The Numbers Don’t Lie: Voters Aren’t as Divided as Washington Thinks

If you’ve been watching the political news cycle lately, you could be thinking our country is hopelessly split – two sides, hardened in place, with nothing in common and no interest in finding any common ground. But the data tells a different story. 

Next American Era, in partnership with Morning Consult, recently surveyed more than 2,000 registered voters to find out what Americans actually want from their elected officials heading into the 2026 midterms. The results offer a useful reminder that voters may be looking for something different than the ideological battles that often dominate Washington. 

The Big Finding: Pragmatism Wins Across the Board 

Six in ten voters (60%) say they want to see targeted, practical solutions that address specific problems, bring people together across party lines, and can be implemented with minimal disruption. And they prefer this over sweeping reforms that fundamentally change the economic or political system. And this isn’t just a “moderate middle” phenomenon. Large majorities of Progressives (72%) and MAGA Republicans (71%) say the same thing.

Two-thirds of voters (68%) say it is extremely or very important for elected officials to find workable, results-oriented solutions, rather than advance ideological agendas, even if it means compromising with the other side. That view is shared by 86% of Progressives and 78% of MAGA Republicans. 

Three-in-four voters (74%) want elected officials to find common ground with the opposite party to build lasting compromise – including  88% of Progressives and 77% of MAGA Republicans. 

Ultimately, the voters who feel most at home at opposite ends of the political spectrum still largely agree: they want governance that delivers, not performative governance. 

The Economic Mood, and Why It Matters

None of this is happening in a vacuum. More than half of voters (58%) say the country is headed in the wrong direction. Inflation (49%), energy costs and gas prices (29%), and healthcare and prescription drug costs (28%) are the top concerns on voters’ minds. These aren’t abstract policy debates, but rather day-to-day realities that determine whether a family can pay their bills or a small business can keep its doors open.

On the generic ballot, Democrats hold a +5-point lead heading into the midterms. But neither party earns majority trust on any single issue and, ultimately, voters just want their elected leaders to get things done. 

The Bottom Line

As former Rep. Cheri Bustos, President of Next American Era, put it: ”The data is clear: voters want practical and achievable policy solutions that will make meaningful improvements in their lives, not more empty promises and hyperpartisan arguments… It’s time to stop the fighting and start working together to improve the lives of all Americans.”

The country is not as divided as our politics make it seem. Voters aren’t asking for a single sweeping fix. They’re simply asking for practical wins that add up to real change, on issues like energy costs, housing, healthcare, and the things that actually affect their lives every day. They’re telling us, clearly and consistently, that the path runs through pragmatic, moderate governance – not ideological combat.

That’s the case Next American Era is committed to making to lawmakers, candidates, and anyone in Washington who is still listening.