Family Politics

[Torie]

Everyone currently on this mortal coil is basically a pinko of one sort or another, starting with center left and moving out and out and out until one almost hits opebo territory. Yes, you are correct in your surmise. Not a damn one of them has taken an economics course.

[Hatman 🍁]

My parents have never really divulged who they vote for, but they give many, many hints
Mother: Quite populist. Has probably voted NDP more of then than not recently, mostly because of me, and a hate for the Liberals and Tories. But, she doesn't like Mulcair, so I don't know who she'd vote for next time.
Dad: Conservative, with a Red Tory streak, but he's a small businessman, so he has a bit of a libertarian streak to.
Girlfriend: Very left wing (more socially to the left of me, but economically slightly to the right). She votes Green federally, and I managed to convince her to vote NDP provincially. But she's more sympathetic to the Green Party. Her parents are strong Green supporters.
Paternal Grandma: Old school NDPer, left wing on economics, right of centre on social issues.

All my other grandparents are dead.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Mom's side: My grandparents are probably conservative, Reagan Democrats. Apparently when my mom came home from school on that fateful day in 1981, grandman was crying. My grandpa claims to have not voted for Nixon, but in the '72 election, that's hard to believe.

Dad's side: Aside from my paternal grandpa and my dad himself, my entire dad's side is pretty liberal. My most "sane" uncle is a pretty standard Democrat, my older aunt lives in San Francisco, my younger aunt is a pretty standard liberal, and my oldest uncle is straight up Pro-Palestine and he compared the businessmen of the Gilded Age to mob bosses and the mafia.

Immediate family: My Dad probably voted straight Republican from a certain point, though when he was ten/eleven he campaigned for HHH ("because back then you got a free sticker and free stickers were the coolest!" -my uncle). He was disappointed he never got to go to the victory party (when he was 10). My Mom claims she might've voted for Clinton in '96, though she wasn't that political then. From 2000 on, as far as I know, it's been straight GOP.

[Хahar 🤔]

Everyone I know who votes votes Democratic.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

We're all veeeeeeeeeeery Democratic (though my dad is pro-life), except my paternal grandparents, who are moderate Republicans.

[phk]

All Dem

[Velasco]

Well, about the part of my family living in Spain:

Mother: PSOE (social democracy).
Father: Left wing. He doesn't vote.
Sisters: One voted PSOE but now I think she votes for a regional party. The other I really don't know.
Uncles: I have two. One votes People's Party (PP, conservative) and the other I guess who does the same.
Aunts: One PSOE and the other PP.
Grandparents: Three were center-right; in times they supported UCD (centre), later I guess they did for PP. The other one liked Santiago Carrillo (former euro-communist PCE leader).
Myself: I dunno... In past elections I switched from IU (left) to PSOE and later to Equo (Greens). I really don't endorse any of these parties (the political landscape in my country is not attractive), guess I am some kind of a a left-leaning independent.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

Mother: on the whole is a moderate social democrat; supports a strong social safety net and government investment but dislikes unions (she's Mexican), gays and abortion. Votes down the line for Democrats.
Father: leftist; in any other country he'd describe himself as a socialist. He believes in the class system, hates high finance, banks. On social issues he's fairly ambivalent but still liberal. Votes down the line for Democrats, outside of voting for Nader in 2000.

My American side of my family is fairly D-leaning outside of one section that is libertarian-esque (one Paulist brother, one moderate Republican brother and one independent brother). The rest of my cousins are generic educated middle class liberals.

My Mexican side of my family is stereotypical. The older, working class part loves the PRI while my cousins and a few aunts who are nearly all college educated and live comfortably despise the PRI and vote strategically against them.

[Hash]

Mother: centre-left anti-Harper in Canada, and voted Liberal in the past three elections and last two provincial elections. Progressively, her views of Harper get closer to mine. She's also a former Quebec nat, but she now thinks Quebec is full of morons. Voted for Sarkozy in 2007 and 2012. Recently voted PS in the legislative elections, but only because she hates cohabitations.

Father: apolitical and apathetic in general, populist anti-politician right-winger. Doesn't care about Harper, but told me he voted Liberal in 2011. He voted for Panzergirl on April 22, and though he didn't vote in the runoff he would have voted for Sarkozy.

Aunts: one is a hardcore Quebec nationalist, the other is more Pelquiste; overall I doubt any would ever vote Tory. In France, I suppose they're quite left-wing.

