According to a Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey, nearly one-quarter of Americans believe political violence may be necessary if the elections don’t go their way in 2024, illustrating that political tension in the U.S. is on the rise as the 2024 elections loom later this year.

Shana Gadarian, professor of political science and associate dean for research, isn’t shocked by the outcomes of the PRRI political poll. “It is not super surprising that people who still are willing to identify as Republican and want to vote Republican to say, ‘Yes, I’m okay with violence,’” she says.

“The Republican party now has a leader who has been very clear, in his speeches, rhetoric and actions, that he has authoritarian tendencies. He [President Donald Trump] doesn’t have a lot of respect for the norms of democracy, and he is willing to use violence and call on others to use violence to save power,” says Gadarian.

Read more in the Chronicle-Tribune article, “2024 Political Tension Increases Support for Violence and Authoritarianism.”