Political Dynamics: what the research shows
Americans trust local government more than their state government, though less than in 2018, and more elected local officials now say polarization is hurting their own community.
What it means for the people a leader leads
Staff carry residents’ trust in person, at the counter, on the phone and in public meetings.
Political Dynamics
Situations from the homepage
- Employees personally attacked during meetings
- Online attacks naming employees
- Recorded personal attacks naming employees
- Council member attacks council colleague
- Council member attacks the manager
These are illustrative situations, not findings of frequency or one combined event.
Research situations
An employee is named in a personal attack at a public meeting or on social media.
An allegation about that employee is unsubstantiated. The manager weighs a factual response and support for the employee.
If the meeting is recorded, the response may need to reach people who watch later.
Evidence
A county manager’s published account describes staff named in online campaigns and unsubstantiated public accusations. Official meeting archives separately show recordings available after adjournment.
Limits
These sources do not document one combined incident or measure lasting harm after correction. Public criticism and disagreement remain legitimate; naming an employee alone is not an attack.
Sources
Two levels, two long series
In September 2025, 65% of Americans trusted their local government to handle local problems, a majority in both parties (Democrats 79%, Republicans 61%), in Gallup’s polling. In the same month, 17% trusted the federal government to do what is right always or most of the time, in Pew Research Center’s long-running series. The two charts below are different questions from different publishers, drawn on the same scale.
How it moved, and the figures behind the chart
It was 72% in 2018 and 63% in 1972. State government was 59% in 2025, six points below local government.
Percent of U.S. adults with a great deal or a fair amount of trust and confidence, Gallup
| Year | Local government | State government |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 63% | 63% |
| 1974 | 71% | 75% |
| 1976 | 65% | 72% |
| 1997 | 69% | 68% |
| 1998 | 77% | 80% |
| 2001 | 69% | 65% |
| 2003 | 68% | 53% |
| 2004 | 68% | 67% |
| 2005 | 70% | 67% |
| 2007 | 69% | 67% |
| 2008 | 72% | 67% |
| 2009 | 69% | 51% |
| 2010 | 70% | 52% |
| 2011 | 68% | 57% |
| 2012 | 74% | 65% |
| 2013 | 71% | not asked |
| 2014 | 72% | 62% |
| 2015 | 70% | 58% |
| 2016 | 71% | 62% |
| 2017 | 70% | 63% |
| 2018 | 72% | 63% |
| 2019 | 71% | 63% |
| 2020 | 71% | 60% |
| 2021 | 66% | 57% |
| 2022 | 67% | 57% |
| 2023 | 67% | 59% |
| 2024 | 67% | 55% |
| 2025 | 65% | 59% |
How it moved, and the figures behind the chart
Source: Pew Research Center, compiled trend of pollsIt was 73% in December 1958 and 77% in October 1964, and has been under 30% in most polls since 2007.