Uncles: one told me he voted QS in 2008 because he hates Marois, another said he voted Tory in 2008. In France, I have no clue, but I'd guess leftie?

[bore]

Dad: Left wing economically and pro independence but also pro life (not that it matters much here). Votes SNP and Labour and hates the tories.
Mum: Center left economically but slightly more socially liberal than my dad, pro union, so votes Labour and Lib Dem.
Paternal Granddad: Before he died one of the few conservatives in Scotland, very pro union and a Thatcherite.
Paternal Grandmother: Similar to my Dad but quite socially conservative.
Maternal Grandmother: Seems quite left wing on everything.
Maternal Granddad: Very right wing but (thankfully) can't vote in national elections due to being an Italian citizen.
Uncles: One similar to my Dad, the other right wing but for reasons which are far from clear has never voted.
Paternal Grandmother's side: Practically all were coal miners from Fife. Guess.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

My family is an upper middle-class military family from rural Skåne. Predicably we're mostly centre-right. Though my dad was raised by social democratic union members. (All their children grew up to be union-hating conservatives)

Father: Very conservative, voted for C in '02, M in '06, '10.

Mother: Non-voter most of the time, voted in '10 (M or SD)

Brother: Centre-right, voted for M in '02, '06, '10

Sister1: Centre-right, voted FP in '02, M in '06, '10

Brother-in-law: Centre-right, voted FP in '10

Myself: Centre-right, voted C in '10

Sister2: Too young to vote, but supported M in '10

Paternal grandmother: Left-wing union member, has voted S since the 50's

And for those who haven't figured I vote for C.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Paternal Grandmother's side: Practically all were coal miners from Fife. Guess.

I don't know; there was a time when that might have meant Commie rather than Labour.

[bore]

Paternal Grandmother's side: Practically all were coal miners from Fife. Guess.

I don't know; there was a time when that might have meant Commie rather than Labour.

I hadn't thought that far back, but you're actually right, I know for certain that my great grandmother voted for Gallacher due to personal reasons, and I'm sure some others did as well. Nowadays I'm sure they're Labour though.

[BaldEagle1991]

Independent, although conservative leaning. I am the only liberal or left of center depending on issue.

[anvi]

My dad was an Eisenhower Republican and my mom an FDR Democrat.  I have six older brothers, and I don't know where all of them are politically.  Oldest and third-oldest are pretty solid Dems, I think, while the sixth oldest is now an Independent  Ron Paul fan.  I went from being a Republican to a Democrat to an Independent to an IDGAD (I Don't Give a Damn).

[Gustaf]

It is generally rather taboo, especially among the older generations, to talk about who you vote for in Sweden so most of this involves guess-work.

Dad: comes from a working class home and was a life-long Social Democrat. He came out as a liberal recently though - I think he voted S last time in 2002 and probably voted C last time around.

Mom: comes from an upper class home and was a life-long M voter. Probably still is.

Older brother: likes to be provocative. Claims to have voted for most parties at some point. He is fairly populist: dislikes Islam, environmentalists, the upper classes.

Younger brother: fairly cliched rich kid, so will likely vote for M (has not been of age to vote yet).

Oldest sister: lawyer, environmentalist, suburban. I would guess she votes M, maybe FP. May be one of the those who have swung to MP lately. 

Middle sister: she's worked as a waitress and in casinos. I would guess she might be one of the new M voters but she's not very interested in politics.

Youngest sister: teacher. I know she loathes FP, which otherwise gets  a lot of teacher votes. I'd guess she votes M based on that.

[morgieb]

Dad: Fairly left-wing. Votes straight ticket Labor.
Mum: Very left-wing and rather radical. Has 'sympathies' for communism. Somewhat pro-nanny state, though. Voted Labor in the past, but her anti-right wing union positions means she has moved to the Greens.
Stepdad: Straight ticket Democrat but won't vote in American elections in the future. Voted Greens last election, which was the first one since he became an Australian citizen. Left-wing.
Stepmum: Fairly left-wing, but has had some strange views and is rather racist.
Aunt: Only one that I talk to, fairly left-wing.
Uncle: Only one that I talk to, a little more conservative.
Grandad: Only one is still alive, I think he's left wing.
Grandmum (dad's): I think she's left-wing.
Grandmum (mum's): Has an anti-Costa poster in her house (or did), but was involved in the public sector, so probably left wing.
Stepgrandmum: Conservative, for whatever reason.
Older sister: Libertarianish, anti-nanny state, socially liberal, fiscally conservative. Votes Liberal.
Younger sister: Can't vote, but seems left-wing and states she's a Greens supporter.
Me: Left-wing, but somewhat more pragmatic. I feel that my positions are rather strange - on economic issues I'm not particularly left-wing, but I strongly believe in a safety net. Socially I am very liberal, though. There has not been an election yet where I can vote, but I plan to swing between left-wing parties who best fit my interests.

