Published: November 6, 2010

Portrait of the Electorate: Table of Detailed Results

A look at which groups voted for the Democratic or Republican candidate for the House of Representatives.
% of
total		 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Group D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R
Total vote for House 57 43 51 49 52 48 54 46 52 48 54 46 47 53 50 50 49 51 50 50 47 53 50 50 54 46 55 45 46 54
47 Men 55 45 48 52 51 49 52 48 51 49 52 48 42 58 46 54 46 54 45 55 44 56 46 54 52 48 53 47 43 57
53 Women 58 42 54 46 54 46 57 43 54 46 55 45 53 47 55 45 53 47 54 46 50 50 53 47 56 44 57 43 49 51
78 White 54 46 46 54 49 51 50 50 50 50 50 50 42 58 45 55 43 57 44 56 40 60 42 58 48 52 46 54 38 62
10 Black 89 11 92 8 86 14 85 15 79 21 89 11 92 8 82 18 89 11 89 11 91 9 90 10 89 11 94 6 91 9
8 Hispanic 75 25 69 31 75 25 76 24 72 28 72 28 61 39 73 27 63 37 65 35 62 38 56 44 74 26 70 30 66 34
1 Asian — — — — — — — — 63 37 49 51 54 46 43 57 56 44 59 41 66 34 57 43 63 37 67 33 59 41
11 18-29 years old 59 41 51 49 51 49 54 46 52 48 55 45 49 51 55 45 50 50 51 49 51 49 56 44 61 39 65 35 58 42
22 30-44 years old 54 46 54 46 52 48 54 46 53 47 53 47 46 54 50 50 50 50 49 51 45 55 48 52 54 46 55 45 48 52
33 45-59 years old 56 44 50 50 54 46 54 46 51 49 52 48 47 53 50 50 52 48 50 50 47 53 50 50 54 46 52 48 46 54
34 60 and older 58 42 48 52 52 48 55 45 53 47 56 44 49 51 49 51 45 55 52 48 49 51 46 54 52 48 52 48 42 58
3 Gay, lesbian, bisexual — — — — — — — — 78 22 77 23 74 26 73 27 67 33 68 32 — — 76 24 75 25 81 19 69 31
3 Not a high school graduate — — 60 40 57 43 63 37 60 40 67 33 58 42 65 35 58 42 58 42 63 37 50 50 64 36 69 31 61 39
19 High school graduate — — 51 49 55 45 57 43 56 44 58 42 47 53 55 45 51 49 50 50 52 48 50 50 56 44 56 44 46 54
30 Some college — — 49 51 50 50 53 47 52 48 53 47 41 59 50 50 47 53 48 52 47 53 48 52 52 48 54 46 44 56
28 College graduate — — 50 50 46 54 47 53 50 50 46 54 45 55 43 57 45 55 46 54 42 58 47 53 50 50 51 49 42 58
20 Post graduate education — — — — 56 44 54 46 53 47 55 45 57 43 51 49 54 46 54 46 47 53 53 47 59 41 57 43 52 48
21 From the East 65 35 54 46 52 48 54 46 54 46 55 45 50 50 56 44 56 44 59 41 53 47 59 41 64 36 62 38 54 46
25 From the Midwest 49 51 50 50 53 47 55 45 49 51 52 48 45 55 51 49 47 53 49 51 47 53 49 51 53 47 54 46 45 55
31 From the South 59 41 52 48 56 44 54 46 54 46 53 47 47 53 45 55 45 55 45 55 42 58 44 56 46 54 49 51 39 61
23 From the West 53 47 48 52 51 49 53 47 54 46 56 44 47 53 51 49 50 50 50 50 50 50 49 51 56 44 60 40 51 49
% of
total		 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Group D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R
54 Protestant 46 54 44 56 48 52 50 50 48 52 47 53 42 58 43 57 42 58 43 57 38 62 43 57 45 55 46 54 39 61
