Final answer:
The correct answer is b) Divergence of messaging, as recent decades have seen the Republican and Democratic parties become more ideologically polarized with less bipartisan cooperation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In recent decades of our 2-party system, the statement that is true about Republican and Democrat elite messaging is b) Divergence of messaging. Starting in the 1980s and intensifying in the 1990s, the Democratic and Republican parties began to polarize in Congress. Moderates became less common as more ideologically driven candidates were elected. As a result, Democrats generally became more liberal and Republicans more conservative, widening the ideological gap between the two parties. This process, known as party polarization, has led to less bipartisan cooperation and fewer members of Congress holding mixed voting records. Voters are now presented with clearer choices ideologically, though it has also meant there are fewer moderate voices participating in party politics.