In the 2024 presidential race, democracy emerged as a key issue for voters, with half of them identifying it as the most important factor in their decision. This was higher than the share of voters who were motivated by inflation, immigration, abortion policy, or free speech. Supporters of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump had different perspectives on the future of democracy. While two-thirds of Harris voters saw it as the most important factor, about one-third of Trump voters also considered democracy significant. Concerns about democracy were fueled by Trump’s actions, such as refusing a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election.
Former members of the Trump administration expressed concerns about his fitness for office and his disregard for the law. One voter mentioned Trump’s legal cases and his association with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for his administration, as reasons for supporting Harris. Supporters of both candidates were worried about the opposing candidate leading the country closer to authoritarianism. Democrats saw Trump as a threat to democracy, while Republicans expressed concerns about the Biden-Harris administration’s impact on the country.
Conservative voters, such as tea party co-founder Debbie Dooley, had multiple concerns about the Biden-Harris administration, including open borders and the alleged weaponization of the Department of Justice against political adversaries. Many conservatives also felt that social media companies had silenced their voices during the pandemic. Freedom of speech was a significant issue for most Trump supporters who considered democracy an important factor in their vote. The differing views on which side posed a threat to democracy stemmed from the rhetoric used by both campaigns during the election.
The 2024 election highlighted the importance of accepting election results and peacefully transferring power, as emphasized by Harris in her concession speech at Howard University. The election was seen as an example of democracy in action, with Trump winning both the Electoral College and popular votes. However, the question remains whether the country would remain peaceful if the outcome were different and how to bridge the gap between differing perceptions of democracy in the future. Overall, democracy was a central theme in the 2024 election, with voters expressing concerns about the future of democratic ideals in the United States.
