No, you probably won't fight about politics at Thanksgiving
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We can't promise politics won't be on the table this Thanksgiving season, but a recent poll shows a majority of Americans say they're not expecting political quarrels while carving the turkey this year.
The big picture: Even as the nation remains deeply divided on partisan and generational lines, most Americans keep their Thanksgiving meals insulated from that divide, despite the holiday's reputation for bursting ideological bubbles.
Driving the news: Only 11% of respondents in a YouGov poll conducted earlier this month among 1,120 U.S. adult citizens said they expected there to be arguments about politics at their Thanksgiving celebration.
- Over 30% said they're at least somewhat likely to discuss politics at their dinner, but for the vast majority of U.S. adults, they don't expect arguments this year.
Zoom in: There are divides among partisans, with 19% of Democrats bracing for a fight compared to 9% of Republicans — but in both (gravy) boats, a majority aren't expecting an argument.
- Regionally, the Northeast doesn't have time for arguments, with just 7% expecting one. The polite Midwest will stuff down their political feelings, with just 9% gearing up for a fight. Southern hospitality is winning out down South, but 10% still think arguments could be on the table. And in the rugged West, 16% predict a political showdown at the family corral.
- More Americans in younger age brackets expect arguments than older cohorts, with only 3% of those 65 and older responding in the affirmative.
Flashback: Last year, respondents predicted a slightly testier Turkey Day after a contentious election.
- Asked the same question, 14% of U.S. adults expected there to be arguments about politics at their Thanksgiving celebration, while 61% did not.
- In 2023, respondents who usually celebrate the holiday were posed with the question, "Are there ever arguments about politics at your Thanksgiving celebration?" While 78% said no, 16% said yes.
- The year prior, three-quarters said there had not been political arguments at their Thanksgiving celebrations, while 19% said there had been.
The bottom line: Your uncle may have some hot takes this holiday season. Luckily, most Americans don't expect it to turn into a political spat.
- But don't get us started on whether it's called stuffing or dressing.
Go deeper: Why post-Thanksgiving walks are worth it
Methodology: This online survey was conducted among 1,120 U.S. adult citizens, Nov. 14-27, 2025. Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4 percentage points.
