Half of Americans in a new survey agreed that the events of Jan. 6 were a threat to democracy as the nation nears the one-year anniversary of a riot at the U.S. Capitol Building.
The Rasmussen Reports survey found that 50% said that the “riot” a year ago was a “threat to American democracy.” Democrats and liberals agree with the highest percentages at 75% and 80%. However, 41% said it wasn’t a threat.
More than two-thirds (67%) of Republicans agreed the events of Jan. 6 were not a threat to democracy.
One Year Later
Both Democrats and Republicans have prepared events for the Jan. 6 anniversary.
Democrats largely continue to blame former President Donald Trump for instigating the riot, a view pushed in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) House select committee.
Republicans have taken a variety of views, with some condemning the violence and others focusing on those arrested and still held a year later to be given better treatment.
75% of Democratic voters, 30% of Republicans and 45% of voters unaffiliated with either major party think the Capitol riot was a threat to democracy.#January6#BreakingPollhttps://t.co/qBUWjjOWzn pic.twitter.com/s5tRRu29HY
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) January 3, 2022
How Views Relate
“Beliefs about the fairness of the 2020 election clearly correlate with attitudes toward the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Among voters who think Biden won the election fairly, 84% believe the Capitol riot was a threat to American democracy.
“By contrast, among voters who don’t believe Biden was fairly elected, 82% don’t think the Jan. 6 riot represented a threat to democracy,” Rasmussen Reports noted.
“Similarly, among voters who don’t think Biden won the election fairly, only 22% believe it is important that the Capitol rioters be prosecuted, but among voters who think Biden was fairly elected, 93% believe it is important to prosecute those arrested for the Jan. 6 riot,” the report added.
35% of voters – including 57% of Democrats – think the Capitol riot was part of an illegal conspiracy involving Republican officials.#January6#BreakingPollhttps://t.co/qBUWjjxlHP pic.twitter.com/1iBJVh6ffN
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) January 3, 2022
The survey continues to reflect a divided nation as Americans prepare to face the one-year anniversary of an event that has polarized the country.