Most Americans – A new NBC News poll sponsored by More Perfect suggests nearly 8 in 10 Americans would still celebrate July 4 with someone whose political views differ sharply. But the survey draws a tougher line when the question turns to romantic relationships, where 51% say
On a day built for parades. picnics and fireworks. the question isn’t just how Americans will celebrate—it’s who they’re willing to share the moment with. A new poll finds many are still open to setting political differences aside long enough to sit at the same table. volunteer together. and even talk politics in public.
As Americans mark the nation’s 250th birthday this Independence Day. the survey points to a familiar tension: political division is still widely felt. but it doesn’t always shut down everyday life. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans said they would be willing to attend a July Fourth party with someone whose political views differ sharply from their own. according to a recent NBC News poll sponsored by More Perfect. a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on strengthening democracy.
The findings suggest that while divisions remain a defining feature of American life. many people are still willing to celebrate. volunteer. and engage with those they disagree with. The numbers hold up across a range of ordinary settings—dinner plates, community gatherings, youth sports, and even religious services.
Most Americans open to celebrating, volunteering together
The survey’s strongest signals come from simple, social contact. Among respondents:
– 86% said they would have dinner with someone who has opposing political views. – 83% would attend a community event or gathering together. – 79% would attend a July Fourth party. – 77% would coach or volunteer with someone in a youth sports league or service organization. – 75% would have a conversation about politics despite their differences. – 73% said they would attend religious services with someone they disagree with politically. – 72% would serve together in a leadership role for a civic or community organization.
The willingness to engage with opposing viewpoints isn’t confined to one party. The poll found 75% of Democrats and 79% of Republicans say they would be open to discussing politics with someone who holds opposing views.
Where the poll draws a sharper line
Even as Americans appear comfortable interacting across political boundaries in public life, the survey shows a stark drop when the stakes move into personal relationships.
Just 47% of Americans said they would be willing to marry or live with a partner whose political views differ sharply from their own, while 51% said they would not.
The split also varies by party. Republicans were somewhat more likely than Democrats to say they would be open to such a relationship: 51% expressed willingness compared with 38% of Democrats.
Religious attendance showed another notable partisan divide, though it remained high overall. About 82% of Republicans said they would be willing to attend religious services with someone who has different political views, compared with 64% of Democrats.
The sequence of responses—high comfort with shared community activities, followed by a sharp contraction when asked about romance—shows how differently people treat political disagreement depending on how close the relationship becomes.
About the poll
The survey was conducted May 29 through June 7 by Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates and Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies. It surveyed 3,000 adults nationwide through a combination of telephone interviews and online surveys delivered by text message. Each question was asked of a randomly selected half of the respondents. or about 1. 500 people. resulting in a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
July 4 poll political divide More Perfect NBC News poll Hart Research Associates Public Opinion Strategies Jeff Horwitt Bill McInturff American 250th birthday community events romantic relationships
So people will still cook hot dogs for the enemy, got it.
I believe it but also don’t, because my uncle would never sit with someone different at the same table. Polls always say “most” and then somehow it’s always the loudest people making it weird anyway.
Romantic relationships part is wild though—like 51%? On a day built for fireworks? Seems like they’re leaving out the part where people just get drunk and forget. Also is this about 250th birthday stuff or just July 4 in general? Either way I’m sure people just say what sounds nice.
It’s funny they act like politics aside means nobody argues but I’ve seen people literally ruin a cookout over some Facebook post. Still, dinner with opposing views 86% sounds made up, because who’s inviting who? Like are we counting “opposing views” as just being from a different state or like full on crazy stuff? I don’t even know.