AP-NORC poll finds fewer Americans view democracy as central to U.S. identity ahead of America’s 250th anniversary

In an April survey of 2,596 adults, 66% said a democratically elected government is extremely or very important to the nation’s identity, down from 80% in early 2021, according to AP-NORC.

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Fewer Americans say democracy is central to the country’s national identity as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary of independence, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

The survey, conducted April 16 to 20, 2026, used the AmeriSpeak panel, a probability-based panel run by NORC at the University of Chicago. AP-NORC reported 2,596 interviews of U.S. adults, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Respondents were asked how important various factors are to the United States’ identity as a nation. For the item, “A democratically elected government,” 66% of adults said it is extremely or very important. AP-NORC’s topline results also show that support for this connection has fallen over time, with 80% saying the same in a January 28 to February 1, 2021 survey and 76% in a March 21 to 25, 2024 survey.

The decline is accompanied by wide age differences. AP reported that only about half of adults under 30 said democracy is a key element of American identity, compared with 81% of those ages 60 and older.

AP reported that the poll results also reflected broader doubts about how the United States measures up to ideals. Only about one-quarter of Americans said the United States stands above all other countries, while 44% said it is one of the greatest countries, the report said, and it described rising skepticism about opportunity and identity themes.

In the survey’s open-ended comments and follow-up interviews, at least one respondent associated weaker attachment to democratic ideals with dissatisfaction about who is elected. AP quoted Derricka Wall, 24, of Chickasaw, Alabama, saying the problem was not the system itself but the people put into office.

AP-NORC said the America 250 poll page will be updated with additional results in the weeks leading up to July 4, 2026, when the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding is observed.

Why It Matters

The survey adds a time-specific benchmark of public views about whether democratic governance is part of how Americans define national identity ahead of a major anniversary.
Because the question wording links identity to democratically elected government, changes in the percentage responding “extremely/very important” can indicate shifting public support for democratic legitimacy as a national norm.
The results were produced by a probability-based panel (AmeriSpeak) with a stated sampling error range, shaping how such findings may be used in future public opinion discussions around the America 250 timeline.
AP-NORC’s plan to release additional poll results in the weeks before July 4, 2026 suggests more comparative measures and demographic breakdowns may be published before anniversary events peak.

Sources

Key Facts

An AP-NORC nationwide poll fielded April 16 to 20, 2026, interviewed 2,596 U.S. adults using the AmeriSpeak panel, with a reported margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
In the April 2026 results, 66% of adults said a “democratically elected government” is extremely or very important to the United States’ identity as a nation.
The topline results show the share saying democracy is highly important was 80% in a January 28 to February 1, 2021 survey and 76% in a March 21 to 25, 2024 survey.
AP reported that only about half of adults under 30 tied democracy to American identity, compared with 81% of adults ages 60 and older.
AP reported that only about one-quarter of Americans said the U.S. stands above all other countries, while 44% said it is among the greatest countries.
AP-NORC said the America 250 poll page would be updated with additional results in the weeks leading up to July 4, 2026.