What surveys measure political tolerance in Democrats and Republicans?

1. What “political tolerance” means in these surveys

Different surveys operationalize “political tolerance” in distinct ways: Pew measures perceptions of the parties’ tolerance for different types of people and respect for democratic norms ^{[1] [8]}, Gallup asks whether respondents tolerate norm-violating behavior by preferred candidates and whether people endorse nonviolence and compromise ^[2], and the SNF Agora Institute study looks at confidence in constitutional norms and acceptance of presidential power among Republican subgroups ^[6]. Because each instrument targets different behaviors — rhetoric vs. violence vs. institutional restraint — the findings are not interchangeable ^{[2] [6] [1]}.

2. Which surveys specifically compare Democrats and Republicans on tolerance

Pew’s October 2025 reports explicitly compare partisan views of tolerance and respect: it finds asymmetry in perceived tolerance (e.g., 29% of Republicans say Democrats are tolerant of different types of people, while only 9% of Democrats say the same about Republicans) ^[8]. Gallup’s 2025 items report partisans’ willingness to excuse norm violations by preferred candidates and broader attitudes about compromise and free expression ^[2]. National polls from NPR/PBS/Marist and others ask about perceptions of closed‑mindedness and dishonesty across the parties, documenting mutual negative views ^{[7] [9]}.

3. Typical question formats and sample sizes

Pew’s large survey in Sept. 2025 used 3,445 adults and released toplines and question wording, enabling researchers to see the exact items and response options ^[1]. Gallup’s self‑administered web and telephone polls often have samples around 1,000–20,000 (Gallup Panel wave noted 20,338 in a 2025 field period) and use agree/disagree or multi‑point scales for items on compromise, nonviolence, and tolerance ^{[2] [10]}. Other organizational polls (Marquette ~1,052; Emerson ~national sample dates listed) supplement these views but use different methodologies and margins of error ^{[3] [4]}.

4. What the headline findings say about partisan differences

Reporting from these instruments converges on a picture of mutual distrust and perceived closed‑mindedness: more than eight‑in‑ten partisans describe the other party as “closed‑minded,” and large shares call the other side “dishonest” ^[7]. Pew documents a specific perception gap on tolerance of different groups — Republicans more likely to call Democrats tolerant than Democrats are to call Republicans tolerant (29% vs. 9%) ^[8]. Gallup shows ambivalence: while strong majorities endorse democratic ideals like free expression, only a minority consistently reject norm‑violating behavior by favored candidates ^[2].

5. Limitations, comparability issues, and hidden agendas

These surveys vary in question wording, sample frame (probability panel, web self‑administered, telephone), and timing — all of which shape results. Pew and Gallup publish question wording and methodology ^{[1] [10]}, but secondary reporting (Newsweek, NPR, PBS) summarizes findings and may emphasize electoral implications ^{[11] [7]}. Academic projects like the SNF Agora Institute frame questions around constitutional norms and may spotlight intra‑party heterogeneity among Republicans to argue for nuanced policy or reform attention; that institutional agenda should be read alongside methodology ^[6].

6. How to pick the right survey for your question

If you want direct measures of interpersonal or group tolerance (e.g., “Is the other party tolerant of different types of people?”), use Pew’s published modules and toplines for exact wording and subgroup crosstabs ^{[1] [8]}. If you care about tolerance for norm‑breaking by leaders or acceptance of political violence, Gallup’s democracy‑and‑norms items are best‑suited ^[2]. For electoral and affective‑polarization context — closed‑mindedness, dishonesty, and vote intention — look to NPR/PBS/Marist, Marquette, Emerson and other national polls ^{[7] [3] [4]}.

7. Where reporting currently disagrees or leaves gaps

Available sources do not provide a single standardized “political tolerance index” applied across all studies; instead, each organization measures different facets (not found in current reporting). Also, while several polls document perceptions (how tolerant the other party is), fewer directly measure respondents’ own willingness to engage with opposing views using identical items across partisans — a gap for researchers seeking a harmonized cross‑survey comparison ^{[2] [1]}.

Bottom line: multiple reputable surveys measure aspects of political tolerance — pick the survey whose questions map to the specific tolerance concept you need, and read the exact wording and methodology so partisan comparisons are valid ^{[1] [2]}.