What portion of American marriages are between people of different political parties?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain and any links below:

1. Based on the data from the chart above, how likely are Republicans to marry Democrats?

2. Of the two major parties, members of which party are more likely to marry someone who is an independent?

3. What story does this chart tell about American politics.

4. There isn’t a lot of historical data about same-party and opposite-party marriages, but when Gallup asked in 1958, “If you had a daughter of marriageable age, would you prefer she marry a Democrat or Republican, all other things being equal?” The results: 18% of Americans said they would prefer their daughter to marry a Democrat, 10% preferred a Republican, and the majority didn’t care. What does this information compared to the visual above lead you to believe about the growth of political partisanship over the years?

5. Why do you think marriage between members of opposite political party is so rare?

6. List one thing the chart makes you wonder:

7. My wife’s mother and father were of different political parties. Describe the political party background of your parents/guardians.

8. Divorce rates for opposite-party marriages are not higher than other married couples. However, respondents in opposite-party marriages are more likely to change their party identification than those who are not in opposite-party marriages. Would you marry someone from the opposite party?

9. What would your parents say if you told them you were dating or thinking about marrying someone of a different political party?

10. Americans in opposite-party marriages are less effectively polarized; that is, they are less likely to be biased in favor of their own party and against the opposing party. What do you think would happen to American politics if more marriages were between members of opposite parties?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Ask your parents the questions from the survey above, and with their permission, share their answers.

Get Creative

Breaking news: 2030 - “I do!”. You just married someone of the opposite political party. Make a creative response to describe your life in a politically divided marriage.

Learn More

Check out all the results of the 2020 Voter Study Group Report: “‘Til Death Do Us Part(isanship)”