Beyond the Ballot Box: Politics and Personal Relationships During the Holidays

Family dinners and politics are rarely a good mix. But there are a few occasions during the year when the two tend to combine, with decidedly mixed results.

For most Americans, it’s a cringe-worthy scenario. A quarter of Americans avoid family gatherings due to conflicts over politics.

Would you prioritize politics over family? Does the red flag fly if someone you’re dating has no opinions on major political issues? And does political alignment even make someone more attractive?

Oddspedia surveyed 5,000 Americans and asked the juicy questions around love, relationships, family, and US politics.

Key findings

• Seven in ten Americans believe that voting and being politically informed make a person more intelligent.
• Over half are unwilling to pursue a relationship with someone who has significantly different political views.
• One in six have even ended (or considered ending) a romantic relationship due to political incompatibility.
• A quarter of Americans avoid family gatherings due to conflicts over politics.
• Two thirds of Americans conceal their political beliefs to maintain family harmony.

Don’t talk about politics on a first date… but attend a rally?

Especially following a controversial election, mixing dating and politics is considered a no-no for most. The adage “don’t talk about politics” rings true for three-quarters of Americans, who believe you should steer clear of political conversations on a first date.

But when we dig deeper and look at who said what, we get a more interesting picture. For example, among Democrats (32.6% of the 5,000 surveyed), the number who avoid the topic decreases from three-quarters to two-thirds, showing they are more open to political conversations on a first date.

Furthermore, three in every 100 admit to lying about their political beliefs to impress a date! This rises to four in every 100 for men and over five in every hundred for Gen Z (age 18-27) respondents.

Talking about first encounters: while many avoid the topic, some individuals lean in and see it as a potential spark. Nearly one in five consider a protest or political rally a great place to meet a romantic partner. This increases to a quarter among those who identify as non-binary.

Swipe Right or Left on Politics?

In today’s dating app era, choosing the right photos and crafting a captivating profile is crucial to getting matches. But should you also include your political views? The results are close, with a slight preference for not using a political background filter (52% to 48%). However, Democrats are more likely to use this filter, with nearly two-thirds indicating they would.

How We See a Politically Active Date

We wanted to find out if a date or potential partner being political informed changes how you see them on a range of attributes, as detailed below:

Seven in ten Americans believe that voting and being politically informed make a person more intelligent. However, this doesn’t necessarily translate to attractiveness, as only a quarter see political awareness as making someone sexier.

When we remove the neutral category, the key findings are as follows:

Most Americans believe a politically informed person is more intelligent, compassionate, tolerant, and trustworthy. However, one in ten believe they also make a person more elitist and arrogant, and almost one in five believe they make a person more cynical.

Men are more likely to view politically informed dates or partners negatively, while women tend to see them more positively. Men perceive them as more cynical and elitist, while women view them as sexier, more compassionate, and tolerant, when compared to the national average.

Among all generations, the young Gen Zers are most likely to find a partner’s voting record appealing in terms of their sexiness, intelligence, compassion, and tolerance.

Are you saying I should do, or you already have done this?

Apoliticism as a Red Flag

Apoliticalism, or a lack of interest in political matters, is a red flag for many Americans. Over a third say it is a deal breaker if their partner has no opinions on major political issues.

This figure is higher among women (over two-fifths) but lower among men (under a third). Democrats are more likely than Republicans (which make up 29.5% of the 5,000 surveyed) to consider apoliticism a red flag.

Is Politics a Deal-Breaker?

Political alignment plays a significant role in the long-term success of relationships, especially for younger generations. Over two-thirds of Americans believe political compatibility is crucial, and this number skyrockets to nine in ten for non-binary individuals.

In fact, more than half of respondents would rule out a relationship based on significant political differences. Millennials and Gen Z place even greater importance on this factor compared to older generations.

Furthermore, over one in six have ended or considered ending a romantic relationship due to political incompatibility.

This figure is even higher for Gen X and Gen Z, with nearly one in five reporting having broken up or come close to it. Women are more likely than men to prioritize political alignment in their romantic relationships.

Politics at the Family Dinner Table

Family get-togethers can be a battleground for political disagreements, leading to over a quarter of Americans avoiding them due to such conflicts. This figure is particularly high among non-binary individuals, with two-thirds reporting avoiding such events.

Many people find it necessary to downplay or conceal their political beliefs to maintain family harmony. Two-thirds of Americans say they do this, and this number is even higher among Gen Zers and non-binary individuals. Independent voters are particularly likely to avoid expressing their political views to their families.

Furthermore, one in three people admit to excluding certain family members from social gatherings due to political differences.

Blood is Thicker than Politics

Despite political divisions, most Americans prioritize family connections. When asked if they would consider cutting ties with a family member over political beliefs, only one in ten said yes. However, for non-binary individuals, this figure jumps to nearly half.

Republicans are most likely to value family over politics, with over four-fifths stating they would never sever ties with a family member due to political differences. Independents and Democrats are less likely to hold this view, with corresponding percentages of 69% and 54.9%.

Finally, our survey reveals that political views significantly shape parenting approaches. Nearly nine in ten parents admit that their politics influence their family life, and this figure is even higher among non-binary individuals, reaching 95%.

What does Oddspedia do?

Looking for the best place to bet in Canada? We can help. Our site compares all the top sportsbooks and points you to the best betting offers out there. We also write detailed reviews of every promotion, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. If you’re searching for a specific code, like a bet365 bonus code, or a BC Game bonus code, you’ll find it here. We combine all this with live odds to help you find your perfect fit and get more from every bet.