44 White Protestant 43 57 38 62 43 57 44 56 45 55 43 57 34 66 38 62 35 65 36 64 30 70 33 63 38 62 35 65 29 71
25 Catholic 63 37 58 42 55 45 55 45 54 46 57 43 47 53 54 46 53 47 51 49 55 45 49 51 56 44 57 43 45 55
2 Jewish 82 18 70 30 70 30 68 32 73 27 79 21 77 23 74 26 79 21 76 24 64 36 78 22 88 12 82 18 * *
25 White born-again or evangelical Christian 50 50 32 68 31 69 34 66 * * 34 66 * * * * * * * * * * 25 75 29 71 29 71 21 79
18 Family income is less than $30,000 61 39 55 45 58 42 56 44 58 42 60 40 62 38 65 35 68 32 57 43
19 $30,000 to $49,999 52 48 49 51 53 47 53 47 52 48 52 48 45 55 50 50 49 51 51 49 50 50 52 48 57 43 59 41 52 48
63 Over $50,000 37 63 39 61 47 53 45 55 49 51 47 53 42 58 44 56 46 54 46 54 41 59 44 56 50 50 51 49 47 53
26 Over $100,000 — — — — — — 39 61 43 57 — — 36 64 37 63 45 55 44 56 36 64 42 58 48 52 49 51 43 57
14 Financial situation is getting better 34 66 — — — — — — 51 49 34 66 60 40 65 35 59 41 59 41 34 66 23 77 28 72 38 62 60 40
41 Getting worse 78 22 — — — — — — 54 46 72 28 36 64 33 67 41 59 35 65 61 39 79 21 80 20 72 28 35 65
43 Staying the same 54 46 — — — — — — 54 46 50 50 46 54 47 53 43 57 40 60 47 53 50 50 57 43 48 52 52 48
36 Republicans 12 88 14 86 20 80 21 79 23 77 15 85 8 92 10 90 9 91 8 92 6 94 7 93 8 92 9 91 4 96
27 Independents 51 49 49 51 52 48 54 46 52 48 54 46 43 57 49 51 48 52 49 51 49 51 52 48 59 41 54 46 41 59
36 Democrats 90 10 85 15 81 19 83 17 79 21 89 11 89 11 86 14 89 11 89 12 90 10 91 9 93 7 93 7 93 7
20 Liberals 80 20 76 24 71 29 80 20 73 27 81 19 81 19 82 18 84 16 84 16 81 19 80 14 89 11 89 11 92 8
38 Moderates 60 40 57 43 58 42 57 43 56 44 57 43 57 43 57 43 55 45 54 46 54 46 53 41 61 39 62 38 57 43
42 Conservatives 35 65 31 69 35 65 34 66 37 63 28 72 19 81 21 79 18 82 19 81 19 81 17 79 20 80 23 77 14 86
17 Union household 68 32 64 36 63 37 63 37 — — 67 33 60 40 63 37 64 36 61 39 63 37 62 38 65 35 65 35 62 38
% of
total		 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Group D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R
Approve of the way the
45 President handles his job 26 74 — — 36 64 — — 39 61 — — 82 18 — — 77 23 75 25 26 74 15 85 14 86 15 85 87 13
54 Disapprove 90 10 — — 79 21 — — 73 27 — — 17 83 — — 14 86 14 86 88 12 89 11 84 16 69 31 12 88
Presidential vote:
46 For the Republican candidate 31 69 21 79 35 65 28 72 37 63 15 85 11 89 9 91 9 91 88 12 14 86 10 85 16 84 12 88 7 93
45 For the Democratic candidate 89 11 93 7 83 17 84 16 81 19 89 11 84 16 85 15 82 18 12 88 88 12 86 9 93 7 92 8 86 14
- For independent/third party candidate 76 24 — — — — — — — — 49 51 32 68 46 54 36 57 68 32 76 24 * * 74 26 * * * *
11 Population over 500,000 — — — — 76 24 67 33 61 39 65 35 72 28 69 31 82 18 73 27 67 33 62 38 70 30 73 27 66 34
19 Population 50,000 to 500,000 — — — — 55 45 59 41 57 43 62 38 58 42 49 51 52 48 59 41 56 44 50 50 58 42 60 40 53 47
