By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina may be deeply divided at the ballot box, but a new Elon University Poll suggests Republicans, Democrats and independents have more in common than politics may suggest.
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Elon’s 2026 North Carolina Political Landscape Report looked beyond traditional party labels, asking 800 North Carolina adults how strongly they identified with 30 political, economic, cultural and lifestyle identities in the below graphic.
“It’s almost always the case anywhere in the United States that political leaders are more polarized than the publics that they’re representing,” said Elon University Poll Director Jason Husser.
The most common identity was working class. More than three in four North Carolinians said the label described them at least somewhat, including 84% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats and 71% of independents.
“What people are most likely thinking of when they hear working class is someone who, if they don’t go to work, they have some financial problems,” Husser said. “Somebody who’s dealing with regular everyday financial struggles.”
With affordability front and center this election cycle, Husser said that shared working-class identity could matter at the ballot box.
“We’re in a moment where most people are pointing out the economic issues are critical for their vote in November,” Husser said. “We’re seeing inflation and cost of living in particular showing up as the top issue both in North Carolina and around the country.”
That’s not the only common ground between right and left, according to the poll. Nearly three in four respondents identified as proud North Carolinians, including 83% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats.
Husser said political candidates can use those overlapping identities to reach beyond their base.
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“What would really make a difference, I think, in reaching a large number of North Carolinians is making sure messages appeal to the working class,” he said.
As shown in the below Elon University poll graphic, other areas of overlapping identities include anti-racist, middle class, religious and Second Amendment advocate.
The survey also found some of the political identities that receive significant attention represent smaller portions of the state overall. About one-third of North Carolinians identified at least somewhat with MAGA, while 29% identified as Democratic socialist.
Those labels also produced some of the widest partisan gaps in the survey.
As shown in the below Elon University poll graphic, MAGA was the most polarizing of the 30 identities tested, with a 59-point difference between Republicans and Democrats. Democratic socialist followed with a 49-point partisan gap.
By comparison, just five points separated Republicans and Democrats on identifying as working class, while the partisan gap for proud North Carolinian was six points.
For candidates trying to win statewide, Husser said the findings illustrate the challenge of energizing a political base without alienating voters outside it. Husser said independents in the survey did not mirror either party, instead describing them as a “hybrid blend” of Republicans and Democrats.
“You may be a Democrat or you may be a Republican, but if you go too far left or too far right, you lose the ability to pitch a bigger tent,” Husser said.
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