Data for Democracy is our newsletter where we explore the latest data and insights from our monthly omnibus surveys. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox every month.

Written by Grayson Wormser

Here are five insights you won’t want to miss this month:

1. Significant Majority of Americans Reject Political Violence

What You Need to Know: Amidst some of the current rhetoric and claims surrounding former President Trump’s assassination,  it’s important to remember that a vast majority of Americans across the political spectrum—including 71% of Republicans, 72% of Independents, and 73% of Democrats, believe political violence against elected officials is unacceptable. However, one of our latest surveys reveals a small but not insignificant number of individuals (7% on average) who find it acceptable to “kill or physically harm” elected officials in certain scenarios.

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2. Concerning Trends Persist Among Younger Generations

What You Need to Know: Younger generations appear to be significantly more likely to accept various forms of political violence compared to older Americans. Only 48% of Millennials and Gen Z believe political violence against elected officials is never acceptable, compared to 90% of Boomers and the Silent Generation and 80% of Gen X . This significant gap is a worrisome trend we’ve continued to see with younger generations, especially Gen Z, when it comes to key indicators on democratic norms. In fact, our November 2023 survey found just 62% of Gen Z voters feel as if living in a democracy is important, compared to almost nine in ten (88%) Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers.

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3. Most Voters Don’t Back Project 2025’s Policies

What You Need to Know: In the past few weeks, the term “Project 2025” was searched more than Taylor Swift or the NFL. So where do American voters stand on these policy proposals?  According to our May 2024 survey, only 16% of Americans have heard of Project 2025.  Yet, after reading a brief description of the project and some of its proposals, a majority of Americans (59%) indicated they did not support any of Project 2025’s objectives. Additionally, half of Americans said Project 2025 decreases their trust in our democracy. Coming out of the Republican National Convention last week, we’ll be continuing to track voters’ understanding and support for Project 2025’s goals.

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4. Alarming Rates of LGBTQ+ Americans Considering Leaving Their State 

What You Need to Know: As we look back on Pride month in June, we wanted to take a closer look at the concerns of the LGBTQ+ community to further shed light on this growing voting bloc. Concerningly, LGBTQ+ Americans are 20% more likely to consider leaving their state due to political reasons compared to their heterosexual counterparts (33% vs. 13%, respectively). Their main reason for wanting to leave? A plurality (36%) cited gun control policies. This is perhaps not surprising given that LGBTQ+ Americans are 2-3x more likely to be victims of gun violence compared to heterosexual Americans.

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5. Younger Americans Want Additional Election Education

What You Need to Know: Young Americans will certainly be a key voting bloc this November, with both major political parties vying for their support. However, our May survey reveals that younger generations, including 42% of Gen Z, do not feel sufficiently informed about the 2024 elections. The good news? They want more information. Follow along as we continue to look at attitudes and trends among younger voters.

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Data in Action

Interested in getting your questions answered in our monthly omnibus survey? Learn more here and reach out to Grayson Wormser ([email protected]).

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