Just a few weeks after the election, many Americans will be sitting down at the Thanksgiving table with relatives — and many are preparing for a political argument. Additional insights from new YouGov polling touch on Americans’ feelings on what they’re thankful for, their favorite pies, and their post-Thanksgiving shopping plan.
17% of Americans say it’s very or somewhat likely they’ll get into an argument about politics during their Thanksgiving celebration this year, including 6% who say it is very likely.
31% of adults under 30 say it’s likely they’ll get into a political argument at Thanksgiving, more than the shares of 30- to 44-year-olds (25%), 45- to 64-year-olds (11%), and Americans 65 and older (5%).
Democrats (23%) are slightly more likely than Republicans (18%) to say it’s likely they’ll get into an argument about politics during their Thanksgiving celebration.
Men (21%) are more likely than women (14%) to say it’s likely they’ll get into an argument about politics during their Thanksgiving celebration.
In November 2023 — in between the 2022 congressional elections and this year's presidential election — fewer Americans (11%, compared to 17% this year) said it was likely they would get into an argument about politics over Thanksgiving. Adults under 30 (21%) and Democrats (12%) were less likely last year than this year to say they would probably get into a political argument over Thanksgiving.
Another conversation that will be happening at many Thanksgiving tables this year is one about gratitude. 31% of Americans say their family has a Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and announcing what they’re grateful for. Adults under 30 (43%) and 30- to 44-year-olds (41%) are more likely than 45- to 64-year-olds (23%) and people 65 and older to say their family practices this tradition.
The thing that the most Americans are grateful for this year is family and friends: 47% say that is what they’re most thankful for this year. 19% say they’re most thankful for health, 8% are most thankful for faith, and 5% are most thankful for the United States. Fewer than 5% say the thing they’re most thankful for is each of the following: pets (4%), their job (3%), personal finances (3%), or something else (3%).
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say they’re most thankful for their health (23% vs. 17%). Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they’re most thankful for faith (11% vs. 6%) or for the U.S. (10% vs. 1%).
37% of Americans say they’re more thankful this year compared with past Thanksgivings. 39% say they’re about as thankful and 13% say they're less thankful. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they’re feeling more thankful this year (48% vs. 33%).
Whether it’s about politics, gratitude, or something else, many Americans will be having Thanksgiving conversations over a slice of pie. 29% of Americans say their favorite type of pie to eat on Thanksgiving is pumpkin, 20% say their favorite type is apple, and 14% say their favorite type of pie is pecan. Fewer choose sweet potato (9%), chocolate (9%), or cherry (5%) as their favorite type of pie to eat on Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving dinner wraps up, many Americans plan to do some shopping. Around half of Americans plan to go holiday shopping the week after Thanksgiving. 13% will be shopping in-person only, 17% will be shopping online only, and 23% plan to shop both in-person and online.
Adults under 30 (21%) and 30- to 44-year-olds (17%) are more likely than 45- to 64-year-olds (8%) and people 65 and older (6%) to shop in-person the week after Thanksgiving.
In November 2023, 30% of Americans said they planned on shopping online the Friday after Thanksgiving, usually called Black Friday. 19% planned on shopping in a store the same day.
Related:
- Poll: What Americans plan to eat for Thanksgiving
- Thanksgiving debates on food — and, sometimes, politics — come to tables nationwide
- How and why do American couples argue?
See the results for these YouGov surveys:
- Compared with past Thanksgivings, how do you feel this year?
- What are you most thankful for this year?
- Does your family have a Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and announcing what you are thankful for?
- What is your favorite type of pie to eat on Thanksgiving?
- How likely are you to get into an argument about politics during your Thanksgiving celebration this year?
- Do you plan on doing any holiday shopping during the week after Thanksgiving?
— Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth contributed to this article
Methodology: This article includes results from two online surveys conducted November 19 - 20, 2024. The first was conducted November 19, 2024 among 3,753 U.S. adults. The second was conducted November 19 - 20, 2024 among 9,901 U.S. adults. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, U.S. census region, and political party. The margin of error for the first survey is approximately 2%; for the second it is approximately 1%.
Image: Getty
