Voters in America express a strong sense of patriotism and pride in their nation, although opinions are mixed regarding how well the country is holding onto its founding values. As we get closer to celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation, recent polling indicates a split among voters. About half view America’s progress toward freedom, equality, and self-reliance positively, while a slim majority hold less favorable views.
The most enthusiastic respondents are often Republicans, white evangelical Christians, rural residents, whites without college degrees, men, and those aged 45 and older. Conversely, Democrats, Black voters, independents, women, and younger voters tend to express more negative feedback.
Currently, 53% of voters say they’re proud of their country, which represents a slight drop from last year but is still higher than the pride levels seen throughout Joe Biden’s presidency and during the beginning of Donald Trump’s term in 2017.
Interestingly, pride in the nation seems to differ across generations. More than half of voters over 45 express pride, whereas younger voters, especially those under 30, tend to feel less so. Only 44% of that demographic feels proud.
Among Republicans, around 80% express pride, a sharp contrast to just 30% of Democrats and 40% of independents. Most voters across party lines view themselves as patriotic: 90% of Republicans, about 60% of Democrats, and just over 50% of independents share that sentiment.
In total, 70% of voters identify as patriotic, with this number rising to 90% among MAGA Republicans and around 80% among white evangelical Christians, those over 65, and non-MAGA Republicans. White voters (75%) generally report more patriotism than nonwhite voters (57%) and Black voters (46%).
When reflecting on what it means to be American, a significant number of respondents emphasize liberty and freedom. Other recurring themes include national pride, tradition, civic duty, the American Dream, and notions of rights and equality. Approximately 10% of individuals mention something negative about the country’s current state.
Looking toward the future, 54% believe the best is still ahead for America, an increase from 43% last year. In 2017, 62% were similarly optimistic.
About 45% of voters feel that the best days may be in the past. These outlooks are strongly influenced by party affiliation. Republican optimism has seen a 42-point increase since the previous year, while Democratic optimism has dipped by 20 points.
Many voters—60%—believe that democracy is not functioning as it should in the U.S. today, with a notable percentage of Democrats and independents holding this view, alongside nearly 40% of Republicans.
Polpuri
As the July 4th holiday approaches, many people start to think about their summer plans. Interestingly, voters now prefer having more money over more time for vacations (56% vs. 43%), which is a shift from earlier surveys where the majority preferred extra vacation time.
Despite rising prices, 60% of respondents say they’re not modifying their summer travel plans. This is notable considering that 77% disapprove of the government’s handling of gas prices.
In a survey conducted from June 12 to 15, 2026, 1,002 registered voters were randomly chosen from national voting records. Participants were interviewed either live via phone or completed the survey online. There’s an overall margin of error of ±3 percentage points, with more variability within subgroups. Various demographic factors were weighted to align with the registered voter population’s characteristics.
