The Fix

The 10 most loyal

demographic groups for
Republicans and Democrats
By Aaron Blake April 8, 2015

Who are the most Republican voters in America? And the most Democratic?

The Pew Research Center is out with a massive study (more than 25,000 interviews!) breaking down pretty much any sub-
demographic you could think of -- allowing us to dig much deeper than just any old poll would allow.

According to the study, the most Republican-leaning group in America is white Mormons, 76 percent of whom favor the
GOP and 16 percent of whom favor Democrats -- a 60-point margin.

(Note: These numbers include self-described independents who lean toward either party. These are also broken down only
into groups that represent a significant chunk of Americans.)

The next most Republican group is also white and religious -- white evangelical millennials (adults under 34), who split
70/19 for the GOP. Mormon and evangelical sub-groups account for the rest of the top eight, too, until you get to men from
the Silent Generation (between ages 69 and 86), who split 60/31 Republican, and a three-way tie to round out the top 10
between white married men, white male parents and whites from the South Central region (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas).

Here are the top 10 most Republican demographics ("NH" stands for non-Hispanic, "Xer" is Generation X, etc.). There are
actually 12 since there is a three-way tie at the bottom:

Demographic Republican/lean Democratic/lean

Republican Democratic
White NH Mormon 76 16
White NH Evangelical 70 19
Protestant Millennial
White NH Evangelical 70 20
Protestant Xer
Mormon 70 22
White Non-Hisp Evangelical 68 22
Protestant
Protestant
White NH Evangelical 68 22
Protestant
White NH Evangelical 68 23
Protestant Boomer
White NH Evangelical 67 25
Protestant Silent
White NH Silent men 60 31
White NH Married men 58 32
White NH Parent men 57 31
White NH South Central (AL 58 32
AR KY LA MS OK TN TX)

Since white Americans dominate this list, here are the top 10 demographics that don't isolate them:

Demographic Republican/lean Democratic/lean

Republican Democratic
Mormon 70 22
Silent men 54 37
Married men 51 38
Rural 47 39
Married 48 41
Older Silent (79-86) 48 43
Silent (69-86) 47 43
Younger Silent (69-78) 47 43
$75,000 to $99,999 48 44
College men 47 43

And while almost all of the most Republican groups are white, almost all of the most Democratic groups are African
Americans, who as a whole tilt 80/11 toward Democrats. In fact, each of the top 56 most Democratic groups broken down
by Pew are some sub-group of black Americans.

Here are the top 10 most Democratic groups:

Demographic Republican/lean Democratic/lean

Republican Democratic
Black NH Silent women 4 89
Black NH Post graduate 5 87
 Black NH Post graduate
degree
Black NH No
Black NH Older Boomer (59-
68)
Black NH Silent (69-86)
Black NH Gen Xer women
Black NH Boomer women
Black NH Some college
Black NH $50,000 to $74,999 8
Black NH $40,000 to $49,999 8
5 87
6 88
8 89
7 87
6 84
8 86
8 85
85
85

The most Democratic groups that aren't black are white atheists (73/16) and all atheists (72/16), followed by Asian
American women (73/17).

Here are the top 10 non-black groups:

Demographic Republican/lean Democratic/lean

Republican Democratic
White NH Atheist 16 73
Atheist 16 72
Asian NH Women 17 73
Asian NH Millennial (ages 18- 17 70
33 in 2014)
Asian NH <$30,000 17 69
Agnostic 23 69
White NH Agnostic 24 67
Asian NH Some college or 23 66
less
Asian, non-Hispanic (English- 23 65
speaking)
Hispanic Older Boomer (59- 23 65
68)

The interesting ones here are Asian Americans, who as a whole favor Democrats 65/23. That's notable
because Republicans won the Asian American vote in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections. These voters have swung
very blue in recent years, though, going 67 percent for President Obama in 2008 and 73 percent for him in 2012 -- one of
the rare groups that moved more toward the Democrats in the latter election.

One of the other big takeaways here: The most Democratic groups are all much more homogeneous than the most
Republican groups. Even when you get beyond whites and blacks, there are 10 groups who are at least 65 percent
Democratic-leaning, but only one on the GOP side (Mormons).

