Percentage of Americans Who Say They’re Conservative Highest Since 2012

A new Gallup poll shows that Americans who say they’re conservative or very conservative on social issues has risen from 33 percent in 2022 to 38 percent in 2023.

These numbers are from the same Values and Beliefs survey, conducted from May 1-24, that showed 69 percent of Americans oppose men playing on women’s sports teams.

“The last time this many Americans said they were socially conservative was 2012, during a period when consistently more U.S. adults identified as conservative rather than liberal on social issues.”

According to Gallup, the rise includes almost all demographic subgroups.

“Republicans show one of the largest increases, from 60% in 2021 to 74% today. 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).”

The percentage of Americans who say they’re economically conservative has also gone up.

“Americans have consistently been more likely to say they are conservative on economic issues rather than liberal, by no fewer than 16 percentage points (in 2021).”

What accounts for this rise?

“The 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.”

Red-state governors may also account for the increase in Americans who consider themselves conservative on social issues. These governors have signed bills to protect children from death in the womb and from predators, ban genital mutilation and puberty blockers for minors, advocate for parents’ right, and bar boys and men from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams.

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