50 Suburbs 52 48 48 52 49 51 49 51 53 47 51 49 43 57 48 52 48 52 49 51 41 59 48 52 51 49 52 48 44 56
7 Population 10,000 to 50,000 — — — — — — 46 54 31 69 51 49 44 56 48 52 45 55 36 64 51 49 50 50 51 49 49 51 43 57
13 Rural 59 41 45 55 — — 56 44 52 48 51 49 43 57 48 52 38 62 39 61 43 57 43 57 49 51 51 49 36 64
37 White men 52 48 43 57 47 53 47 53 48 52 49 51 37 63 40 60 41 59 39 61 37 63 39 61 46 54 44 56 36 64
41 White women 55 45 49 51 50 50 52 48 52 48 51 49 47 53 49 51 46 54 48 52 42 58 45 56 49 51 47 53 41 59
4 Black men 82 18 90 10 84 16 82 18 79 21 84 16 88 12 78 22 84 16 84 16 89 11 88 12 87 13 93 7 86 14
6 Black women 94 6 94 6 88 12 88 12 80 20 92 8 95 5 86 14 92 8 92 8 92 8 91 9 91 9 96 4 94 6
4 Hispanic men * * 69 31 * * 76 24 74 26 73 27 60 40 70 30 62 38 68 32 64 36 53 47 71 29 71 29 61 39
4 Hispanic women * * 70 30 76 24 77 23 70 30 71 29 61 39 76 24 63 37 74 26 67 33 60 40 69 31 69 31 69 31
6 Men, 18-29 years old 60 40 47 53 48 52 52 48 48 51 52 48 42 58 50 50 44 56 45 55 46 54 52 48 57 43 64 36 56 44
5 Women, 18-29 years old 58 42 56 44 54 46 55 45 55 45 58 42 57 43 60 40 55 45 56 44 54 46 58 42 64 36 66 34 61 39
11 Men, 30-44 years old 52 48 52 48 52 48 51 49 52 48 51 49 41 59 44 56 47 53 44 56 40 60 43 57 52 48 52 48 44 56
12 Women, 30-44 years old 57 43 56 44 52 48 57 43 54 46 54 46 51 49 55 45 53 47 53 47 50 50 52 48 55 45 57 43 52 48
16 Men, 45-59 years old 54 46 47 53 50 50 49 51 48 52 50 50 41 59 46 54 50 50 46 54 45 55 48 52 51 49 49 51 41 59
17 Women, 45-59 years old 58 42 52 48 58 42 57 43 53 47 54 46 52 48 53 47 55 45 54 46 49 51 52 48 56 44 55 45 50 50
15 Men, 60 and older 56 44 46 54 51 49 54 46 52 48 56 44 43 57 45 55 43 57 46 54 47 53 41 59 50 50 51 49 40 60
19 Women, 60 and older 60 40 51 49 53 47 56 44 54 46 57 43 53 47 52 48 48 52 56 44 50 50 51 49 53 47 53 47 44 56
% of
total		 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Group D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R
7 Whites, 18-29 years old 55 45 42 58 48 52 47 53 48 52 50 50 42 58 48 52 45 55 43 57 41 59 45 55 53 47 52 48 48 52
2 Blacks, 18-29 years old 91 9 94 6 81 19 84 16 85 15 90 10 94 6 83 17 79 21 84 16 92 8 88 12 91 9 95 5 88 12
16 Whites, 30-44 years old 51 49 49 51 48 52 49 51 50 50 49 51 39 61 43 57 42 58 41 59 36 64 38 62 45 55 43 57 37 63
3 Blacks, 30-44 years old 88 12 93 7 84 16 86 14 82 16 88 12 91 9 84 16 89 11 91 9 87 13 92 8 89 11 96 4 91 9
26 Whites, 45-59 years old 53 47 45 55 50 50 49 51 49 51 48 52 42 58 45 55 46 54 45 55 40 60 44 56 48 52 44 56 38 62
4 Blacks, 45-59 years old 91 9 90 10 91 9 87 13 74 26 89 11 91 9 81 19 93 7 89 11 92 8 88 12 88 12 94 6 91 9
30 Whites, 60 and older 56 44 45 55 49 51 52 48 52 48 54 46 45 54 46 54 40 60 47 53 44 56 43 57 47 53 46 54 37 63
