trump's leadership. Border security and immigration are frequently mentioned, as voters link these issues to economic strain. They support Trump's policies as vital for national security and economic health.
Democrats
Harris voters are more optimistic, expressing confidence in her economic management and hope in her future policies. The economic conversation is still central among Democratic voters, but it prompts them to stronger support for Kamala Harris's candidacy.
Democrats discuss trade, tariffs, agricultural prosperity, and the positive impact of Biden and Harris’s policies compared to past administrations. The term “farmers” frequently appears, reflecting a belief that Harris's strategies have reversed the hardships imposed during Trump's tenure. Democrats view Harris as revitalizing the agricultural sector and improving economic stability.
Ideologies
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Americans are increasingly divided on the ideological stances of Democrats versus Republicans. There is heightened emotional sentiment and deep ideological divides regarding economic policy, social issues, democratic integrity, and perceptions of governance. These discussions revolve around terms like “socialism,” “communism,” and “America First.”
Trump supporters express strong loyalty to preserving and fighting for American values against a radical left agenda. They criticize Democrats like Harris for policies they say are socialist or communist. Many Republicans voice fears that a Harris presidency would push the country toward communism. Meanwhile, those on the left view a second Trump presidency as likely heralding fascism and authoritarianism.
Economic concerns spark ideological debates about communism versus capitalism. Conversation about social issues like gun rights and immigration draw debates about personal and national sovereignty versus safety and inclusion.
The debate over effective leadership intensifies as voters criticize both candidates. Trump supporters view him as a strong leader while critics view him as an authoritarian. Harris supporters view her as effective and historically significant while critics question her leadership and competence.
The ongoing election discussions highlight not just policy preferences but grow fears on both sides about the direction of the country. Most voters believe the ideological battleground will significantly impact America's future political landscape.
Independents
Independent voters are skeptical and frustrated with the political divide. They are engaged in ideological discussions but disillusioned with the two parties. There is a significant focus among Independents on media portrayals, political alignment, and ideological evolution.
This group is worried about the role of media, with skepticism directed at outlets like Fox News and CNN as unreliable or politically aligned. They also strongly react to the perception of radical ideological shifts in either party and decry media outlets as partisan.
Republicans
Republican voters also express widespread distrust of mainstream media. They accuse most legacy news outlets of bias, misrepresentation, and accepting talking points from Democrats. There is also disillusionment with the Republican establishment as voters call for more aggressive and principled leadership that aligns with true conservative values.
Democrats
Democrat conversations often center on governance, with mixed to positive sentiment toward Biden and Harris' ability to address challenges. Most support is underpinned by opposition to Trump, with optimism about Harris rectifying his damage to the country.
Election campaign strategies and voter mobilization are more prominent than conversations about media bias. There is both frustration and motivation among Democrats regarding the Party. Public perceptions of Harris as a candidate mix skepticism with support, showing some criticism and some excitement for her potential election.
Security Issues
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Foreign policy and national security issues are also important to American voters. Discussions focus heavily on the U.S. relationship with Israel, the conflict in Gaza, and the implications of Iran's alleged hacking of the Trump campaign.
Discourse around foreign interference and military aid further exacerbates anxieties about national security. Trump voters feel indignant, arguing media portrayals and allegations of hacking are part of a broader agenda against their candidate.
The Biden administration's military aid to Israel gets most of the attention from Democrats. Conversations are charged with anger and frustration toward the Biden-Harris administration, with many accusing them of complicity in the ongoing conflict.
Independents
Independent voters are wrestling with the moral and strategic complexities of U.S. involvement in wars and conflicts. They show empathy for the humanitarian crises arising from these conflicts, particularly in Gaza. But they are wary of how protest movements alienate potential allies through extreme rhetoric or actions.
This group is skeptical about the possibility of meaningful change in U.S. foreign policy, especially regarding its support for Israel. There is general frustration with the political status quo. Despite these concerns, Independents express a strong sense of national pride. They hope for foreign policy that aligns more closely with their values and expectations of American leadership on the global stage.
Republicans
Discourse among Republican voters focuses on Iran allegedly hacking Trump’s campaign communications. They are suspicious about the security of political communications and the broader implications for national security. There is also deep distrust toward mainstream media. This group believes news outlets use incidents like this to undermine Trump's campaign.
There is anger, distrust, and a feeling of vulnerability among Republicans. They talk about the importance of national security, media integrity, and foreign influence in shaping voter sentiment. Overall, the conversations reflect a concerned electorate focused on protecting American values and the integrity of the electoral process.
Campaign Rallies
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A significant focus in conversations about campaign rallies is on crowd sizes and the effectiveness of protests. Many use crowd size as a measure of political strength, with Trump supporters boasting large numbers as evidence of his influence and critics saying the claims are exaggerated.
Harris supporters claim her rallies are larger, with more popularity and better vibes. However, her rallies face scrutiny about the legitimacy of images and organic voter support, with critics accusing her of staging events and faking images. Some, however, are frustrated with the ongoing fixation about crowd sizes on both sides. They say these conversations detract from substantive political engagement.
There are also conversations about protests. Some question the lack of substantial protests at Trump rallies compared to the vocal opposition from pro-Palestine demonstrators at Harris events. People discuss the safety and efficacy of protests, fearing the consequences of heightened political tensions.
In general, discussions fall by the wayside, overshadowed by the focus on spectacle and attendance. This leaves many voters feeling as though pressing issues like immigration and healthcare are being neglected.
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