And if that's not enough, here are all the cross-tabs you could possibly want.

And here is the full table, ranked according to the Republican-Democratic margin:

Demographic Republican/lean Democratic/lean

Black NH Silent women
Black NH Post graduate
degree
Black NH No
Black NH Older Boomer (59-
68)
Black NH Silent (69-86)
Black NH Gen Xer women
Black NH Boomer women
Black NH Some college
Black NH $50,000 to $74,999 8
Black NH $40,000 to $49,999 8
Black NH Married women
Black NH Baby-Boomer (50-68) 9
Black NH Older Gen Xer (42-
49)
Republican Democratic
4 89
5 87
6 88
8 89
7 87
6 84
8 86
8 85
85
85
7 84
85
9 84
Black NH No 8 83
Black NH Midwest 7 82
Black NH College graduate+ 8 82
Black NH $30,000-$74,999 10 84
Black NH Silent men 11 85
Black NH Women 9 82
Black NH $75,000 to $99,999 10 83
Black Protestant 10 82
Black NH Generation X (34-49) 9 81
Black NH Boomer men 11 83
Black NH Unmarried women 9 81
Black NH Northeast 10 82
Black NH Urban 9 81
Black NH Protestant 10 82
Black NH Younger Boomer (50- 11 82
58)
Black NH College graduate 9 80
Black NH $75,000+ 11 81
Black NH <$30,000 11 81
Black NH <$30,000 11 81
Black NH Unmarried 10 80
Black NH Suburban 11 81
Black, non-Hispanic 11 80
Black NH Some college or less 11 80
Black NH $30,000 to $39,999 12 81
Black NH $150,000+ 10 78
Black NH $100,000 to 12 80
$149,999
Black NH Married 12 80
Black NH Yes 10 78
Black NH Unmarried men 11 79
Black NH South 12 80
Black NH Younger Gen Xer (34- 10 77
41)
Black NH Men 13 78
Black NH Older Millennial (26- 11 75
33)
Black NH High school or less 13 77
Black NH Millennial women 13 76
Black NH Gen Xer men 13 76
Black NH West 12 75
Black NH Rural 16 78
Black NH Total Unaffiliated 14 75
Black NH Millennial (ages 18- 14 74
33 in 2014)
Black NH Yes 14 74
Black NH Married men 17 76
Black NH Nothing in 15 74
particular
White NH Atheist 16 73
Atheist 16 72
Black NH Younger Millennial 17 73
(18-25)
Black NH Millennial men 15 71
Asian NH Women 17 73
Asian NH Millennial (ages 18- 17 70
33 in 2014)
Asian NH <$30,000 17 69
Agnostic 23 69
White NH Agnostic 24 67
Asian NH Some college or less 23 66
Asian, non-Hispanic (English- 23 65
speaking only)
Hispanic Older Boomer (59-68) 23 65
Asian NH $75,000+ 25 67
Asian NH Generation X (34-49) 24 64
Asian NH College graduate+ 24 64
Total Unaffiliated Silent 25 64
Hispanic Total Unaffiliated 23 62
Hispanic Catholic Xer 23 61
Total Unaffiliated Millennial 24 62
Hispanic Boomer women 23 61
Hispanic Gen Xer women 21 58
Hispanic Urban 24 61
Hispanic Nothing in particular22 59
Total Unaffiliated 25 61

Hispanic Generation X (34-49) 23 59

Hispanic Generation X (34-49) 23 59
Hispanic Younger Gen Xer (34- 23 59
41)
Post graduate women 29 64
Total Unaffiliated Boomer 25 60
Hispanic Older Gen Xer (42-49) 23 58
Hispanic Post graduate 26 61
degree
Hispanic $30,000-$74,999 26 61
Hispanic Catholic Boomer 25 59
Total Unaffiliated Xer 26 60
Hispanic Gen Xer men 25 59
Hispanic Foreign born 22 56
Hispanic Catholic 25 58
Hispanic Women 24 57
Hispanic Baby-Boomer (50-68) 25 58
Hispanic Catholic 25 58
White NH Jewish 30 62
Hispanic Some college 28 60
Asian NH Men 28 60
White NH Total Unaffiliated 28 59
Hispanic <$30,000 25 56
Hispanic 26 56
Jewish 31 61
Nothing in particular 27 57
Hispanic Some college or less 26 56
Hispanic Unmarried 27 57
Asian NH $30,000-$74,999 30 60
White NH Post graduate 33 62
women
Hispanic College graduate+ 30 59
Hispanic High school or less 25 54
Hispanic Boomer men 26 55
Unmarried women 29 57
Hispanic Older Millennial (26- 25 53
33)
Hispanic Younger Boomer (50- 26 54
58)

