The midterm US election is over, but consumers continue voting with their dollars on grocery retail locations and the food and beverage products they carry, according to YouGov’s US Bipartisan Brand Rankings 2026 report.
The most bipartisan food product available on store shelves today: Nestlé’s Hot Pockets, according to the survey. Those on the left and the right also agree that Vitaminwater is the most acceptable drink.
YouGov also noted that shoppers from both sides of the political spectrum are most likely to enjoy snacking on Grandma’s Cookies, a Frito-Lay-owned brand.
Kroger was identified as the most bipartisan grocery chain.
To side or not to side
Kenton Barello, Senior Vice President, YouGov, said that the political divide goes beyond which brands consumers consider – in some cases it extends to what they want brands to say, or whether they want them to say anything at all.
“Democrats are much more receptive to brands getting involved in social issues, while Republicans are more skeptical of their motives,” Barello said. “For marketers, understanding those differences is an important part of deciding how to communicate with their audiences.”
Overall, the report found that nearly two-thirds (65%) of brands, whether food products or otherwise, have a partisan skew.
Republicans took a different view on brands advocating on political or social issues, with 77% saying they believe those brands “are just trying to exploit” those issues. Comparatively, 39% of Democrats held that view.
Democrats were much more likely to support brands that jump into the political fray at a rate of 57%, compared to Republicans’ 17%.
Brands for each party
Democrats and Republicans each identify with certain brands, but only a few of those identified in the report were connected to food, beverage and grocery retailers.
Those identified as Republican favorites include Jimmy Dean sausage and Walmart at 47% and 59%, respectively. Democrats noted their preference for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at 44%.
How will the midterm elections impact the food & beverage industry?
Take a deep dive into the potential implications of the blue wave that flipped the House and Senate to Democrats control by exploring our ongoing coverage:
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Partisanship in food and beverage
YouGov reviewed hundreds of thousands of YouGov America panel surveys and compared brand purchase consideration by Republicans and Democrats between Oct. 11, 2025, and Oct. 10, 2026, to develop their brand rankings.
The drink brands that Republicans and Democrats were most likely to disagree on include the Democrat-preferred Starbucks, Arizona Iced Tea and Canada Dry, along with the Republican-preferred Black Rifle Coffee Company, Lipton and Pepsi.
In snacking, Democrats and Republicans largely disagreed on Avocados from Mexico, Sabra Hummus and Cheerios, which are preferred by Democrats, as well as Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Snickers and Little Debbie Snack Cakes preferred by Republicans.
On food products, Democrats were much more likely to enjoy Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs and Chobani, while Republicans leaned toward Jimmy Dean, Hormel and Hillshire Farms.
Their preferences for grocery retailers also diverged, with Democrats preferring Trader Joe’s, Costco and Whole Foods Market, while Republicans shopped at Walmart, Sam’s Club and Publix.