Percent trusting the federal government just about always or most of the time, Pew’s compiled trend
| Poll | Trust |
|---|---|
| December 1958 (NES) | 73% |
| October 1964 (NES) | 77% |
| December 1966 (NES) | 65% |
| October 1968 (NES) | 62% |
| December 1970 (NES) | 54% |
| October 1972 (NES) | 53% |
| December 1974 (NES) | 36% |
| February 1976 (CBS/NYT) | 36% |
| March 1976 (Gallup) | 33% |
| June 1976 (CBS/NYT) | 33% |
| September 1976 (CBS/NYT) | 40% |
| October 1976 (NES) | 33% |
| April 1977 (CBS/NYT) | 35% |
| October 1977 (CBS/NYT) | 33% |
| December 1978 (NES) | 29% |
| November 1979 (CBS/NYT) | 30% |
| March 1980 (CBS/NYT) | 26% |
| October 1980 (NES) | 25% |
| November 1980 (CBS/NYT) | 39% |
| December 1982 (NES) | 33% |
| October 1984 (NES) | 44% |
| November 1984 (CBS/NYT) | 46% |
| February 1985 (ABC/Post) | 43% |
| February 1985 (CBS/NYT) | 46% |
| March 1985 (ABC/Post) | 37% |
| July 1985 (ABC/Post) | 38% |
| November 1985 (CBS/NYT) | 49% |
| January 1986 (CBS/NYT) | 42% |
| September 1986 (ABC/Post) | 40% |
| November 1986 (CBS/NYT) | 49% |
| December 1986 (NES) | 39% |
| January 1987 (ABC/Post) | 44% |
| January 1987 (CBS/NYT) | 43% |
| March 1987 (CBS/NYT) | 42% |
| June 1987 (ABC/Post) | 47% |
| October 1987 (CBS/NYT) | 41% |
| January 1988 (ABC/Post) | 39% |
| October 1988 (NES) | 41% |
| November 1988 (CBS/NYT) | 44% |
| January 1989 (CBS/NYT) | 44% |
| June 1989 (CBS/NYT) | 35% |
| January 1990 (ABC/Post) | 38% |
| September 1990 (ABC/Post) | 42% |
| October 1990 (CBS/NYT) | 25% |
| December 1990 (NES) | 28% |
| January 1991 (ABC/Post) | 46% |
| March 1991 (ABC/Post) | 45% |
| March 1991 (CBS/NYT) | 47% |
| October 1991 (ABC/Post) | 35% |
| June 1992 (Gallup) | 23% |
| October 1992 (NES) | 29% |
| October 1992 (CBS/NYT) | 22% |
| January 1993 (CBS/NYT) | 24% |
| January 1993 (ABC/Post) | 28% |
| March 1993 (Gallup) | 22% |
| January 1994 (ABC/Post) | 24% |
| January 1994 (Gallup) | 19% |
| June 1994 (Gallup) | 17% |
| October 1994 (CBS/NYT) | 22% |
| October 1994 (ABC/Post) | 22% |
| December 1994 (NES) | 22% |
| February 1995 (CBS/NYT) | 18% |
| March 1995 (ABC/Post) | 22% |
| August 1995 (CBS/NYT) | 20% |
| August 1995 (Gallup) | 22% |
| November 1995 (ABC/Post) | 25% |
| May 1996 (ABC/Post) | 34% |
| May 1996 (Gallup) | 27% |
| October 1996 (NES) | 33% |
| November 1996 (CBS/NYT) | 25% |
| January 1997 (CBS/NYT) | 23% |
| June 1997 (Gallup) | 32% |
| August 1997 (ABC/Post) | 22% |
| October 1997 (Pew) | 39% |
| January 1998 (ABC/Post) | 31% |
| January 1998 (CBS/NYT) | 26% |
| February 1998 (Gallup) | 39% |
| February 1998 (Pew) | 34% |
| August 1998 (ABC/Post) | 34% |
| October 1998 (CBS/NYT) | 26% |
| November 1998 (CBS/NYT) | 24% |
| November 1998 (Pew) | 26% |
| December 1998 (NES) | 40% |
| January 1999 (CBS/NYT) | 33% |
| January 1999 (CBS/NYT) | 37% |
| February 1999 (Gallup) | 33% |
| February 1999 (ABC/Post) | 32% |
| February 1999 (Pew) | 31% |
| May 1999 (Pew) | 31% |
| September 1999 (CBS/NYT) | 38% |
| October 1999 (CBS/NYT) | 30% |
| February 2000 (Pew) | 40% |
| April 2000 (ABC/Post) | 31% |
| July 2000 (Gallup) | 42% |
| October 2000 (NES) | 44% |
| October 2000 (CBS/NYT) | 40% |
| January 2001 (CBS/NYT) | 31% |
| October 2001 (Gallup) | 60% |
| October 2001 (CBS/NYT) | 55% |
| December 2001 (CBS/NYT) | 48% |
| January 2002 (CBS/NYT) | 46% |
