Generation Z has shown a tendency to reject dating people with political views different from their own. It's been said that you don’t have to align politically with a romantic partner and talking about politics is meant to keep it out of dating; however, it deserves to be a factor and is becoming a bigger one. Placing politics in a list of dating requirements is normal and should be considered thoroughly because political forces shape how we see the world.
In a study published by Innerbody, it concluded that in 2024, 60.5% of respondents saw differing political views in a partner as a deal breaker. Almost 75% of respondents said they had fought with a significant other about politics before. This proves politics are an important factor when choosing a romantic partner. According to The Match Making Company, a company matching people together since 1999, 46% of its users would avoid dating someone with opposing political views.
Nowadays, politics isn’t just politics; it has much more to do with how people treat one another. It doesn’t just mean what you think about taxes or simple government decisions, politics also comes down to morality and how a person thinks humans should be treated. Now more than ever, a person's political beliefs can be a dealbreaker.
Being in a relationship with someone who has a differing opinion on a deeply rooted belief can be difficult. It’s also a situation that many people may realistically have to face, and it isn’t far-fetched to consider before becoming close with someone.
Certain issues also cause more division than others, and most political viewpoints are deeper than tax issues. The conversation surrounding abortion is very polarizing and causes much division across the nation. There has also been an increase in intimate partner violence in the U.S. in areas with near-total abortion bans, by 7-10% in U.S. counties where people had to travel farther for abortion care.
The increase in violence demonstrates the heaviness of political beliefs and decisions. It is also important to feel safe and understood in every aspect of a relationship while being supported in how you view the world and your own life. This is one of the many ways relationships can be impacted by politics.
It’s also important to have a conversation about politics before entering a romantic relationship, to help avoid issues when choosing a partner. If you wait until after getting into a relationship to discuss politics, it could bring resentment and misunderstanding, so discussing politics early in a relationship could mean avoiding conflict later. This can help people understand each other’s core values early and acknowledge their histories.
Even dating apps like Hinge allow people to be completely transparent by displaying their political beliefs in their profile about themselves. An article from The Guardian used the headline, “Leftists are determined to date each other – and not settle for liberals: ‘politics are the new religion.’” It isn’t only “leftists” and liberals, though; political affiliation affects any relationship and continues to be an important factor when finding a partner.
Each person has a unique set of beliefs, whether it be politics or views of the afterlife. Religion has long been a factor in dating, and people even convert for one another out of love, even signifying that some can believe in the same afterlife and figures as them. Politics has now fallen in line with this, as people want to avoid having a morally different view than their partners.
Personally, many topics are important to me, and these are often associated with my own perception of my political views. I choose to date people who also see my view of the world and base their beliefs around empathy. This doesn’t mean complete agreement, but I think it’s valid to have a template of the views I will accept in my personal life.
If anything, dating someone with similar viewpoints might just make things easier, avoiding a few more disagreements and even discussing important beliefs together.
Politics doesn’t need to be a complete divide, and it doesn’t need to cause frustrating arguments. However, political decisions like what someone supports and who they vote for demonstrate a glimpse into their moral compass. It’s valid for politics to be a dating factor, and it is continuing to become a more important one.
Kyra Dapore is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
