Almost half of Americans consider members of the opposition political party to be “downright evil”: survey

Nearly half of eligible voters in the United States think members of the opposition political party are “downright evil,” according to a new poll from Johns Hopkins University.

The country’s divisions were clearly illustrated by the poll, which was conducted twice: the first from July 26 to 30 — just weeks after the first assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump — and the second from Sept. 6 to 18 by the university. SNF Agora Institute.

The roughly 2,000 respondents were divided into five categories for the survey: Republicans who believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election, Republicans who believe Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Democrats, independents, and then all of them.

Of the Republicans who think Trump won 2020, three-quarters think Democrats are evil.

On the other hand, half of Democrats thought Republicans were evil, according to the poll.

The poll’s authors said these divisive beliefs are dangerous to the country’s democracy.

“Daming our political opponents sends a message that we view them as enemies rather than adversaries,” said Liliana Mason, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies political violence and polarization.

“The work of running a democracy requires compromise and mutual respect. These sentiments make such respect virtually impossible, threatening the health of democracy.”

Survey respondents answered questions about their party affiliation, political identity, the results of the 2020 election, where they get their information from and what they think about people from other parties. The published results are based on responses from 2,000 respondents who make up a demographically and politically representative sample of the American electorate, pollsters say.

Mason and Scott Warren, two SNF Agora fellows, co-led the project and created the survey in an attempt to determine exactly where the nation’s voting body stands ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the Johns Hopkins University Center reports.

Information from two polls points to a sharp and growing divide between Republicans, known as “election deniers,” and the rest of the voting body, especially when it comes to issues based on gender and race, researchers say.

“Denying the 2020 election has become not only a serious political issue, but also an identity issue,” Warren said.

“Republicans who believe in the results of the 2020 election have strikingly pro-Democratic views and may feel like they have no political home at the moment. Figuring out how to include them in our democracy is critical at this moment.”

The data shows that Republican election deniers are less likely to believe a woman should be president, with 28% believing women are meant to take care of the home rather than work in the workplace.

More than 80% of election deniers also agreed strongly or somewhat that black Americans should overcome prejudice “without special privilege,” as the “Irish, Italians and Jews” did throughout the 20th century.

Election deniers and Republicans who believe Biden won in 2020 were surveyed about the state of the economy, immigration and crime most motivating them to vote. Meanwhile, Democrats said they prioritize abortion, the economy and democracy, according to the poll.

Independents had a combination: They named the economy, immigration and abortion as the top issues influencing their vote.

A third round of voting is due ahead of the November general election next week.