AP-NORC Poll Reveals Partisan Divides in How Americans Describe U.S. Ahead of 250th Anniversary

What Happened

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted a national poll asking 2,596 U.S. adults to describe the United States using one word. The survey was fielded April 16-20, 2026, as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

The results reveal stark partisan divides in how Americans view their country. Republicans tend to use more positive phrases to describe the nation, while Democrats are more inclined than Republicans to describe the country using negative words such as "struggling" or "declining."

According to the poll data, 18% of respondents overall used words like "great," "prosperous" or "powerful" to describe the United States. Among Republicans, approximately 30% chose these positive descriptors, compared to about 10% of Democrats. Meanwhile, 14% overall described the country as "struggling" or "declining."

The poll also found that 13% of Americans cited "free" or "freedom," while 9% mentioned "corruption" or "unfairness." Seven percent said "instability" and 5% said "confused" or "lost." Four percent described the nation as "divided."

When asked what words unite most Americans, approximately 20% overall chose "freedom" or "liberty," with Republicans at about 30% and Democrats at roughly 10%. About 10% cited "political interests" or "values."

Why It Matters

The poll highlights deep partisan divides in national identity as America approaches a major milestone. The data shows that political affiliation strongly influences how Americans perceive their country's strengths and weaknesses.

Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats to view the nation positively, with roughly 30% using positive descriptors compared to about 10% of Democrats. This gap suggests fundamentally different assessments of the country's trajectory.

Democrats, by contrast, are more inclined to use negative words such as "struggling" or "declining." The poll found that political interests and values divide Americans, with approximately 25% overall citing these factors as sources of division. Republicans were about 30% likely to mention political interests as divisive, compared to roughly 20% of Democrats.

The findings also reveal that leaders, government, or elites are seen as a source of division by about 10% of Americans overall, with Democrats more likely than Republicans to cite this concern. Economic interests, race and racism, and morality were also mentioned as divisive factors in various shares.

What to Watch

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, these poll results provide a baseline for understanding public sentiment ahead of major commemorations. The partisan divide in how Americans describe their country could shape political messaging and public discourse during anniversary events.

The poll's margin of sampling error is ±2.6 percentage points for adults overall, indicating the precision of the estimates. With a sample size of 2,596 adults, the study provides statistically reliable insights into national sentiment.

Future polling may reveal whether these partisan divides persist or shift as the anniversary approaches and as political events unfold. The contrast between Republican and Democratic views on national identity could become a focal point of political campaigns and public debates.

By the numbers

Source snapshot

https://apnews.com/projects/poll-america-250-united-states-description/