2 Blacks, 60 and older 85 15 87 13 90 10 82 18 70 30 90 10 93 7 76 24 91 9 87 13 95 5 90 10 90 10 95 5 90 10
33 White Republicans 12 88 13 87 20 80 21 79 25 75 15 85 8 92 9 91 9 91 8 92 6 94 6 94 7 93 8 92 4 96
0 Black Republicans * * * * * * 36 64 * * * * * * 27 73 * * 27 73 * * * * * * * * * *
22 White Independents 50 50 46 54 51 49 52 48 52 48 52 48 40 60 46 54 45 55 47 53 45 55 49 51 57 43 50 50 36 64
2 Black Independents 86 14 87 13 86 14 76 24 77 23 79 21 82 18 70 30 79 21 70 30 79 21 79 21 82 18 92 8 73 27
23 White Democrats 89 11 82 18 78 22 80 20 79 21 87 13 86 14 84 16 86 14 85 15 87 13 89 11 92 8 91 9 91 9
8 Black Democrats 97 3 98 2 94 6 93 7 86 14 96 4 99 1 93 7 97 3 97 3 97 3 97 3 97 3 98 2 99 1
17 Republican men 12 88 14 86 20 80 20 80 26 74 16 84 8 92 9 91 9 91 8 92 6 94 7 93 9 91 9 91 4 96
19 Republican women 12 88 15 85 21 79 23 77 26 74 15 85 8 92 12 88 9 91 9 91 6 94 6 94 6 94 9 91 4 96
15 Independent men 51 49 46 54 51 49 54 46 52 48 52 48 38 62 45 55 46 54 44 56 46 54 49 51 59 41 55 45 39 61
12 Independent women 52 48 52 48 54 46 54 46 55 45 57 43 49 51 53 47 50 50 54 46 52 48 54 46 60 40 54 46 43 57
15 Democratic men 89 11 83 17 82 18 84 16 80 20 89 11 86 14 85 15 88 12 88 12 89 11 90 10 93 7 93 7 93 7
22 Democratic women 91 9 87 13 80 20 83 17 80 20 89 11 90 10 87 13 89 11 89 11 90 10 92 8 94 6 93 7 93 7
% of
total		 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Group D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R D R
1 Liberal Republicans 27 73 13 87 23 77 35 65 44 56 31 69 26 74 33 67 25 75 22 78 16 84 15 85 20 80 21 79 19 81
10 Moderate Republicans 14 86 15 85 25 75 24 76 30 70 19 81 16 84 16 84 14 86 11 89 9 91 10 90 12 88 16 84 9 91
26 Conservative Republicans 8 92 11 89 17 83 18 82 22 78 10 90 5 95 5 95 4 96 5 95 4 96 4 96 5 95 5 95 2 98
4 Liberal independents 78 22 65 35 60 40 74 26 66 34 76 24 71 29 70 30 76 24 77 23 77 23 80 20 86 14 82 18 88 12
13 Moderate independents 53 47 53 47 55 45 56 44 57 43 58 42 49 51 54 46 52 48 50 50 50 50 53 47 63 37 57 43 50 50
11 Conservative independents 33 67 32 68 44 56 39 61 43 57 30 70 19 81 25 75 20 80 20 80 24 76 23 77 29 71 31 69 13 87
15 Liberal Democrats 93 7 92 8 85 15 88 12 84 16 93 7 92 8 93 7 94 6 94 6 92 8 95 5 96 4 96 4 97 3
16 Moderate Democrats 90 10 87 13 81 19 82 18 80 20 87 13 90 10 85 15 87 13 87 13 89 11 91 9 93 7 92 8 91 9
5 Conservative Democrats 86 14 75 25 73 27 78 22 74 26 82 18 79 21 75 25 80 20 80 20 87 13 83 17 87 13 89 11 83 17
2 Men without a high school diploma — — 59 41 56 44 60 40 59 41 67 33 59 41 60 40 56 44 53 47 61 39 47 53 57 43 71 29 55 45
1 Women without a high school diploma — — 61 39 57 43 66 34 60 40 65 35 56 44 71 29 61 39 62 38 65 35 52 48 70 30 66 34 70 30
9 Male high school graduates — — 49 51 57 43 56 44 56 44 59 41 44 56 52 48 51 49 47 53 49 51 48 52 56 44 56 44 45 55
