Liberals on Match.com aren’t in the mood since the election of Donald Trump – Vox
Failing to woo a liberal this Valentines Day? Its not just you. For some liberals in the United States, the presidential election results have been a total turn-off.
Normally in the first month of the year, the dating site Match.com sees an uptick in the number of active users on the site. January, after all, is a popular month for singles to get back out there.
But this January, Match.com noticed something surprising: a decrease in activity among the sites more liberal users. In January, people who call themselves liberals were far less likely to sign up with Match and werent contacting potential matches or checking out new profiles as much, says Helen Fisher, the companys science adviser.
Meanwhile, conservatives flocked to find new partners in droves. Users in counties that voted for Donald Trump seem to be more interested in dating than users in counties that voted for Hillary Clinton.
Match was curious about why, as the site didnt see conservatives drop out of the game after Barack Obamas reelection in 2012. So in the past few weeks, Match randomly polled 1,800 of its users. The sample included roughly the same number of Trump and Clinton voters (38 percent voted for Trump, 40 voted for Clinton) and slightly more men than women (54 percent of the sample were men).
The results suggested the election really did have an effect on users self-reported dating drive: 29 percent of liberals said they felt less like dating since Trump won. Among conservatives, that figure is 14.2 percent.
Why? Match is not so sure. Fisher, a biological anthropologist by training, suggests a simple answer: Theyre depressed. (A political loss could depress the drive to mate. Or it could be that liberals are generally feeling downtrodden and arent yet ready to let joy back into their lives.)
Whats more, conservatives reported a greater willingness than liberals to reach out across the aisle in their love lives post-election. Around 60 percent of the liberals responded they are less likely to date a conservative than two years ago. Meanwhile, around 56 percent of conservatives said the same.
Of course, a poll of Match users isnt representative of all of Americans. But it illustrates a trend other social scientists have picked up on. As Ezra Klein has written, its now more common for Americans to discriminate based on politics than it is to discriminate based on race.
The more partisanship becomes a social identity and I think this is as true today as it's been in modern American politics the more we should expect people to engage in in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination," political scientist Danny Hayes told Klein. So its not surprising that in the aftermath of a hostile election cycle, partisans are feeling less warmly toward one another, and less likely to date the other side.
We tend to fall in love with somebody who has the same values as we do, Fisher says. And this is a time when the values are very polarized, and very personalized.
Which is perhaps concerning. People who have more social interactions with members of other political parties tend to have warmer feelings about them, Pew Research finds. Fully 62% of Republicans with just a few or no Democratic friends feel very coldly toward Democrats, Pew reported in June 2016. That compares with just 30% of Republicans who have at least some Democratic friends.
As the political shockwave of the 2016 election continues to set in, people are still figuring out how to deal with it on a personal level. A recent Reuters poll finds the number of people who reported getting into arguments with family or friends increased 6 points from December to January (from 33 to 39). Thirteen percent told Reuters they had ended a relationship with a family member or friend due to the election.
But if Republicans and Democrats cant get together over awkward first-date drinks, how will the parties ever get along?
See more here:
Liberals on Match.com aren't in the mood since the election of Donald Trump - Vox
- LILLEY: Liberals want CBC to fight misinformation. That should worry every Canadian - Toronto Sun - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Conservatives are dying at higher rates than liberals. A new study points to mistrust in medicine - Daily Kos - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- How Europes liberals are embracing the politics of security - EUobserver - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Liberals lead by nine in projection update - The Writ - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Liberals most supported by Canadians over 60 due to fears of Trump - Juno News - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Both the Liberals and One Nation refuse to see the contemporary world as it really is - SMH.com.au - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Michel Savard will no longer be a candidate for the Quebec Liberals after controversial comments - CityNews Montreal - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Liberals, Nationals to Deliver West Gippsland Hospital - Mirage News - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- Both the Liberals and One Nation refuse to see the contemporary world as it really is - The Age - July 24th, 2026 [July 24th, 2026]
- The Carney Liberals Still Lead, but the Political Ground Beneath Them Is Not as Solid as It Looks - inFocus with David Coletto - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Why Ukrainian liberals love conscription Hypocritical propagandists aren't forced to fight - UnHerd - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- People Are Reacting To This Study About Conservatives Dying Faster Than Liberals - Yahoo - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Liberals re-examine gender quotas in slew of proposals to make party fit-for-purpose political machine - The Guardian - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Liberals wont say if foreign homebuyer ban will be extended as renewal window narrows - Toronto Star - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Opinion | Trump DOJ imposes quota on prosecutors as it targets immigrants and liberals - MS NOW - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Conservatives spent nearly double the Liberals in losing election year - The Globe and Mail - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Sean Frasers political comeback and the tough-on-crime federal Liberals - The Globe and Mail - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Assembly of First Nations leaders accuse Liberals of playing politics with drinking water bill - CBC - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Tanveer Shahnawaz wins nomination for federal Liberals in Beaches-East York - Beach Metro Community News - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- He makes RFK Jr look like a moderate: Meet the Liberals great white hope - The Saturday Paper - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- What would Menzies do? Liberals seek plan to stave off extinction - AFR - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Liberals announce their Beaches-East York by-election candidate - Island Social Trends - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Liberals announce their North Vancouver-Capilano by-election candidate - Island Social Trends - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Radical agenda with more to come: Liberals looming battle for nations future - The Australian - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US liberals license antisemitism when framed as Israel criticism psych study - The Times of Israel - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Libman: Too soon to write off the Quebec