The political landscape of the United States is often depicted in stark red and blue hues, but beneath this surface-level division lies a complex mosaic of values and attitudes. The 2026 Pew Research Center Political Typology offers a nuanced perspective, categorizing Americans into nine distinct groups based on their responses to 30 questions about government, economics, immigration, and other critical topics.
This typology, the ninth in a series dating back to 1987, goes beyond traditional partisan attachments to explore the underlying values that shape the political landscape. Conducted between November 17 and 30, 2026, the survey involved 10,357 U.S. adults and utilized a statistical technique called cluster analysis to divide respondents into nine groups.
The Nine Political Groups
The typology reveals a political spectrum that is far more diverse than the simple red-blue divide suggests. Four groups are highly ideological and partisan, while the remaining five are more politically mixed, reflecting the complexity of American political values.
The Most Ideological and Partisan
On the right, the No Apologies Right and Faith First Conservatives are dominated by conservative Republicans who are unwaveringly supportive of President Donald Trump. These groups share many conservative values but differ in emphasis and style. The No Apologies Right take harder-line positions on most issues, while the Faith First Conservatives stand out more on topics closely tied to religion, morality, and social traditionalism.
On the left, the Leftward Progressives and Loyal Liberals are highly educated, largely White groups of primarily liberal Democrats and Democratic leaners. The Leftward Progressives are the youngest typology group, with very progressive views across the board. In contrast, the Loyal Liberals are far more attached to the Democratic Party and have greater trust in institutions.
Where Do You Fit In?
The typology also includes groups that are more mixed in their political values and less attentive to politics. The Unconventional Right and Pragmatic and Polite Right are right-leaning but take more moderate stances on issues like abortion and the social safety net. The Order and Opportunity Left and Left-Out Left are left-leaning but have mixed partisanship and diverge on issues of security and crime. Finally, the Tuned-Out Middle are politically divided and have an exceptionally low level of interest in politics.
Key Divides on the Right
While economic conservatism unites groups to the right, the two most conservative groups differ from the other groups on several other issues. The No Apologies Right and Faith First Conservatives are distinct from other groups on abortion, gun policies, the role of Christianity in American life, and other cultural issues. For example, 83% of Faith First Conservatives and 73% of No Apologies Right say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.
Groups on the right are also divided by tone and political style. The No Apologies Right are more likely to enjoy it when politicians they agree with humiliate opponents, while the Pragmatic and Polite Right overwhelmingly reject this style of politics. These style differences show through in how each group views Donald Trump, with the No Apologies Right and Faith First Conservatives viewing him as the best recent president.
Key Divides on the Left
Typology groups on the left broadly share views on the social safety net, the value of diversity, and opposition to Trump. However, there are clear divisions on issues such as crime, economics, and gender identity. The Order and Opportunity Left and Left-Out Left are more moderate than the Leftward Progressives and Loyal Liberals on sexuality and gender identity. They also diverge from those further to the left on issues of security and crime.
The typology reveals values gaps in the public that go beyond traditional partisan divides and underscore the challenges both parties face in bringing together broad coalitions. As American politics continues to evolve, this nuanced portrait offers a deeper understanding of the values and attitudes that shape the political landscape.
