Full Breakdown
Pew’s 2026 Political Typology Shows “Order and Opportunity Left” as the Largest Mixed-Ideology Group
6/11/2026, 9:33:21 PM
Overview of the New Typology
Pew Research Center released its ninth political typology, a classification of U.S. adults based on values, attitudes, and policy preferences rather than party registration. The study surveyed 10,357 respondents from Nov. 17-30 2025 and applied cluster analysis to create nine distinct groups. The “Order and Opportunity Left” (OOL) emerged as the single largest segment, comprising 18 percent of the adult population.
Demographic Profile of OOL
OOL members are racially and ethnically diverse: 41 percent White, 26 percent Hispanic, 21 percent Black, and 8 percent Asian. 71 percent say religion is at least somewhat important, a higher share than other Democratic-leaning groups. Economically, they are more likely than most to have lower incomes and lack savings for a few months of expenses, reflecting a “economically pinched” status.
Core Political Attitudes
Respondents in OOL support a larger federal government with more services while remaining critical of certain economic system aspects. They place greater trust in the military and police than groups further left, and 59 percent describe themselves as politically moderate. On social issues, they hold liberal but not maximalist views on abortion and same-sex marriage, while gender-identity positions align more closely with conservative groups.
Voting Behavior and Party Affiliation
Two-thirds of OOL identify with the Democratic Party or as Democratic-leaning independents; 29 percent are Democratic-leaning independents, and 25 percent are Republicans or Republican-leaning independents. Only 46 percent voted in the 2024 presidential election, and among those who did, 75 percent supported Kamala Harris over Donald Trump.
Policy Preferences and Issue Stances
- 60 percent favor a large military presence at the U.S.–Mexico border.
- 84 percent back requiring government-issued photo ID for voting.
- 65 percent support automatic voter registration, and 70 percent favor mail-in voting if desired.
- 51 percent view gender as determined by sex at birth, yet 62 percent say transgender people face significant discrimination.
Implications for Parties and Elections
The size and mixed-ideology profile of OOL suggest that both major parties must address concerns about order, security, and economic fairness to retain this bloc. Their moderate stance on many issues and lower electoral participation could affect turnout calculations for the 2026 congressional races.
Official Statements from Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center states that its typology “helps the public, media, and decision-makers understand important topics” and that the 2026 study “classifies the public into nine groups based on responses to 30 questions about government, economics, immigration, elected officials and other topics.” The organization emphasizes that the typology “goes beyond partisan attachments or vote choices.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The source material presents consistent figures for OOL’s demographics and attitudes; no major contradictions appear. However, the surveys do not provide detailed longitudinal data on how OOL’s views may shift in future election cycles, leaving a gap in trend analysis.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Allie Sullberg Order and Opportunity Left are one of nine groups in Pew Research Center’s 2026 Political Typology.” — Pew Research Center
- “They generally support a larger federal government with more services and are critical of some aspects of the economic system.” — Pew Research Center
- “-Mexico border, and they are much more likely than other Democratic-oriented groups to see illegal immigration as a big problem for the country.” — Pew Research Center
- “More than eight-in-ten (84%) back requiring photo voter identification to vote.” — Pew Research Center
- “PEW RESEARCH CENTER Chart Data Download Image Share About three-quarters of Order and Opportunity Left (74%) describe themselves as “respectful of authority” – a far higher share than in other majority-Democratic groups.” — Pew Research Center
What’s Next
Pew plans to monitor OOL’s attitudes through follow-up surveys in 2026 and beyond, with particular attention to their impact on the 2026 congressional elections and evolving views on immigration, law-enforcement policy, and economic security.
