A June 27 Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey found that 78% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is likely there will be more political violence in the next few months, including 53% who say it’s Very Likely. Just 12% don’t think more political violence is likely, while 10% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters believe heated political rhetoric is to blame for incidents like the June 14 shootings in Minnesota, while 19% blame the availability of firearms, and 17% say mental illness is to blame.
Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, who was reportedly on accused gunman Vance Boelter’s “kill list” of targets, said: “I am very concerned … at how we are normalizing violence, hostile political rhetoric, anger and hatred every day.” Eighty-six percent (86%) of voters agree with that statement, including 64% who Strongly Agree. Just nine percent (9%) disagree.
This is a consensus that extends across party lines, with Dingell’s quote getting agreement from 86% of Democrats and 84% of both Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party.
Similarly, 55% of Republicans, 51% of Democrats and 60% of unaffiliated voters say heated political rhetoric is to blame for incidents like the Minnesota shooting spree. Democrats are more likely than other voters to blame the availability of firearms.
Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans, 78% of Democrats and 75% of unaffiliated voters consider it at least somewhat likely there will be more political violence in the next few months.
There is not much of a “gender gap” on these questions, with women voters (66%) slightly more likely than men (61%) to Strongly Agree with Dingell’s concerns about “normalizing violence.”
Fifty-nine percent (59%) of whites, 43% of black voters, 56% of Hispanics and 41% of other minorities blame heated political rhetoric for incidents like the June 14 shootings in Minnesota.
A majority of voters 50 and older believe it’s Very Likely there will be more political violence in the next few months.
- Political Violence
- Antifa
- Democrats
- political polls
- Rep. Debbie Dingell
- Democrat Party
- political rhetoric
- mental illness
- Vance Boelter
- Minnesota shooting spree