| June 2002 (Gallup) | 44% |
| July 2002 (CBS/NYT) | 38% |
| September 2002 (CBS/NYT) | 38% |
| September 2002 (Gallup) | 46% |
| October 2002 (NES) | 55% |
| July 2003 (CBS/NYT) | 36% |
| October 2003 (Gallup) | 37% |
| March 2004 (Pew) | 36% |
| July 2004 (CBS/NYT) | 40% |
| October 2004 (NES) | 46% |
| June 2005 (Gallup) | 30% |
| September 2005 (CBS/NYT) | 29% |
| September 2005 (Pew) | 31% |
| December 2005 (CBS/NYT) | 32% |
| January 2006 (Gallup) | 32% |
| January 2006 (CBS/NYT) | 32% |
| February 2006 (Pew) | 34% |
| September 2006 (CBS/NYT) | 28% |
| October 2006 (CBS/NYT) | 29% |
| January 2007 (Pew) | 31% |
| July 2007 (CBS/NYT) | 24% |
| October 2008 (CBS/NYT) | 17% |
| October 2008 (NES) | 31% |
| December 2008 (CNN) | 26% |
| June 2009 (CBS/NYT) | 20% |
| August 2009 (CBS/NYT) | 24% |
| December 2009 (CNN) | 20% |
| January 2010 (Gallup) | 19% |
| February 2010 (CBS/NYT) | 19% |
| February 2010 (CNN) | 26% |
| March 2010 (Pew) | 22% |
| April 2010 (CBS/NYT) | 20% |
| April 2010 (Pew) | 25% |
| September 2010 (CNN) | 25% |
| September 2010 (Pew) | 24% |
| October 2010 (CBS/NYT) | 18% |
| October 2010 (CBS/NYT) | 22% |
| February 2011 (Pew) | 29% |
| August 2011 (Pew) | 19% |
| September 2011 (CNN) | 15% |
| October 2011 (Pew) | 20% |
| October 2011 (CBS/NYT) | 10% |
| October 2012 (NES) | 22% |
| January 2013 (Pew) | 26% |
| February 2013 (CBS/NYT) | 20% |
| May 2013 (CBS/NYT) | 20% |
| October 2013 (Pew) | 19% |
| November 2013 (CBS/NYT) | 17% |
| February 2014 (Pew) | 24% |
| July 2014 (CNN) | 14% |
| October 2015 (Pew) | 19% |
| April 2017 (Pew) | 20% |
| December 2017 (Pew) | 18% |
| March 2019 (Pew) | 17% |
| April 2020 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 27% |
| August 2020 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 20% |
| April 2021 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 24% |
| May 2022 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 20% |
| June 2023 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 16% |
| May 2024 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 22% |
| February 2025 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 17% |
| September 2025 (Pew; Pew American Trends Panel (online) from 2020; telephone before) | 17% |
More elected local officials see polarization hurting the country than their own community
Four waves over two years: the community figure was 31% in August to September 2024, 31% in January to March 2025, 30% in September to October 2025 and 41% in June to August 2026; the country figure was 87%, 83%, 89% and 91% at the same four waves. Fielded by CivicPulse, funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The figures behind the chart
Source: Polarization in America IVPercent of local elected officials saying polarization has a great deal or a lot of negative effects
| Wave, fieldwork dates | On the country | In their own community |
|---|---|---|
| August to September 2024 | 87% | 31% |
| January to March 2025 | 83% | 31% |
| September to October 2025 | 89% | 30% |
| June to August 2026 | 91% | 41% |
For the people a leader leads
Staff serve residents of every view, at the counter and in public meetings.
In mid-2026, 41% of elected local officials said national polarization is hurting their own community, and 91% said it is hurting the country. Appointed managers were not asked.
