This broad agreement on policy issues suggests that Americans are more united in their views on governmental roles and actions than the daily headlines might indicate. It’s not all a left-wing fantasy either; statements like “America would be better off if we let in more immigrants” didn’t reach 30% support in any community type.

The culture wars: a story of deep divide.

However, when the focus shifts to cultural issues, the divisions become stark. The widest chasm appears on the issue of gun rights. While 49% of Americans overall agreed that “the right to own a firearm is central to what it means to be an American,” the agreement varied dramatically by community. In the rural “Evangelical Hubs” and “Aging Farmlands,” 71% and 73%, respectively, affirmed this sentiment. In contrast, only 30% of those in “Big Cities” and 34% in “Urban Suburbs” agreed.

Similarly, on gender identity, communities like “Big Cities” and “Urban Suburbs” showed higher acceptance of gender expression freedom, while more rural and conservative areas like “Working Class Country” and “Evangelical Hubs” were less supportive.

Faith, family, and further fractures.

Faith and religion also reveal deep divides. Nationally, 58% of respondents agreed that “Faith and religion are important parts of American life,” but this ranged from 77% in “Aging Farmlands” to just 47% in “Big Cities.” Traditional family structures saw similar splits, with higher agreement in rural and religious communities compared to urban areas.

Moving past the culture hijack.

These cultural issues – guns, gender, faith, and families – clearly matter deeply to many Americans. However, they often hijack the political debate, overshadowing the substantial agreement on policy issues where government has a more practical role.

While agreeing on the importance of issues like a rigged economy or abortion rights doesn’t translate into uniform solutions, it sets the stage for constructive political dialogue. Because politics is about negotiation and compromise, hashing out solutions to shared concerns should take on more importance, which is a far cry from the intractable culture wars that currently dominate the discourse.

Shifting the political focus from cultural identity to practical policy questions could help reduce the deadlock and tensions that characterize the current political climate.

Who Michigan is.

Until this shift occurs, the 2024 election and beyond may continue to feel like a battleground. But beneath the surface, there’s a surprising amount of common ground that could pave the way for more productive political engagement. Some of that common ground can come from understanding who we are and what kind of background and life experience everyone has.

In the state of Michigan, the ACP reports that of the 83 Michigan counties, 32 are defined as Graying America, 30 are Rural Middle America, 7 are College Towns, 7 are Middle Suburbs, 2 are Urban Suburbs, 2 are Working Class County, 2 are Exurbs and one is listed as a Big City (Wayne County). Definitions for these terms can be found here; however, what is shows is that almost 76% of the state is a place that is generally rural and less diverse, is middle income, is largely White with an average education and has large senior communities.

Finding common ground in a divided nation.

At the end of the day, regardless of our differences, in every day life in local communities (and even in some big cities) people are finding common ground – and those who can’t find it can still be friends. Corey Comperatore, the man who was killed by the shooter at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania, was an example of that. His neighbor, Paul Hayden said about their relationship, “He knew I was a Biden fan, I knew he was a Trump fan,” he told NBC News. “But we never let that come in between us.”

In a world increasingly marked by division and strife, the call for unity resounds more urgently than ever. The study from Michigan, and the story of Comperatore and Hayden, offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that despite the tumultuous political landscape, common ground exists and there is, perhaps, a path forward where unity isn’t just a lofty ideal, but a tangible goal – and everyone can get along if they can accept each other as individuals with political views, but as neighbors.