Liberals - Montreal Gazette - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- One Nation enters the fray in Tasmania while Liberals suffer big swing since last poll - DemosAU - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals Adjourn Debate on Conservatives' Call for Probe of Vancouver Condo Bailout and Brookfield Connection - The Bureau | Sam Cooper - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - The Spec - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - Winnipeg Free Press - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - TorontoToday.ca - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - meadowlakeNOW - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- How ICACs Operation Rosny will give NSW Liberals months of hell - AFR - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Why Have Liberals Abandoned a Moral Reading of the Constitution? - The New Yorker - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- Political lobbyists, NSW Liberals and a fugitive developer are facing corruption allegations. Heres what you need to know - The Guardian - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- Liberals named in NSW corruption inquiry - The Saturday Paper - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- John Tory Jr. intends to run for Liberals in Beaches-East York: report - CityNews Toronto - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- John Tory Jr. announces intention to run for Liberals in Beaches-East York - CityNews Toronto - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- Carney doubled our deficit and the policies that the Liberals have brought forward': Poilievre - CTV News - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- The unlikely cause bringing liberals and conservatives together - vox.com - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Quebec Liberals say housing crisis has become an affordability crisis as moving day arrives - The Pulse of the Eastern Townships - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Liberals now wedged in tunnel, staring at a sinkhole - The Conversation - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Even when theyre doing quite well, Liberals find a way to put their foot in it - The Conversation - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Afternoon front page: How Conservatives say they can gain on the Liberals; the Canadian who fled to Mexico for safety; and more - Yahoo News Canada - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Nassif, top Liberals named in ICAC branch-stacking and donations probe - AFR - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Liberals eat their own, harass Scott Wiener over Gaza stance: Robby Soave | RISING - The Hill - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Conservatives gain ground on Liberals as federal race narrows: poll - Toronto Sun - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Investigation declared into ties between fugitive developer and Liberals - SMH.com.au - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Liberals swoon over Southern Democrat who just has the sauce: But does he want to run in 2028? - AL.com - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Battle lost for Zempilas and WA Liberals in hope of winning war ahead - ABC News & Headlines Australian Broadcasting Corporation - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- The late-night speech that blew apart the NSW Liberals - SMH.com.au - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- On borrowed time? Why Liberals are starting to chatter about Angus Taylor - SMH.com.au - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Afternoon front page: How Conservatives can gain on the Liberals - National Post - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- The 2016 election sparked the demise of the Liberals - Sky News Australia - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Senior Liberals reject brain fart party rebrand call - The New Daily - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Conservatives are dying at higher rates than liberals. A new study points to mistrust in medicine - Fast Company - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Conservatives view addictive products more favorably than liberals, study finds - PsyPost - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Op-Ed: Rep. Buddy Carter: It is time for liberals to rediscover patriotism - Washington Reporter - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Opposition parties up in arms as Liberals use majority to speed up legislation before summer - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals ramming through legislation 'without proper scrutiny': Scheer - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals tout 21 bills passing House of Commons this year as MPs break for summer - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Conservatives blast Liberals for trying to 'ram' controversial lawful access bill through House - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Bloc says Liberals 'working as if they are the only party in the House' - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Navdeep Bains plans to run for the Liberals regardless of whether he wins the leadership - Toronto Star - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals set to force committee to wrap up review of lawful access bill - iPolitics - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- How the Quebec Liberals plan to protect the French language - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals continue to be in the drivers seat with comfortable double-digit lead in polls: Nanos - CP24 - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Bill Maher tells liberals to stop 'partisan sulking' and join America 250 party - AOL.com - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Israel's Liberals Are Anything but Liberal - Haaretz - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Newsroom edition: Are the Liberals already surrendering to One Nation? Full Story podcast - The Guardian - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Rising inflation concerns. Liberals ahead while Conservative support hits a low not seen since November 2022. (Nanos) - Nanos Research - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Democrats Just Won The Midterms: Liberals Take Victory Lap Over Trump Declaring I Love the Inflation - Mediaite - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Ritz in The New York Times: Liberals Must Oppose Nationalizing AI - Progressive Policy Institute - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Beliefs Matter: New Study Shows Widening Mental Health Gap Between Conservatives and Liberals - Focus on the Family - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- What happens in the meantime? Critics question long road for Liberals' 'soft ban' on social media - The Hill Times - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Loyal Liberals: Deeply liberal at home and abroad, they feel well-represented by the Democratic Party - Pew Research Center - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Tony Abbott backs One Nation preference deal and says Liberals cant just be a little less woke than Labor - The Guardian - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Globe editorial: The Liberals think small on AI - The Globe and Mail - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Tony Abbott to tour the country, trying to energise Liberals - The Conversation - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Afternoon Update: Barnaby Joyce on foreign ownership; Liberals eye One Nation preference deal; and Australias path to World Cup glory - The Guardian - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]