A second measure: 61% viewed their local government favorably in December 2023
It was 69% in 2019. State government: 59% to 50%. Federal government: 32% to 22%. The 2013 survey used telephone interviews. The 2019, 2022 and 2023 readings came from Pew’s online American Trends Panel.
The figures behind the chart
Source: Pew Research Center, 2024Percent of U.S. adults with a favorable view, Pew Research Center
| Year | Local | State | Federal |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2013 | 63% | 57% | 28% |
| 2019 | 69% | 59% | 32% |
| May 2022 | 66% | 54% | 32% |
| December 2023 | 61% | 50% | 22% |
For the people a leader leads
Staff meet residents’ views of local government, favorable or not, in person.
Fewer newspapers, fewer newspaper jobs
76,500 people worked for newspaper publishers in January 2026, against 455,200 in January 1990 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
How it moved, and the figures behind the chart
It was 185,700 in January 2016 and 455,200 in January 1990, lower in every January since 2006.
All employees, newspaper publishers, not seasonally adjusted, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
| January | Employees |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 455,200 |
| 1991 | 449,700 |
| 1992 | 434,500 |
| 1993 | 432,000 |
| 1994 | 431,100 |
| 1995 | 431,200 |
| 1996 | 424,900 |
| 1997 | 421,300 |
| 1998 | 426,200 |
| 1999 | 424,300 |
| 2000 | 425,900 |
| 2001 | 420,500 |
| 2002 | 394,600 |
| 2003 | 385,900 |
| 2004 | 378,300 |
| 2005 | 370,700 |
| 2006 | 365,600 |
| 2007 | 354,000 |
| 2008 | 340,600 |
| 2009 | 299,900 |
| 2010 | 262,300 |
| 2011 | 248,200 |
| 2012 | 232,300 |
| 2013 | 220,000 |
| 2014 | 209,300 |
| 2015 | 199,000 |
| 2016 | 185,700 |
| 2017 | 171,700 |
| 2018 | 157,700 |
| 2019 | 140,200 |
| 2020 | 128,400 |
| 2021 | 109,000 |
| 2022 | 106,700 |
| 2023 | 99,000 |
| 2024 | 91,200 |
| 2025 | 86,600 |
| 2026 | 76,500 |
For the people a leader leads
Where no local paper covers a council or board meeting, residents may ask staff at the counter, on the phone and in public meetings for the explanation.
Close to 3,500 newspapers have stopped printing since 2005, by the count of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University, which is supported by the Knight, MacArthur and Joyce foundations and others, including a newspaper publishers’ foundation. In 2025, 212 U.S. counties had no local news source and another 1,525 had only one; those are levels with their year.
21% of U.S. adults followed local news very closely in December 2025 (Pew Research Center).
Three questions only the organization can answer
No national series measures any one city or county. These three questions are for a leadership team to answer about its own.
- Where does disagreement show up in the organization’s work today: in public meetings, at the counter, or in conversations among staff?
- What standards does the organization hold to in how it treats residents and staff, however a given vote goes?
- When staff meet hostility or a threat in their work, who do they tell, and what happens next?
Further reading
- AI and privacy, March 5, 2026: What a Federal AI Privacy Ruling Means for Local Government
- Trust in local government, March 25, 2025: When Clarity Fades: What Happens to Trust in Local Government
- A new manager’s first months, January 6, 2025: The First 90 Days as a New City Manager
Primary sources
Data 1958 to 2026. Gallup, Pew Research Center, CivicPulse with Carnegie Corporation of New York, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Medill Local News Initiative.
- Gallup: Trust in Government Depends Upon Party Control (2025)
- Pew Research Center: Public Trust in Government, 1958 to 2025
- CivicPulse and Carnegie Corporation of New York: Polarization in America IV (2026)
- Pew Research Center: Views of Federal, State and Local Government (2024)
- Pew Research Center: Local News Fact Sheet (December 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employees of Newspaper Publishers
- Medill Local News Initiative: The State of Local News (2025)