10 Female high school graduates — — 52 48 53 47 57 43 56 44 57 43 49 51 58 42 52 48 53 47 54 46 51 49 55 45 57 43 47 53
13 Men with some college — — 45 55 50 50 50 50 50 50 51 49 34 66 46 54 43 57 45 55 46 54 44 56 48 52 53 47 43 57
17 Women with some college — — 53 47 51 49 55 45 53 47 55 45 47 53 54 46 50 50 50 50 47 53 51 49 54 46 56 44 46 54
24 Male college graduates — — 47 53 46 54 46 54 48 52 46 54 42 58 41 59 43 57 41 59 40 60 44 56 50 50 50 50 41 59
25 Female college graduates — — 55 45 57 43 55 45 55 45 53 47 57 43 52 48 55 45 57 43 49 51 55 45 57 43 57 43 52 48
17 Whites in the East 63 37 50 50 48 52 49 51 53 47 53 47 46 54 52 48 52 48 54 46 50 50 53 47 59 41 55 45 46 54
2 Blacks in the East 90 10 93 7 87 13 90 10 76 24 83 17 91 9 82 18 90 10 86 14 83 17 91 9 89 11 95 5 92 8
21 Whites in the Midwest 46 54 45 55 50 50 52 48 47 53 50 50 43 57 47 53 40 60 45 55 40 60 45 55 47 53 46 54 39 61
2 Blacks in the Midwest 87 13 95 5 84 16 86 14 76 24 93 7 85 15 81 19 90 10 90 10 93 7 87 13 95 5 96 4 90 10
23 Whites in the South 55 45 45 55 50 50 48 52 50 50 47 53 36 64 36 64 35 65 34 66 32 68 31 69 36 64 35 65 27 73
5 Blacks in the South 93 7 92 8 93 7 82 18 80 20 88 12 94 6 85 15 89 11 90 10 93 7 91 9 88 12 94 6 92 8
17 Whites in the West 50 50 44 56 47 53 47 53 52 48 51 49 42 58 45 55 45 55 44 56 42 58 44 56 50 50 51 49 45 55
1 Blacks in the West 84 16 83 17 85 15 82 18 96 4 94 6 90 10 72 28 * * 85 15 85 15 88 12 83 17 93 7 83 17

Data for 2010, collected by Edison Research for the National Election Pool, was based on questionnaires completed by 17,504 voters leaving 268 polling places around the nation on Election Day and 1,601 telephone interviews with absentee and early voters.

The surveys in 2004, 2006, and 2008 were conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International; from 1994 through 2002 the polls were conducted by Voter News Service; in 1990 and 1992 by Voter Research and Surveys; and in earlier years by The New York Times and CBS News.

Direct comparisons from year-to-year should factor in differences in how the questions were asked. Born-again Christian was an item on a checklist before 2004. Financial situation is based on questions about the respondent’s family’s financial situation compared with four years ago in presidential election years, and compared with two years ago in midterm years. Protestants have included ‘Other Christians’ since 1984 and ‘Mormon/LDS’ since 2004. Men and women college graduates include those with post graduate education.

Those who gave no answer are not shown. Those who voted for third-party candidates are not included.
— Indicates a question was not asked, or a category was not provided in a particular year. * Indicates that there were an insufficient number of responses in that subgroup.