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Checking In On Party Vibes

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 2d

Read the full poll here: www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/che...

A topic of particular interest at Searchlight is how Americans engage with the two major parties. We’re curious about what draws people to each party, and what they believe each party does best.

Liberals have a policy pipeline problem. Let’s fix it.

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 2d

The bigger picture is grim across both parties:
There was not a single issue a majority of Americans believed either party wanted for them.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 2d

We checked in on what voters think Democrats and Republicans want for them. The good news for Democrats is that they’re narrowly winning on “feeling stable in your personal life.” The bad news for them is that Republicans dominate on everything else: wealth, marriage, kids, and more.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 4d

🚨We’re growing! Searchlight is hiring for two key roles to support our team.

Apply here: www.searchlightinstitute.org/jobs/

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 5d

Read here: searchlightinst.substack.com/p/liberals-h...

Before we get to the real post this morning, we want to flag that Searchlight is hiring! Visit our website for more information, and keep an eye out for new roles in the weeks to come.

searchlightinstitute.smapply.us

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 5d

Conservatives spent decades building a talent pipeline. Liberals must build their own—or stay stuck playing defense. That's why we built the Searchlight fellowship program.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 10d

Apply Here: searchlightinstitute.smapply.us

Searchlight Institute

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 10d

We're looking for bold solutions to today's toughest challenges.

Pitch us yours.

It’s time for Democrats to finally assess the damage

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 12d

Here is the prologue by our VP of Policy Tré Easton: searchlightinst.substack.com/p/its-time-f...

After a crushing defeat in 2024, Democratic officials opted to forego a fulsome assessment of what went wrong.

The First Rule About Solving Climate Change

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 12d

After 2024’s crushing defeat, no real reckoning ever came.

Damage Assessments will dig into the policies, practices, & strategies that left liberals in the minority—and map a path forward.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 17d

many people are saying

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 19d

To read more about the poll, visit our webpage to read the analysis: www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/the...

While battleground voters overwhelmingly agree climate change is a problem, addressing it is not a priority for them.

Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 19d

Right now, voters across the country are seeing their energy bills skyrocket. They want leaders to prioritize immediate cost relief on their utility bills — not long-term solutions like energy upgrades or cheaper EVs.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 19d

The reality is that the words “climate change” are polarizing. Mentioning “climate change” opens up a 50-point gap in support between Republicans and Democrats not present on other issues—like developing new energy sources or lowering energy prices.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 19d

These results mirror a January @nytimes.com poll that found voters ranking economic issues as their top focus, but seeing neither the Democratic nor Republican Parties matching their issue priorities: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...

www.nytimes.com

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 19d

The top issues that battleground voters say leaders should focus on today are affordability, healthcare, and jobs. But when asked which top three issues they think the Democratic Party is focused on, they say climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, and healthcare:

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 19d

Our new poll captures a complexity about American voters: They view climate change as a problem, but they want leaders to prioritize addressing other issues like affordability and healthcare.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 22d

Elected officials can and should lead on issues that they care deeply about, even if they are out of step with public opinion. However, leaders should be clear about where the public stands and not be fooled into thinking an issue is popular when it is not.

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 22d

For more on our data principles and commitment to data transparency: www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/on-...

On Searchlight’s Data Principles

A Message from Searchlight’s Director of Analytics…

Housing costs are too high, but Americans aren’t unified on solutions

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 22d

For more thoughts on this poll, check our substack from Charlotte: searchlightinst.substack.com/p/our-first-...

Our First Published Work

What Americans Think About Housing

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 22d

To read more about the poll, visit our webpage to read the analysis written by our Director of Analytics @charlotteeffect.bsky.social www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/wha...

Housing costs are too high, but Americans aren’t unified on solutions

Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 22d

On solutions, Americans are mixed. They are most supportive of requiring local governments to approve housing that meets their standards and making permitting for new housing faster and easier, but they still really like parking spaces:

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Searchlight Institute @searchlightinst.bsky.social · 22d

So who/what do Americans blame for high housing prices? They think the primary drivers of high costs are investors using housing for profit, the high cost of building materials, and the rent-setting power of landlords.