# Most people know the term MAGA Republican, but few use it for themselves

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/political-label-recognition-and-identity/
Published: 2026-10-23

> Featured topic in Politics.

61.4% of Americans recognize the label MAGA Republican, but 12.0% use it for themselves. Liberal Democrat is recognized by 57.2% and claimed by 11.4%.

## Overview: Familiar labels, few takers

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted September 25 to 30, 2026, 61.4% are familiar with the term MAGA Republican, but 12.0% identify with it.

The same gap shows up on the left. Liberal Democrat is familiar to 57.2% and claimed by 11.4%, and Democratic Socialist is familiar to 54.4% and claimed by 10.6%.

## Republican labels

MAGA Republican is the best-known Republican-side label at 61.4%, followed by Christian Conservative at 50.1% and Traditional Republican at 43.7%.

Christian Conservative is the label the largest share claim, at 14.0%, ahead of MAGA Republican at 12.0%. Some 62.1% identify with none of the Republican-side labels.

## Democratic labels

Liberal Democrat is the best-known Democratic-side label at 57.2%, followed by Democratic Socialist at 54.4% and Progressive Democrat at 50.0%.

Moderate Democrat is claimed by 12.0%, Progressive Democrat by 11.5% and Liberal Democrat by 11.4%. Some 57.8% identify with none of the Democratic-side labels.

## Reading the gap

Respondents could choose several labels. Some 18.8% were familiar with none of the Republican-side terms and 23.1% with none of the Democratic-side terms.

Familiarity and identity were asked separately. The results do not show which people know a label but reject it.

## Supporting evidence

### 61.4% of Americans are familiar with the term MAGA Republican, the best known of the Republican-side labels.

Question: Please choose all that apply

Topline:

- MAGA Republican: 61.4%
- Christian Conservative: 50.1%
- Traditional Republican: 43.7%
- Moderate Republican: 41.2%
- Mainstream Republican: 30.8%

### 14.0% identify as Christian Conservative and 12.0% as MAGA Republican; 62.1% identify with none of these labels.

Question: Which of the following political group descriptors do you identify with? Please choose all that apply

Topline:

- I do not identify with any of these: 62.1%
- Christian Conservative: 14.0%
- MAGA Republican: 12.0%
- Moderate Republican: 11.4%
- Traditional Republican: 11.0%

### 57.2% are familiar with the term Liberal Democrat, and 54.4% with Democratic Socialist.

Question: Please choose all that apply

Topline:

- Liberal Democrat: 57.2%
- Democratic Socialist: 54.4%
- Progressive Democrat: 50.0%
- Moderate Democrat: 43.3%
- Mainstream Democrat: 32.1%

### 12.0% identify as Moderate Democrat and 11.5% as Progressive Democrat; 57.8% identify with none of these labels.

Question: Which of the following political group descriptors do you identify with? Please choose all that apply

Topline:

- I do not identify with any of these: 57.8%
- Moderate Democrat: 12.0%
- Progressive Democrat: 11.5%
- Liberal Democrat: 11.4%
- Democratic Socialist: 10.6%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: Democracy, Politics, & Participation
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [Please choose all that apply](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-43): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [Please choose all that apply](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-44): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [Which of the following political group descriptors do you identify with? Please choose all that apply](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-45): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [Which of the following political group descriptors do you identify with? Please choose all that apply](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-46): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-43](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-43)