Hispanic College graduate 31 59

 Hispanic College graduate 31 59
Hispanic Men 28 55
Hispanic Silent (69-86) 32 59
Never married 30 56
Urban 31 57
Hispanic Married 28 54
Hispanic Millennial women 27 53
Hispanic Native born 31 57
Hispanic Catholic Millennial 28 53
Hispanic Suburban 29 54
Living with a partner 31 55
Hispanic Millennial (ages 18-3329 53
in 2014)
<$30,000 31 54
<$30,000 31 54
Hispanic Millennial men 30 53
Asian NH Baby-Boomer (50-68) 35 58
Post graduate degree 35 57
Unmarried 32 54
Divorced/Separated 32 54
Millennial women 32 54
College grad women 35 57
Middle Atlantic (DE DC MD NJ 33 55
NY PA)
White NH Nothing in 32 54
particular
Hispanic Younger Millennial 32 53
(18-25)
Hispanic $75,000+ 35 56
Gen Xer women 33 53
Northeast 34 53
Pacific (AK CA HI OR WA) 34 53
Parent women 33 51
Older Millennial (26-33) 33 50
Unmarried men 34 51
New England (CT ME MA NH 35 52
RI VT)
Women 36 52

Millennial (18-33) 35 51
Millennial (18-33) 35 51
Younger Millennial (18-25) 36 51
College women 38 53
HS or less women 34 49
Non-parent women 36 51
$30,000 to $39,999 37 51
Boomer women 38 52
Some coll or less women 36 50
White NH Post graduate 40 54
degree
White NH Living with a partner 36 50
Hispanic Rural 31 45
Younger Gen Xer (34-41) 36 49
No 36 49
Some college women 38 51
College graduate+ 40 52
Part-time 37 49
Total Catholic Millennial 36 48
White NH College grad women 41 53
White NH Unmarried women 37 49
Generation X (34-49) 38 49
West 38 49
High school or less 37 47
$40,000 to $49,999 40 50
Millennial men 38 48
Total Catholic Xer 39 49
White NH New England (CT 39 49
ME MA NH RI VT)
Yes 39 48
Widowed 40 49
Yes 38 47
No 39 48
Great Lakes-East North (IN IL 39 48
MI OH WI)
Older Gen Xer (42-49) 40 48
Older Boomer (59-68) 41 49
Some college or less 39 47
Full-time 39 47
Post graduate men 42 50
Total Catholic 40 48
White NH Never married 39 47
College graduate 42 49
$30,000-$74,999 41 48
Midwest 40 47
Total Catholic Boomer 41 48
Baby-Boomer (50-68) 41 47
Silent women 42 48
White NH Unmarried 40 46
White NH Urban 42 48
Younger Boomer (50-58) 41 46
Some college 42 47
White NH Pacific (AK CA HI 42 47
OR WA)
HS or less men 40 44
Non-parent men 42 46
South 42 46
South Atlantic (FL GA NC SC 42 46
VA WV)
White NH Northeast 42 46
White NH <$30,000 41 44
White NH <$30,000 41 44
White NH Millennial women 42 45
White NH Middle Atlantic (DE 43 46
DC MD NJ NY PA)
Some coll or less men 42 44
Suburban 43 45
Total Catholic Silent 44 46
White NH Part-time 44 46
White NH Divorced/Separated 42 44
Men 43 44
Gen Xer men 43 44
College grad men 45 46
White NH College graduate+ 46 47
White NH Post graduate men 46 47
White NH College women 46 47

