With the first presidential debate just 20 days away and Election Day less than five months away, a Pew Research poll found that 90% of American voters already decided whom they will support. This underscores the deepening polarization between the two major political parties, which have taken hard stances on several key issues.
On immigration, 63% of Donald Trump supporters believe undocumented immigrants should be deported, compared to just 11% of Joe Biden supporters. Regarding abortion, 42% of Biden supporters think it should be legal in all cases, with 88% supporting legality in some or all cases. Conversely, only 9% of Trump supporters believe abortion should always be legal, and 38% support its legality in some or all cases.
Gun ownership is another divisive issue, with 86% of Trump supporters believing it makes individuals safer while only 23% of Biden supporters agree. When it comes to gender identity, 59% of Biden supporters believe a person can change their gender regardless of their birth sex, a view shared by only 9% of Trump supporters.
The justice system’s approach to criminal punishment also shows a stark divide: 81% of Trump supporters feel it isn’t tough enough, compared to 40% of Biden supporters. Additionally, 79% of Biden supporters think the legacy of slavery still impacts Black communities, whereas only 27% of Trump supporters agree.
This partisan gap widened significantly in recent decades, contributing to a growing dissatisfaction with the two-party system, which is now at its highest level in three decades.
Despite this polarization, some common ground remains. A majority of both Biden and Trump supporters agree that more needs to be done to address mental health issues and share skepticism about artificial intelligence.
Amid these strong and opposing views, about 10% of U.S. voters remain undecided nationwide and in swing states. This small group could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of a tight race between Biden and Trump.
