(Robert Jonathan, Headline USA) Americans are purportedly turning socially and economically conservative at the highest rate in more than a decade according to Gallup’s latest “Values and Beliefs” survey.
“For most of the past eight years, Americans were about as likely to say they were liberal as conservative on social issues,” Gallup said “… 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.”
GALLUP POLL: Social Conservatism in U.S. Highest in About a Decade
— 38% say they are conservative on social issues, highest since 2012
— 44% say they are economically conservative, also highest since 2012https://t.co/Z3YEEzGkay pic.twitter.com/NHWOHM03ol
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) June 8, 2023
Indeed, the aggressive far-left agenda, which includes alarmingly radical stances on divisive gender ideology and critical race theory, along with massive government spending that has prompted a cost-of-living crisis, may have pushed those who once considered themselves moderates into the more conservative camp.
Extrapolating the polling data, Gallup indicated on Thursday that 38% of Americans are very conservative/conservative on social issues, representing an eight-point increase from two years ago, and equivalent to the same percent in 2012 during the Obama administration.
And nearly half of the respondents deemed themselves economic conservatives.
GALLUP POLL: Are you Conservative, Moderate or Liberal on Social issues?
• Conservative: 38% (highest since 2012)
• Liberal: 29%
• Moderate: 31%Republicans:
Conservative: 74% (+14 from 2021)
Moderate: 18% (-14)
Liberal: 6% (-1)— 30% of 18-29 year-olds consider themselves… pic.twitter.com/nDbsgbtP4s
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) June 8, 2023
Self-described socially conservative independents increased to 29% (up from 26% and 24%, respectively, in 2022 and 2021).
By double digits, those in the 30-64 demographic have become the most socially conservative over the past two years, according to the data.
The survey also noted that Republicans have grown even more conservative by 14% from two years ago.
As the Democrat Party lurches further to the left, the views of Americans move in the other direction. pic.twitter.com/MTgy2tQVaV
— MikesRight (@RealLibSmacker) June 8, 2023
The same data, based on a random nationwide sample about 1,000 U.S. adults compiled in May, suggested that social-issue liberals have lost ground, dropping to 29% of America, a five-point decrease from a year and two years ago.
Those identifying as economic conservatives rose to 44%, the highest cohort ranking since 2012’s 46%, which includes 36% of independent voters.
“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,” Gallup explained at the outset of its summary.
“The increase in conservative identification on social issues over the past two years is seen among nearly all political and demographic subgroups,” it added.
Whether these findings result in 2024 election victories for conservatives remains to be seen—especially given the Democrat’s extensive ballot-harvesting operation funded by wealthy donors, a politicized legal system, Big Tech/Big Media bias and GOP disunity, among their other structural advantages.
A separate Gallup poll recently revealed that ex-Fox News host and now independent journalist Tucker Carlson is America’s favorite pubic person.