[freefair]

Mother- A Tory monarchist with some Thatcherite views, who is never the less pro-EU (though very anti-Euro), a secular atheist, and married to an Indian guy. Voted for Enoch Powell and Nick Budgen. Very anti-Islam yet anti-War in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wants a return to Tripartite education system, even though she failed the eleven plus, as she feels its a waste of time not teaching vocational skills and tradesman-ship/engineering to the less academically able half of the population. Liked her secondary modern school a lot.
Dad- Hates state taxation likes tough, disciplinarian law and order policy. Believes in reintroduction of Capital Punishment. Probably voted Tory in 2010.
Maiden Aunt 1- Social democrat, voted for Thatcher 3 times, all other times since 1964, Labour.
Her Husband- Democratic Socialist, former Labour Party and trade union member.
Maiden Aunt 2- Disintrested , voted UKIP in 2010.
Her Husband- Right wing Powellite Tory, voted Tory in 2010. Will vote UKIP in future unless "the Conservative party gets its act together". Eurosceptic.
Paternal Uncle 2- Small businessman, Thatcherite Tory.
Don't know any more.

[Franzl]

Rather boring in my family's case.

American side:
Mother: not extermely interested in politics, but always votes DEM, if she bothers to vote.

Grandpa: Started out as something of an Eisenhower Republican.....but in the last few decades: party line DEM, and I imagine he's not even tempted to give Republicans a chance at this point.

Uncle: DEM. Always. No matter what. And he should be too, blue collar working class without health insurance. Think he's had enough of "freedom" policies Republicans advocate.

German side:
Grandmother: Very motivated by Catholic faith. Comes from a working class background, rather social democratic on economic issues really, but she's from the Ruhrgebiet and quite "culturally" conservative. 100% CDU and is also a member of the party.

Aunt: Same situation basically, only grew up in a more upper middle class household, after my grandparents had greatly improved their situation. Also very culturally conservative, similiar to grandma, 100% CDU.

Father: Used to be 100% CDU as a product of the family, not nearly as conservative on the issues, and tends to not care as much about politics either way. Has been known to cast an FDP protest vote from time to time, but obviously not these days.... More or less CDU, but might be tempted to cast a complete protest vote now.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Everyone's a hard-line Democrat, though my dad is pro-life.

[Bacon King]

My extended family is very eclectic politically, which makes the political discussions of family reunions extremely interesting.

Dad: Somewhat of a leftist when he was younger, became a Libertarian in the nineties. Sometimes voted GOP as the lesser of two evils but since he lost his job and is going back to school with Federal assistance he's a lot less anti-government. For Presidential elections, starting in 1976 he's voted: Carter, Anderson, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton (he seriously considered voting for Perot, but in the end decided he was "just too damn crazy"), Libertarian, Libertarian, Libertarian, McCain (he remembered Bob Barr as his hated nutjob Congressman so held his note to vote for the least bad alternative since he didn't have a good protest vote option). In the primaries he voted for Ron Paul in 2008 and 2012, but was really excited about Huntsman and would have voted for him if he hadn't dropped out. He's always been extremely liberal on social issues but like I said above, has been shifting to the left on economic stuff. He even watches MSNBC in the mornings! Hates Romney; hesitant to vote for Obama but I could see it happening. He'll probably end up supporting Gary Johnson, though.

Mom: In a lot of ways, a fairly typical low information swing voter. She's voted for the national winner in every Presidential election since her first one in 1980, where she voted for Carter out of home-state solidarity. Doesn't really express political views too often, but is pro-gay, big on education, doesn't like welfare, and has some hilariously contradictory views on illegal immigration. She cares more about local politics than national stuff; she has a couple of acquaintances on the school board, an old co-worker is the incumbent county commissioner, and the last sheriff was her friend's husband. Has said she'll probably vote to re-elect Obama.

