Massachusetts residents are expressing deep concerns about political tensions and the potential for violence as the 2024 presidential election approaches, according to a recent GBH News/CommonWealth Beacon poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group.
The survey, conducted online shortly after Donald Trump and Joe Biden secured their parties’ nominations, revealed that 72% of respondents believe political tensions in the United States are either very bad or at crisis levels. Additionally, 64% of respondents expressed the belief that major violence related to the presidential election is somewhat or very likely.
Steve Koczela, president of the MassINC Polling Group, noted that the anxiety surrounding the current political climate is widespread across various demographics in Massachusetts. “The thing that really sticks out to me is just the number of demographic groups where this is a majority,” Koczela said. “There’s really not anybody who thinks everything is going great right now.”
While concerns about political tensions were high among all racial and ethnic groups, there was some variation in the level of concern. For example, 76% of white respondents viewed political tensions as very bad or a crisis, compared to 49% of Black respondents. However, when it came to anticipating violence in connection with the election, there was more parity among different racial and ethnic groups.
Political identity also played a role in respondents’ views on potential violence, with 70% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters seeing major violence as likely, compared to 58% of Republicans and Republican-leaning residents.
Juliette Kayyem, former Homeland Security advisor to Gov. Deval Patrick, described the level of pessimism reflected in the poll as “unprecedented.” She emphasized the need for concrete steps to guard against election-related violence, particularly in light of recent statements and actions by President Trump.
Despite concerns about political tensions and violence, voter advocacy groups like MassVOTE are working to ensure that Massachusetts residents feel confident in casting their ballots in November. Marisol Santiago, policy and organizing director of MassVOTE, highlighted the importance of addressing issues like housing insecurity and healthcare while also ensuring that historically marginalized communities have access to resources and can participate in the electoral process without fear.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Massachusetts residents are grappling with the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the political landscape, but organizations like MassVOTE are committed to empowering communities to exercise their right to vote in a safe and secure manner.