"I will answer based on CA law. Labor Code 1101 and 1102 prohibit employers from forbidding, directing, controlling, terminating or threatening to terminate an employee based on politics. This was further expanded on in Ali v. LA Focus Publication (2003) 112 CA4th 1477. "
My favorite 2 questions: Can he/she do the job? Would you enjoy spending time with him/her outside of the office?
If it's someone I'd get in a fight with every time we go out for a few beers then that's a no-hire.
Personally, I think it's sorta sad that as a culture, we've allowed political differences to splinter relationships, professional or otherwise. I'm not suggesting that we can't disagree about politics, but it needn't be as divisive as it is.
I think you're right; I kind of wish I hadn't looked.