Americans optimistic about Dream as Dems lose faith at 250th
More than three-quarters of Americans still value pursuing the American Dream, though Democrats increasingly doubt its promise while immigrants show greater optimism than native-born citizens.
According to New York Post, the Gallup American Dream Study released Thursday shows that 78% of respondents consider striving for the American Dream important, matching the 2024 figure exactly.
Personal optimism about achieving the American Dream stands at 69%, reflecting a modest three-point decline from the previous year. Far more concerning is the drop in Americans who believe the dream is accessible to everyone, falling from 51% in 2024 to just 46% in the current survey.
Partisan Divide Emerges on American Dream
The study reveals a striking partisan split on whether the American Dream has delivered on its promise. One-third of Democrats now say the American Dream has failed, compared to just 11% of Republicans who share that pessimistic view. Meanwhile, 31% of Republicans believe the dream has succeeded, versus about a quarter of Democrats.
Both parties do find common ground on one critical point: 60% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans describe the American Dream as “unfinished.” Across party lines, government reform emerged as the top priority for ensuring future generations can achieve prosperity.
Immigrants Show Greater Optimism Than Native-Born Citizens
Foreign-born Americans demonstrate markedly higher confidence in the American Dream compared to those born in the United States. More than three-quarters of immigrants, 77%, believe hard work leads to getting ahead, versus 66% of native-born respondents.
A nearly identical gap appears when measuring whether people believe they can achieve a better life than their parents’ generation, with 75% of foreign-born residents answering affirmatively compared to 66% of US-born Americans.
Looking toward the future, 51% of immigrants expressed optimism about the American Dream, nine percentage points higher than their native-born counterparts.
Shifting Definition of Success
The survey, created by the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, detected an important shift in how Americans conceptualize success. Rather than focusing primarily on material wealth, respondents now prioritize foundational stability and rights.
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” topped responses as the most important concept associated with the American Dream.
Foreign-born residents overwhelmingly view the American Dream through the lens of “opportunity,” with 72% selecting that description. Native-born Americans, by contrast, focus more on stability, with 53% citing that as their priority.
Despite deep political polarization nationwide, the survey found Americans across the political spectrum largely agree the American Dream remains unfinished business requiring continued effort and reform.
With information from New York Post
