Voting for Identity, Not Policy | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 2m

Voters are increasingly choosing candidates not for their policies, but for who they represent — turning political affiliation into a personal brand. Even when frustrated with issues like city services or affordability, many stick with their party because it’s part of their identity. Research reveals a troubling disconnect: people see problems but rarely question the politics behind them. Fueling this is “negative partisanship,” where loyalty stems more from hating the opposition than loving your own side — making compromise nearly impossible. Ultimately, voting has become less about changing…