Moderates in Congress were more likely to address local issues on Facebook % of Facebook posts by members of Congress focused on local issues, by estimated legislator ideology
While highly ideological members of Congress tend to use their Facebook posts to criticize political opponents and support their allies, moderate lawmakers are more likely to concentrate on local issues in their outreach on the platform, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis covering Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2017.
Moderates in Congress were more likely to address  | local issues on Facebook  | % of Facebook posts by members of Congress focused on local  | issues, by estimated legislator ideology  | 100%  | 80%  | 60%  | 40%  | Schumer  | McConnell  | 20%  | Reid  | Boehner Ryan  | Pelosi  | 0%  | -1.0  | --0.5  | 0. 5  | 1.0  | Very liberal  | Moderate  | Very conserv  | Note: Each point in the figure (DW-NOMINA represents a member of Congress Estimated ideology  | is based on roll call votes (DW-NOMINA TE). The fitted line Congress discussing shows the relationship  | between ideology ea ch legislator's (DW-NOMINA proportion of TE). Facebook posts discussing uncertainty local Issues and  | their ideology for each party. The shaded bands reflect the discussing uncertainty in these  | estimated ideology relationships.  | Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Facebook posts created by members of  | the Congress between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec 31, 2017  | the Sides on Facebook: How Congressional Outreach Changed Under  | the President Trump"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 