Nearly half of American voters believe people in the opposing political party are “totally evil,” according to a new poll conducted by Johns Hopkins University.
The country’s divided state is clearly illustrated by two surveys conducted. The first was conducted by the university from July 26 to July 30, just weeks after the first assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, and the second was conducted by the university from September 6 to September 18. . SNF Agora Institute.
The poll divided approximately 2,000 respondents into five categories. That means Republicans who believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election, Republicans who believe Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Democrats, independents, and everyone.
Three-quarters of Republicans think Democrats are “totally evil,” according to a poll conducted by Johns Hopkins University’s SNF Agora Institute. Johns Hopkins University
Three-quarters of Republicans who believe Trump won in 2020 think Democrats are evil.
On the other hand, half of Democrats thought Republicans were evil, according to the poll.
The poll’s creators said such divisive ideas were dangerous to the country’s democracy.
Liliana Mason, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies political violence and polarization, said that “vilifying a political opponent signals that you see them as an enemy rather than an adversary.” .
“The job of governing a democracy requires compromise and mutual respect. These sentiments make that respect nearly impossible and threaten the health of our democracy.”
President Trump gestures after speaking at an election night party with First Lady Melania Trump in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, in Washington, DC.
Poll respondents answered questions about their party affiliation, political identity, 2020 election results, where they get their information and what they think about people from other parties. The polling organization said its published findings were based on the responses of 2,000 respondents, creating a demographically and politically representative sample of U.S. voters.
Mason and Scott Warren, fellows at SNF Agora, will co-lead the project to determine exactly how the nation’s voting bodies will fare in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, the Johns Hopkins University Hub reports. We created a public opinion poll to determine whether there is.
Information gleaned from the two surveys shows that the gulf between Republicans, known as “election deniers,” and other voters is significant and growing, especially on gender- and race-based issues. the researchers said.
President Trump’s sign and QAnon sign in Sterling Heights, Michigan, April 11, 2022. From The Washington Post, Getty Images
“Election denialism in 2020 has become as much an identity issue as it is a substantive policy tool,” Warren said.
“Republicans who believe in the results of the 2020 election have significantly pro-Democratic views and may feel that they have no political foothold at this time. It is important to think about how to incorporate it into our democracy.”
The data suggests that Republican election deniers are less likely to think a woman should be president, with 28% saying women should take care of the family rather than work. are.
A sign on a shuttered building proclaims Trump the winner of the 2020 election on October 23, 2021 in Bancroft, West Virginia. From The Washington Post, Getty Images
More than 80% of anti-election voters also said that black Americans should overcome prejudice “without special favors,” as “Irish, Italian, and Jewish peoples” did throughout the 20th century. I strongly or somewhat agreed with this.
Polls show that election deniers and Republicans who believe Biden won in 2020 are most motivated to vote by the state of the economy, immigration and crime. Meanwhile, polls show that Democrats prioritize abortion, the economy and democracy.
Independents were considering a combination of issues, including the economy, immigration, and abortion as the top issues that would influence their vote.
A third round of voting will be held next week ahead of the November general election.