Topline findings and conclusions
More Americans identify as socially conservative or very conservative today than two years ago (38% vs. 30%), the highest level in a decade.
The largest shift is among Republicans (60% to 74%) and respondents aged 30 – 64 (57% to 81%), the age most likely to have children or young adults in the home.
Gallup concludes that this shift to social conservativism may explain the reason why many states are considering policies regarding transgender matters, abortion, crime, drug use and the teaching of gender and sexuality in schools.
Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner called the findings “shocking” and noted that despite the best efforts of the media and the White House to promote a liberal agenda on issues from abortion to gender change, America has turned back to being more conservative.
Specific findings
The results of Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey, conducted May 1-24, show more Americans identify as conservative or very conservative on social issues this year (38%) compared to 2021 (30%).
At the same time, the percentage of respondents saying their social views are liberal or very liberal has fallen from 34% to 29% over the past 2 years.
The last time this many Americans said they were socially conservative was in 2012, more than a decade ago.
Gallup noted that the survey comes at a time when many states are considering policies regarding transgender matters, abortion, crime, drug use and the teaching of gender and sexuality in schools.
Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner called the findings “shocking” and noted that despite the best efforts of the media and the White House to promote a liberal agenda on issues from abortion to gender change, America has turned back to being more conservative.
Gallup found the increase in conservative identification on social issues over the past two years reflected in almost all political and demographic subgroups.
Results by Political ID
Republicans show one of the largest shifts toward social conservative views, from 60% in 2021 to 74% today with fewer describing themselves as moderate on social issues. Independents show a modest uptick of five percentage points, from 24% to 29%, while there has been no change among Democrats (10% in both 2021 and 2023).
Results by Age Group
While older Americans’ (65+ years) ideology on social issues was stable during this 2-year period, a large shift (from 57% to 81%) toward conservative social ideology is seen among middle-aged adults (30-64 years) – those most likely to have children or young adults in the home. A modest increase (from 24% to 30%) is seen among young adults (18-29 years).
Conclusions
Gallup concludes that for most of the past eight years, Americans were about as likely to say they were liberal as conservative on social issues. This year, there is a more obvious conservative advantage. This shift is mostly due to increasing social conservatism among Republicans, at a time when social issues such as transgender rights, abortion and other hot-button concerns are prominent in the national public debate.
Methodology
Results are based on telephone interviews conducted May 1-24, 2023, with a random sample of 1,011 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 75% cell phone respondents and 25% landline respondents.
More results and methodology here.
