A new survey reveals the widest partisan divide in American values centers on patriotism, with Republicans far more likely than Democrats to rank it as a core national necessity. According to a Gallup and With Honor poll released Sunday, 46% of Republicans placed patriotism among the top three values the nation needs most, compared to just 6% of Democrats. This 40-percentage-point gap exceeds every other ideological disagreement measured in the study.
The broader data shows that across the entire electorate, honesty (34%), responsibility (32%), and integrity (31%) are viewed as the most urgently needed values. However, the specific priorities of each party diverge sharply. Republicans listed patriotism as their highest priority, followed by responsibility (41%) and honesty (38%). In contrast, Democrats prioritized equality (44%), fairness (34%), and honesty (32%). Independents fell between these groups, selecting honesty, responsibility, and integrity most frequently, while only 15% chose patriotism.
Gallup noted that Democrats are significantly more likely to emphasize equality, fairness, and kindness, while Republicans focus on responsibility and patriotism. Beyond patriotism, the second-largest partisan split involves equality, chosen by 44% of Democrats but only 10% of Republicans. Fairness also showed a notable gap, selected by 34% of Democrats versus 15% of Republicans.
An age divide mirrors these political splits. Adults aged 65 and older are nearly three times as likely as those aged 18 to 39 to say the nation needs more patriotism, with 32% of older adults selecting it compared to 12% of younger adults. Despite these deep differences in specific values, the survey found broad consensus on shared beliefs. When presented with a list of 12 values including freedom, service, kindness, respect, courage, and humility, 32% of respondents believed most Americans shared patriotism as a value. This trailed only freedom, which 38% of respondents cited as a widely shared value.
More than three-quarters of Americans (76%) believed people shared at least one of these values regardless of political leanings. The survey also highlighted strong support for political tolerance. Nearly eight in ten Americans (79%) said respecting different values matters more than sharing the same ones. This sentiment was held by 84% of Democrats, 81% of independents, and 72% of Republicans. Additionally, 70% of respondents stated that elected leaders must be willing to compromise across party lines, even at personal political cost.
The Gallup analysis concluded that Americans may ultimately agree to disagree. The survey was conducted May 12 to 22 among a nationally representative panel of more than 3,000 U.S. adults.