The partisan tolerance gap, by target and era

Difference in the weighted share who would let each speaker speak. Blue = Democrats more permissive; red = Republicans more permissive.

In the earliest era every cell leans the same way — Republicans a touch more willing to allow every speaker. By 2012–2024 the column splits by target. The racist row is the extreme: Democrats 51% versus Republicans 62% would allow the speech, a −11-point gap that widened from −5. Source: GSS, weighted.

Would you let this person speak in your community?

Weighted share saying yes, by party. Democrats and Republicans.

Tolerance rose for most speakers as a generation turned over — except the racist, whose platform the parties now treat in opposite directions. The Muslim-cleric item (loaded wording, asked from 2008) sits lowest for everyone. Source: GSS, weighted.