NEW REPORT: 50% of Voters Pessimistic on Polarization, 84% Want More Collaborative Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Future Caucus, in partnership with Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group, has published a new analysis of bipartisan exit polling during the 2024 general election. The report, titled Together or Torn, analyzes responses from 2,454 actual voters nationwide to questions on diversity, unity, and leadership.

“These findings underscore that, in an era of stark polarization, Americans are calling for leaders they can trust to rise above divisions and deliver real solutions to our shared challenges,” said Future Caucus President and CEO Layla Zaidane. “These findings are a call to action for elected officials everywhere to offer more examples of the leadership our country needs. The good news is, hundreds of lawmakers across the Future Caucus network are already answering that call—these Gen Z and millennial policymakers in Congress and state legislatures are breaking down barriers, fostering collaboration, and working tirelessly to create meaningful, lasting change. In 2025, more leaders ought to follow their example, to deliver the results Americans need.”

Key Findings

• 50% of voters agree that we have lost our common identity and are now divided and polarized—up from 34% in 2014—while 44% believe our differences and diversity can come together to produce a strong economy and democracy—up from 39% in 2014.
• Battleground states and districts, which endured considerably more political advertising throughout the election cycle, are more likely than other areas to believe America is divided and polarized.
• 84% of voters prefer a leadership style of “working together respectfully and with integrity toward solutions,” while 10% prefer a leadership style of “asserting power and authority to direct people to implement solutions.”
• Men under 30 and Republicans under 30 were more likely than others to prefer a leadership approach of “asserting power and authority” (26% and 29%, respectively).

View the complete findings here.

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Future Caucus is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers young elected officials in Congress and state legislatures to bridge the partisan divide. By supporting innovative policymaking and fostering collaboration, we help Gen Z and millennial leaders drive positive change and promote a political culture rooted in empathy and solutions. To learn more, visit www.futurecaucus.org.