$50,000 to $74,999 45 45
$50,000 to $74,999 45 45
Married women 44 44
Midwest-West North (IA KS 43 43
MN MO NE ND SD)
White NH Boomer women 45 45
Parent men 43 42
South Central (AL AR KY LA 44 43
MS OK TN TX)
White NH Women 45 44
White NH Gen Xer women 45 44
$150,000+ 47 45
Boomer men 45 43
Mountain (AZ CO ID NM MT 45 43
UT NV WY)
White NH Millennial (ages 18- 45 43
33 in 2014)
White NH Older Millennial (26- 44 42
33)
White NH Unmarried men 44 42
White NH Non-parent women 45 43
$75,000+ 48 45
$100,000 to $149,999 48 45
Some college men 46 43
White NH Younger Millennial 46 43
(18-25)
White NH HS or less women 44 41
White NH Parent women 44 41
Silent (69-86) 47 43
Younger Silent (69-78) 47 43
$75,000 to $99,999 48 44
College men 47 43
White NH Catholic Boomer 47 43
White NH $30,000 to $39,999 46 42
White NH Widowed 46 42
White NH Great Lakes-East 46 42
North (IN IL MI OH WI)
White NH West 46 42
Older Silent (79-86) 48 43
White NH No 45 40
White NH Mainline Protestant 47 41
White NH Mainline Protestant 47 41
Boomer
White NH Older Boomer (59- 48 42
68)
White NH Yes 47 41
White NH No 47 41
White NH Some coll or less 46 40
women
White NH Midwest 47 41
Married 48 41
Married 48 41
White NH College graduate 50 43
White NH Millennial men 47 40
White NH Silent women 49 42
Rural 47 39
White Non-Hisp Mainline 48 40
Protestant
White NH Mainline Protestant 49 41
Silent
White NH Catholic Silent 49 41
White NH $40,000 to $49,999 49 41
White NH Mainline Protestant 48 40
White, non-Hispanic 49 40
White Non-Hispanic Catholic 50 41
White NH Mainline Protestant 48 39
Xer
White NH Baby-Boomer (50-68)49 40
White NH Younger Gen Xer (34- 48 39
41)
White NH Full-time 48 39
White NH College grad men 51 42
White NH Midwest-West 48 39
North (IA KS MN MO NE ND SD)
White NH Catholic 50 41
White NH Catholic Millennial 49 39
White NH $30,000-$74,999 50 40
White NH Some college women49 39
White NH Mainline Protestant 48 37
Millennial
White NH Generation X (34-49) 50 39
White NH Generation X (34-49) 50 39
White NH Older Gen Xer (42- 50 39
49)
White NH Younger Boomer (50- 50 39
58)
White NH High school or less 48 37
White NH $150,000+ 52 41
White NH Non-parent men 49 38
Married men 51 38
White NH Some college or less 50 37
White NH $75,000+ 53 40
White NH $100,000 to 54 41
$149,999
White NH Yes 50 37
White NH Suburban 51 38
White NH Catholic Xer 53 38
White NH Younger Silent (69- 53 38
78)
White NH Some college 52 37
White NH $75,000 to $99,999 54 39
White NH $50,000 to $74,999 53 38
White NH Married women 52 37
White NH Silent (69-86) 53 37
White NH College men 54 38
Silent men 54 37
White NH Men 53 36
White NH Older Silent (79-86) 54 37
White NH Mountain (AZ CO ID 53 36
NM MT UT NV WY)
White NH Rural 52 35
White NH Boomer men 54 36
White NH HS or less men 52 34
White NH South Atlantic (FL 54 35
GA NC SC VA WV)
White NH Gen Xer men 54 34
White NH Married 55 34
White NH Married 55 34
White NH Some coll or less 54 33
men
White NH South 55 34
White NH Some college men 56 33
White NH Married men 58 32
White NH Parent men 57 31
White NH South Central (AL 58 32
AR KY LA MS OK TN TX)
White NH Silent men 60 31
White NH Evangelical 67 25
Protestant Silent
White NH Evangelical 68 23
Protestant Boomer
White Non-Hisp Evangelical 68 22
Protestant
White NH Evangelical 68 22
Protestant
Mormon 70 22
White NH Evangelical 70 20
Protestant Xer
White NH Evangelical 70 19
Protestant Millennial
White NH Mormon 76 16

 Comments

Aaron Blake is senior political reporter for The Fix.  Follow @aaronblake