America’s 250th Anniversary and Partisan Differences

America’s 250th anniversary celebration began with a controversial event at the White House: hosting an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight card on the South Lawn. The reaction to this event highlights the partisan divide in the United States. A significant number of Democrats, about 75%, considered the spectacle inappropriate, while less than 25% of Republicans agreed.

Further partisan differences emerged over the Trump administration’s Great American State Fair, hosted on the National Mall. At least ten states led by Democratic governors have chosen not to officially participate. Criticism from an Oregon spokesperson suggested the event appeared increasingly partisan.

Partisanship is not the only factor influencing the mood around America’s 250th anniversary. A gender divide has also become apparent. Women are less engaged with the anniversary than men, showing different priorities for the celebrations. For example, women prioritize bringing people together, while many men focus on historical figures like the founding fathers.

Data from a national poll conducted by Bowling Green State University with YouGov offers insights into this gender gap. The poll included 1,200 U.S. registered voters and had a 3.2% margin of error. Interest in America’s 250th anniversary stands at 60% among women, compared to 70% among men. Participation rates also differ: 45% of women intend to join activities marking the occasion versus 54% of men.

Men and women differ in what they want the celebrations to emphasize. Twice as many men as women choose commemorating the founding fathers: 26% versus 14%. Women favor bringing Americans together across differences, with 48% choosing this focus compared to 37% of men.

Could this gender divide relate to party affiliation: women aligning more with Democrats and men with Republicans? Although there is some truth in this, the situation is complex. Within each party, women are less likely than men to participate in the 250th anniversary celebrations. However, some significant differences exist among Republicans that are not seen among Democrats.

The gender gap among Republicans for prioritizing the founding fathers is 16 points: fewer Republican women show interest than Republican men. In contrast, Democrats show no significant gender gap on this issue. Similarly, on the idea of bringing Americans together, no gender gap exists among Democrats, while it’s 19 points among Republicans. Most Republican women prefer unity-focused celebrations, unlike just one-third of Republican men.

Regarding whether the celebrations should be mostly celebratory, 60% of Republican men agree, but less than half of Republican women do. There’s no such divide among Democrats. Furthermore, when asked if America’s founding principles are still relevant for addressing current challenges, only 46% of Republican women strongly agree, compared to 59% of Republican men. Again, Democratic men and women showed no statistical difference.

An exception to these gender divides appeared when considering fairness, justice, and equality principles. When asked if these remain true today, there’s a 10-point gender gap overall, with more women disagreeing: 42% compared to 32% of men. Yet, among Democrats, this difference is just eight points, and no substantial gender difference exists among Republicans.

The Republican gender divide on this historic anniversary deserves attention. Low participation by Republican women could affect close House and Senate races this fall. No women fighters appeared in clips of cage fighting on the White House lawn, and few women were visible in the audience.

Professor Melissa K. Miller from the Department of Political Science at Bowling Green State University contributed to this analysis. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. Rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution prohibited.