Overview
- A Fox News poll reports roughly three-quarters of voters are comfortable spending time with people who hold opposing political views, with only about one in five planning to avoid them, matching 2022 levels.
- Comfort varies by party, with Republicans (86%) more likely than independents (71%) or Democrats (68%) to say they won’t avoid anyone, while Hispanics (31%), Democrats (30%) and voters under 35 (30%) are more likely to dodge partisan tables.
- A Scripps News/Talker Research poll finds only 10% call political talk at Thanksgiving inappropriate, 17% say uncomfortable and 15% say annoying, while 33% describe it as respectful and 27% as passionate.
- Economic strain is shaping holiday plans: in the Fox survey, 44% say they will spend less on seasonal gifts versus 11% who will spend more, with another 44% holding steady, and the groups most likely to cut back include liberals, Democrats and women under 45.
- Methodology notes: Fox surveyed 1,005 registered voters Nov. 14–17 with a ±3-point margin of error, while the Scripps/Talker poll sampled about 1,000 respondents with a regional skew toward the South.