Voters Reject Candidates Who Approve Violence

Publication Date: 05/06/2026 9:45 AM CST

Voters Reject Candidates Who Approve Violence

Publication: 05/06/2026 9:45 AM CST

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Napolitan News asked voters whether would they vote for a candidate that expressed a particular view.

One quarter (24%) said they'd vote for a candidate who agreed that, despite its flaws and repressive attitudes towards certain groups, China has greatly improved the material conditions of the average Chinese person.
- One third (33%) would vote against a candidate with such views.
- A plurality (43%) were not sure who they would vote for.
- A plurality (45%) of Republicans said they would vote against a candidate who said China has improved conditions for the average Chinese person.
- Although 30% of Democrats said they would vote for such a candidate, 47% were not sure.
Two in 10 voters (20%) said they would vote for someone who believed the U.S. should actively seek to learn from and emulate China.
- Half (50%) said they would vote against such a candidate.
- Three in 10 voters (30%) were not sure.
- More Republicans (63%) than Democrats (42%) said they'd vote against such a candidate.
Far fewer voters (12%) said they'd vote for a candidate who believes that Hamas is 1000 times better than Israel.
- A majority (52%) said they would vote against a candidate who thinks Hamas is 1000 times better than Israel.
- About one third (36%) were not sure.
- A majority of Republicans (64%) said they would vote against such a candidate.
- Democrats agreed by a margin of 43% to 14%, though another 43% were not sure.
Just 17% said they would vote for a candidate who stated that to bring about social change, it is sometimes necessary to use violence against business or political leaders.
- A large majority (68%) would vote against a candidate who said it was necessary to use violence.
- Most Democrats and Republicans (70%) would vote against such a candidate.
- Just 54% of Independents said they would vote against a candidate who said violence was sometimes necessary, but 33% were not sure.
- Forty-three percent (43%) of voters in high-density areas say they would vote for a candidate who agreed with violence in some cases.
- Surprisingly, 47% of voters who talk politics every or nearly every day said they would vote for such a candidate.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, May 4-5, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.