Name: What makes someone vote against their political party?
Uploaded: 2024-02-06T15:41:49Z
Duration: 11 min 15 s
Description: Our brains are hardwired to crave community and belonging — a tribal instinct that drives politics in the United States, says political strategist Sarah Longwell. She shares what she learned trying to convince people to vote against their political party in a recent election and shows why telling a better story about democracy is key to bridging the ideological divide.

Our brains are hardwired to crave community and belonging — a tribal instinct that drives politics in the United States, says political strategist Sarah Longwell. She shares what she learned trying to convince people to vote against their political party in a recent election and shows why telling a better story about democracy is key to bridging the ideological divide.

What makes someone vote against their political party?

People are wired to seek belonging, making political tribalism a powerful force in US elections. Even when faced with threats to democracy, most voters feel stronger ties to their political identity than to abstract democratic ideals. In 2020, it was stories from peers—not lofty rhetoric—that persuaded some Republicans to cross party lines. Lasting change depends on creating a shared narrative that makes democracy feel personal and vital.