Party Identification (11.4)

Party identification

A citizen's personal affinity for a political party, usually expressed by a tendency to vote for the candidates of that party

Denomination and religiosity

Religion can be evaluated based on these things

65%

African Americans give Democrats this percent-plus advantage

Degree

Groups vary in this to which they identify with the Democratic or Republican Parties

Lack of support for the Democratic Party among men and the corresponding male preference for the Republican Party

As one study notes, the gender gap exists because of this

Practicing Catholics and Jews

Between 2008 and 2011, Pew Research Center observed a 9% increase in support for the GOP among these people

2/3

By more than this much, Hispanics prefer the Democratic Party

Trial lawyers, educators, and blue-collar workers

Democrats lead substantially among these people

Showcased a number of visible Hispanic leaders (Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. Susana Martinez)

During the 2012 Republican National Convention, the party did this

Country of origin

For Hispanics, some divisions do exist by this

Party identification

For partisans, this is a significant aspect of their political personality and a way of defining and explaining themselves to others

Central political reference symbol and perceptual screen

For those Americans who do firmly adopt a party label, their party often becomes this

Religiosity

How frequently an individual engages in activities such as prayer and church attendance

Hawaii, Maryland, Connecticut, New York

In 2011, the most Democratic states were these states

Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska

In 2011, the most Republican states were these states

Low taxes championed by Republicans

Middle-aged voters are often at the height of their career and earning potential and tend to favor this

By focusing not on the Republican Party's difficulties in attracting female voters, but rather on the Democratic Party's inability to attract the votes of men

Most researchers explain the gender gap in this way

1980 presidential election

Not until this time did scholars observe a noticeable and possibly significant gender gap in party identification

Likely voting choices

Party identification is a reliable indicator of this

Age and party identification

Political socialization creates a strong relationship between these things

Hispanic voters

Republicans have tried to make inroads with this group of people, as their population has increased rapidly in recent years and now exceeds that of African Americans

Parents

Single greatest influence in establishing a person's first party identification

Democratic Party

Single people who have never married tend to identify with this party

1920 when newly enfranchised women registered overwhelmingly as Republicans

Some political scientists argue that the difference in the way men and women vote first emerged at this time when this happened

Swing states

States in the Mid-Atlantic, Rust Belt, and Southwest are often referred to as these in electoral politics

Dwarfs the edge given to either party by any other significant segment of the electorate, and their proportion of strong Democrats is three times that of whites

The 65% plus advantage African Americans offer the Democrats in party affiliation does this

Executives, professionals, white-collar workers

The GOP remains predominant among these people

Most religious identifiers of all sects

The Republican Party has made gains among these people

Social welfare and military issues

The differences in male and female voting stems largely from divergences of opinions about these things

Liberal

The divorced and separated, who may be experiencing economic hardship, appear to be more this than the married population

Party's visible support for socially conservative viewpoints (opposition to abortion and contraceptives)

The increase in support for the Republicans from Catholics and Jews may reflect this

Electorate

The mass of potential voters who identify with a party label

Its support for social insurance programs

The oldest voters like this about the Democratic Party

Fewer voters to declare loyalty to a party

The trend is for this, in regards to party identification

Democratic Party

The widowed lean toward this party

Labor union workers

These people are Democrats by nearly 2:1

Mexican Americans

These people favor the Democrats by smaller margins

Cuban Americans

These people have an anti-Communist tilt which translates into support for the Republican Party

Modern states (Mid-Atlantic, Rust Belt, and Southwest)

These places are rather closely contested between the parties

Mormons and white Protestants (Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians)

These religious groups tend to align with the Republicans

Occupation, income, and education

These things are all closely related, so many of the same partisan patterns appear in all classifications

Marriage, economic status, and other aspects of adult life

These things can change one's party loyalty

Charismatic political personalities, particularly at the national level (FDR and Reagan) Cataclysmic events (Civil War and Great Depression) Hot-button issues Sectionalism Candidate-oriented politics

These things can influence party identification

Debates and proposals regarding immigration and the DREAM Act

These things continue to reveal how difficult it is for Republicans to appeal to a potentially supportive new voting bloc while also satisfying their conservative base with immigration restrictions and increased enforcement

Politically active parents who share the same party identification

These types of parent's raise children who will be strong party identifiers

Those without party affiliations or with mixed affiliations

These types of parents produce offspring more likely to be independents

Middle-aged voters

This age group disproportionately favor the Republican Party

Oldest voters

This age group tend to favor the Democratic Party, having been alive during the Great Depression

Moderate but socially progressive young adults

This age group tends to favor the Democratic Party

Democratic support

This drops as one climbs the income scale

African Americans

This group of people are overwhelmingly Democratic in their partisan identification

Hispanics

This group of people supplement African Americans as Democratic stalwarts

Party in the electorate

This is a crucial element of the political party

Race

This is a significant indicator of party identification

Party in the electorate

This is the weakest component of the U.S. political party system in some respects

Democrats

This party dominates in the Northeast and California

Republicans

This party is strongest in the South and Midwest

29%

This percentage of voters called themselves independents on Election Day in 2012

Loyalty

This, generated by the party label, can be as intense as any enjoyed by sports teams and alma maters

Republican Party

Those who are married tend to favor this party

Advanced degrees

Those with this type of education tend to be Democrats

38%

Today, this percentage of women identify as Democrats

26%

Today, this percentage of women identify as Republicans

Geography Gender Race and ethnicity Age Social and economic status Religion Marital status

Variations in party identification are particularly noticeable when these things are examined

Puerto Ricans

Voting patterns of people from this country are very similar to those of African Americans

They are older and there are many more widows than widowers; age and gender gaps are again expressing themselves

Widows lean toward Democrats because of this

Catholic and even more so Jewish voters

With respect to religious denomination, these groups tend to favor the Democratic Party

Republicans

Women who do not work outside the home tend to favor this party

More liberal positions on social issues

Young adults like this about the Democratic Party