Politics, War and Voter Attitudes with Percentages

A new wave of surveys captures how Americans view politics, war and each other. Roughly three‑quarters of voters say their personal values are under attack [3]. The same poll shows 83 percent support compromise as a goal for leaders, while 86 percent say the main aim of politicians should be finding common ground [3]. Yet a separate 2025 study finds wide variation in attitudes toward political violence [1].

• 83‑86 percent of voters support compromise and common ground as a primary goal for leaders.
• 52.2 percent of MAGA Republicans, versus 32.1 percent of strong Democrats, say political violence is usually/always justified.
• Fewer than 10 percent of each party strongly expect a civil war in the next few years.
• Willingness to commit violence (property, injury, killing, lone‑actor) ranges from 1.4‑6.3 percent, with higher rates among MAGA Republicans.
• 54 percent approve unilateral presidential action in an immediate military threat; 41 percent approve if public majority backs it; 34 percent approve if the president deems it right; only 23 percent approve with congressional monitoring.
• 77 percent favor congressional oversight and 77 percent support unrestricted criticism of the president, even in wartime.
• Support for election‑denying candidates fell to 13 percent, while 47 percent trust election integrity.
• Judicial approval splits: 70‑58 percent for the courts (Democrats vs Republicans) and 81‑37 percent for the Supreme Court.
• 77 percent view increasing violent behavior as a serious threat to democracy; 63 percent cite declining civility; mean division rating is 71 out of 100.

Among strong Democrats, 32.1 percent believe political violence is usually or always justified to achieve a political objective, compared with 52.2 percent of MAGA Republicans [1]. When asked whether the United States will face a civil war in the next few years, 9.3 percent of strong Democrats and 3.8 percent of MAGA Republicans say they are strongly or very strongly in agreement [1]. Fewer than one in twenty strong Democrats (3.2 percent) or MAGA Republicans (4.7 percent) say the country needs a civil war to “set things right” [1].

Attitudes toward direct action also differ. Seven of every ten thousand strong Democrats say they would be completely or very willing to damage property for a political cause, while 1.5 percent of MAGA Republicans say the same [1]. Two of every thousand strong Democrats say they would be willing to injure a person, versus 1.4 percent of MAGA Republicans [1]. The willingness to kill a person is 1.4 percent for strong Democrats and 1.5 percent for MAGA Republicans [1]. As for lone‑actor violence, 2.8 percent of strong Democrats say they would be willing to act alone, while 6.3 percent of MAGA Republicans say the same [1]. Gun carriage is also higher among MAGA Republicans: 16.9 percent say they would be very likely to be armed when political violence is seen as justified, compared with 5.6 percent of strong Democrats [1].

Presidential war powers draw mixed opinions. A Democracy Fund Voter Study Group survey finds 54 percent consider unilateral presidential action appropriate in the face of an immediate military threat [2]. Thirty‑41 percent also approve if a large majority of Americans believe the president should act [2]. About one‑third (34 percent) say the president may act when he knows it is the right thing to do [2]. Only 23 percent say such action is appropriate when Congress monitors the executive [2]. Oversight is preferred by 77 percent of respondents, while far fewer grant the president unchecked decision‑making freedom [2]. An overwhelming 77 percent say citizens should always be free to criticize the president, even during wartime [2].

Trust in the electoral system remains fragile. Since June 2023, the share of voters who would be more likely to support a candidate who denies election results has fallen from 19 percent to 13 percent [4]. In the most recent wave (June 2024), 47 percent say they feel completely or fairly confident that American elections are free, fair and secure [4]. Only 36 percent say they feel slightly or not at all confident [4].

Judicial approval shows a stark partisan split. Democrats rate the U.S. Justice System at 70 percent favorable, while Republicans give it 58 percent [3]. Conversely, Republicans view the Supreme Court favorably at 81 percent, whereas Democrats favor it at 37 percent [3].

Perceptions of division and threat dominate the current climate. In the Battleground Civility Poll, 77 percent of voters say the “increasing amount of violent behavior in our society” is an extremely or very serious threat to democracy (75 percent Republicans, 74 percent Democrats) [3]. Another 63 percent say declining respect and civility is a serious threat [3]. When asked to rate political division on a 0‑100 scale, respondents assign a mean score of 71.00, down slightly from 71.74 in July 2022 [3].

Overall, the data paint a picture of a electorate that largely endorses compromise and civic discourse, yet a notable minority across the ideological spectrum expresses willingness to use or support violence for political ends. These attitudes coexist with deep partisan divides over institutional trust, election integrity and the appropriate role of executive power in wartime [1][2], [3], [4].