Americans Show Deep Anxiety About Democracy as Republican Divisions Shape Views on Power, Elections, and the Constitution

A new national study from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda offers one of the clearest recent snapshots of how Americans are thinking about the health of their democracy—and the findings are both detailed and deeply concerning. The research draws on a nationwide survey of 4,500 Americans, earlier polls, and three focus groups with Republican participants, building on previous work that explored internal disagreements within the Republican Party over the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

What makes this study especially intriguing is how it moves beyond broad partisan comparisons and digs into the internal divisions among Republicans themselves. These divisions influence how people view presidential authority, constitutional limits, elections, media sources, and the overall direction of American democracy. At the same time, the report shows that worry about democracy is widespread across the political spectrum, even if the reasons behind that concern differ dramatically.

Below is a thorough breakdown of all specific findings from the report, along with additional context to help readers better understand the broader landscape of democratic trust and political division in the United States.

Widespread Concern About the State of U.S. Democracy

One of the clearest findings is just how anxious Americans are about the condition of their democratic institutions. A striking 84% of Americans say democracy is either in crisis or facing serious challenges, while only 11% believe it is doing well. This overwhelming worry cuts across political lines, although the intensity varies significantly.

Among Democrats, 78% say democracy is in crisis.
Among Independents, 50% share the same view.
Among Republicans, fewer use the language of crisis, but differences emerge inside the party itself. Only 26% of Trump-first Republicans, 19% of Constitution-first Republicans, and 17% of Party-first Republicans believe democracy is doing well.

These numbers show a general mood of democratic unease—one that cannot be reduced to one party or one issue.

Three Distinct Republican Camps and How They See Power

The study highlights three major groups within the Republican Party. Understanding these groups is essential because their differences influence everything from attitudes about elections to perceptions of presidential authority.

Trump-first Republicans (29%)

This group supports broad presidential authority, including the idea that a president should sometimes bypass Congress to achieve policy objectives. A majority of them also support allowing Donald Trump to run for a third term, showing openness to changing long-standing constitutional limits.

Their distrust of institutions is pronounced, especially regarding elections and mainstream media. Many express low confidence in federal election integrity and often rely on media figures who challenge conventional narratives.

Constitution-first Republicans (34%)

These Republicans prioritize checks and balances, limited executive power, and a clear constitutional role for Congress. Most of them voted for Trump in previous elections, but they oppose altering the Constitution to allow a third presidential term.

Among the three groups, they show the highest trust in the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, though still far lower than Democrats and Independents. Their political engagement tends to be grounded in a commitment to constitutional norms rather than loyalty to specific political figures.

Party-first Republicans (36%)

This group is the least politically engaged. They are often unsure about the correct scope of presidential authority and express general uncertainty rather than strong ideological positions. They primarily engage politically through conversations with fellow Republicans but do not follow political news as intensely as the other two groups.

Altogether, these categories illustrate that the Republican Party is far from uniform in its thinking; instead, it contains deep ideological fissures that could shape future elections and debates about executive power.

Divided Views on the 2020 Election and Trust in Elections Today

Division over the 2020 election remains one of the most persistent and impactful political divides in the country.

The study reports that:

96% of Democrats say Joe Biden won legitimately.
56% of Independents agree.
Among Republicans, only 18% express confidence that Biden legitimately won.

Within the Republican groups, Constitution-first Republicans show more confidence than the other two factions, but their numbers still remain much lower than those of Democrats and Independents.

Regarding elections more broadly:

One-third of Americans say federal elections are not free and fair.
Confidence increases when it comes to local elections, with 59% saying they are fair.

These findings show a national trust gap that widens when the political stakes appear higher or when misinformation plays a stronger role.

Declining Trust in Government and Institutions

The study also reveals that 70% of Americans feel that politicians do not care about people like them. This sentiment appears in nearly every demographic and political category. Many Republican focus-group participants specifically mentioned the federal response to COVID-19 and a general distrust of mainstream media as major reasons for their declining confidence.

Low institutional trust has become one of the defining features of U.S. politics. It affects how people view elections, public policy, scientific authority, and media credibility. Studies from other institutions—including Pew Research and the University of Chicago—have shown similar trends, suggesting this distrust is part of a larger cultural and political shift that has been building for decades.

Americans’ Media Habits and Where They Get Political Information

media choices play a major role in shaping political perceptions. According to the study:

46% of Americans rely on online sources for political information.
42% watch traditional television.
36% use cable news.

Democrats tend to rely more on public and broadcast media, while Republicans are more likely to turn to cable news and podcasts. Independents rely heavily on online platforms, which can range from traditional news websites to algorithm-driven social feeds.

The study also notes that the three Republican subgroups follow different media personalities and outlets, often preferring sources that challenge mainstream reporting. This leads to information bubbles that reinforce the group’s existing beliefs about presidential power, constitutional limits, and election legitimacy.

Additional Context: Why Democratic Perception Matters

Understanding how Americans perceive democracy is crucial because public trust affects everything from voter turnout to acceptance of election outcomes. When belief in institutions declines, democratic systems become more vulnerable to polarization, misinformation, and political extremism.

In recent years, surveys from institutions like Gallup, Pew Research Center, and Bright Line Watch have shown rising concern about political violence, polarization, and weakening democratic norms. The findings from this new SNF Agora study fit directly into this broader pattern.

The divisions inside the Republican Party are particularly important because they reveal that debates about constitutional authority and democratic norms are no longer just fights between Democrats and Republicans—they are also conflicts occurring within the GOP itself.

For readers who want to explore the full research themselves, here is the official study:

Understanding Evolving Republican Attitudes Towards Democracy
https://snfagora.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Understanding-Evolving-Republican-Attitudes-Towards-Democracy.pdf