Brother: A bit of a wildcard. Can say something surprisingly thought-out at one moment and then something ridiculously ignorant the next. He was barely too young to vote in 2008 but he really liked Huckabee; in 2011 he supported Herman Cain but didn't vote in the primary this year because he didn't really care for any of the candidates after Cain dropped out. Dislikes Romney because he's "just a damn, like, used car dealer, brah." He's pro-gun, fairly tolerant with social issues, anti-welfare, and gets a kick out of trolling police officers when they ask to search his car. If he votes, it'll be for Obama, but I could see him sitting it out instead (he has some pretty racist friends that do influence him a bit).

Maternal grandmother: Pretty much a lifelong Dixiecrat that didn't jump ship with the rest of the party. For the most part, votes straight ticket Dem, but IIRC she voted for Sonny Purdue in 2002 (and might have voted for Bush over Kerry, I don't remember). In 2008 she told me that, "I never thought I'd see the day where I'd be voting for a Negro man to be the President," but indeed voted for Obama. In a bit of a heartwarming moment, she told me that she had realized her residual racism was just a result of the society she grew up in, that the world was a lot different now, and that she had privately concluded it was unfair and unChristian to judge someone by their skin color (she also laughed when she noted she'd been voting for a black guy, Sanford Bishop, to represent her in Congress for over a decade without ever being concerned about his race). She watched some of the GOP debates during the primary but hated all the candidates, has said she'll definitely be voting to re-elect Obama.

Others on mom's side: Uncle is retired Air Force, very pro-military; also a Tea Partier. His two kids are apolitical non-voters (one because he's a felon, the other is just lazy) and the only issue they really care about is drug legalization. My grandma's sisters (i.e., my great aunts) are all basically your stereotypical Florida retirees except without the Judaism.

Paternal grandfather: Spent some time as a small-business owner, operating for a time the only restaurant in his small rural town. This experience made him quite economically conservative; he was voting GOP long before most other Southern whites. He's gotten quite extreme in recent years- he's a birther, a huge theocon, he loves Sarah Palin, and for a while seriously believed the whole Death Panel thing.

Paternal grandmother: Standard Dixiecrat turned Republican. Conservative, but more moderate than her husband. Doesn't talk politics much but when she has a point to make they're generally very well thought-out.

Others on dad's side: oh man, there's a lot here. Aunts and uncles range from theocons and neocons to purist libertarians and eco-leftists. Too many cousins to list right out right now (otherwise this will be too long for anyone to bother reading, if it's not already ), but highlights include an evangelical conservative who's coincidentally extremely pro-drug, a faithful member of the religious right who manages to reconcile those beliefs with her rather extreme feminism, your stereotypical neckbeard Paultard, a radical socialist who supports Vermin Supreme, and plenty more, too. And the best part is, we all love debating politics, stay well-informed, and know how to argue our points seriously and intently without it actually becoming something that causes ill-will. Trust me, Thanksgiving dinners with these guys are absolutely the best

[Vermin Supreme]

Mom: Moderate who tends to be apolitical in nature. Doesn't like welfare queens and wants them to be drug tested. Wants illegal immigrants to be deported. Supports gay rights. Her favorite president is Bill Clinton and was the first vote she ever cast for president. Support Hillary during the 2008 primaries but reluctantly voted Obama in the general election. Adores the Kennedy's. Didn't vote in the 2010 election since she didn't have clue of what the F**k was happening in New Hampshire or had clue of where the candidates stand on the issues. Despises Deval Patrick and hated all of the running candidates in the MA 2010 gubernational election. Thinks John Lynch is very good governor. Likes Shaheen. Loves Scott Brown. Doesn't like anyone in Rhode Island politics. Thinks Romney is a pretty boy and nothing else. She not voting for either Obama or Romney come November.


Dad: Construction worker/Hunter who mostly votes Republican because he thinks they do the best managing the economy. Likes Romney because of his business experience. Would never in a million vote for a black person because of Obama and Patrick. Likes Sarah Palin. Doesn't care for John Lynch one bit. Voted for John Stephen and Kelly Ayotte in 2010.

Sister: Apolitical but voted like my mother back in 2008. She does seem to have conservative positions on issues such as food stamps, welfare and illegal immigration.