The world of politics is always changing, and recent survey results have revealed some stark divides in opinion on a variety of topics. Responses to political misinformation, such as Donald Trump's legal team, the 2024 Republican candidates, and the current President, have been particularly revealing. The survey results suggest a highly polarized political environment, with many respondents expressing fear, uncertainty, and a lack of confidence in their own political leaders.
In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table may not add up to 100%. The survey was conducted among a sample of Virginians and Californians, ages 18 and over.
Glenn Youngkin, a Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia, was one of the names mentioned in the survey. Following those results, the poll asked Virginians who they would vote for if the election were held today. The results showed Youngkin in a virtual tie with the incumbent Democratic Governor, Terry McAuliffe, with each candidate receiving 42% of the vote.
The survey also asked respondents to rate their feelings about the 2020 presidential election. The results showed that a majority of respondents had a negative view of the election, with only 16% of respondents saying they had a favorable opinion of it.
The survey also asked respondents to rate their feelings about the current political situation in California. The results showed a 55% disapproval rating for Governor Gavin Newsom, with only 30% of respondents saying they approve of his job performance. This is a sharp decrease from his approval rating of 69% in a previous poll in 2010.
The survey also asked respondents about their feelings on gun laws. A slim majority of respondents said that they would support stricter gun laws, with only 15% saying they would oppose them. This is in stark contrast to the results of a previous COVID States Project survey, which showed that 64% of respondents were in favor of stricter gun laws.
The survey also asked respondents whether they would support a future political settlement that would include behavior restrictions. A slim majority of Black respondents said yes, while 68% of white respondents said no. This divide is indicative of the stark political divide in the nation today. Comic strip creator Scott Adams cited the results to argue that Black Americans are “a hate group” when it comes to political settlement.
The survey also revealed a stark political divide over fear about gun violence. While only 21% of respondents said they were “very afraid” of gun violence, a whopping 70% of Black respondents said they were “very afraid” of gun violence. This is a stark contrast to the results of a previous survey, which showed that only 34% of respondents were “very afraid” of gun violence.
The survey also asked respondents about their feelings on current gun laws. A majority of respondents said they support current gun laws (53%), while a smaller majority said they oppose them (41%). The survey results have sparked a debate among gun control advocates. Kris Brown, president of Brady: United Against Gun Violence, called the results “jarring.”
When it comes to the 2024 presidential election, the survey results showed that a majority of respondents would prefer to see a Democrat win the presidency (57%). However, when asked about specific Republicans, the results were split. While a majority of respondents said they would vote for former President Donald Trump (51%), a slim majority of respondents said they would vote for current Vice President Mike Pence (50%).
The survey also asked respondents about their feelings on the current political situation in Missouri. The results showed that a majority of respondents (51%) disapprove of the job being done by President Joe Biden, and a majority of respondents (53%) disapprove of the job being done by Governor Mike Parson.
The survey also revealed a number of other interesting facts. For example, a majority of respondents (51%) said they would support a future political settlement that would include behavior restrictions, while a majority of respondents (58%) said they would oppose one that would include tax increases.
Overall, the survey results show a stark political divide between Virginians and Californians, as well as between Black and white respondents. While some of the results may be seen as good news for some politicians, they also serve as a warning that the political landscape is highly polarized and that many Americans remain uncertain and fearful about their own political futures.
