Despite a tumultuous political climate marked by recent high-profile assassinations, a new AP-NORC poll highlights a striking divide: younger Americans are markedly less worried about political violence and threats to free speech compared to older generations.
The political landscape in the United States continues to be fraught with tension, particularly following high-profile events such as the 2025 assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah and Democratic legislators in Minnesota. Amidst this climate, a recent AP-NORC poll reveals a surprising trend: younger adults are significantly less concerned about political violence and threats to fundamental rights compared to older generations. This finding, based on a poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, underscores a deepening generational and partisan divide in how Americans perceive the stability of their democracy.
The AP-NORC Poll: Key Findings on Public Concern
The poll, which surveyed 1,289 adults from October 9-13, 2025, highlights a complex tapestry of anxiety and apathy across the U.S. population. Overall, about 4 in 10 U.S. adults express concern about political violence targeting either conservatives or liberals. However, this concern is not evenly distributed across age groups or political affiliations.
Generational Divide in Political Violence Concern
One of the most striking findings is the stark generational difference in worry about political violence. While about half of adults aged 60 and older are highly concerned about political violence, this figure drops to only about 3 in 10 among adults under 30. This suggests that older Americans, perhaps shaped by historical precedents, carry a greater sense of apprehension regarding such threats.
Ryan Striker, a 34-year-old music teacher and political independent, articulated a common fear, stating, “I worry because anytime political violence happens, it seems like it can be a snowball effect.” This sentiment resonates widely, yet its intensity varies significantly with age.
Differing Views on Free Speech Threats
A similar generational pattern emerges when examining concerns about limitations on free speech. Approximately 4 in 10 U.S. adults overall are highly concerned about threats to conservatives’ or liberals’ free speech. However, nearly half of adults aged 60 and older express high concern about threats to conservative free speech, whereas only about one-quarter of those under 30 share this view. A substantial, though smaller, gap also exists for concerns regarding liberal free speech.
Interestingly, the poll found no age divide among Americans who perceive a “major” threat to free speech generally. This indicates that younger adults acknowledge the existence of threats to free speech but are less personally worried about how these threats might specifically impact liberals or conservatives, distinguishing their perspective from that of older adults.
Fundamental Rights: A Broader Look
Beyond political violence and free speech, the poll also gauged public concern over other fundamental rights:
- About half of U.S. adults see a “major” threat to freedom of speech.
- Around 4 in 10 adults identify a “major” threat to freedom of the press.
- Fewer, approximately 3 in 10, perceive significant threats to the right to vote and the right to keep and bear arms.
The right to vote, in particular, shows a clear age divide in concern, with about 4 in 10 adults aged 60 and older seeing it as a major threat, compared to only 2 in 10 adults under 30.
Voices Across Generations: Personal Perspectives
The poll’s statistics are brought to life by the personal experiences and insights of individuals from different generations and political leanings.
Older Adults: Shaped by History
For many older Americans, historical events serve as a potent reminder of the potential for political unrest. Tony DiGiovine, a 74-year-old retired electrical engineer and Democrat from Phoenix, recalled the Kent State shootings of 1970, where the National Guard killed unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War. “I remember Kent State. I was around then,” DiGiovine said, expressing a deep concern about the role of armed forces in domestic affairs. “The National Guard really isn’t trained to patrol our streets. Neither are our armed forces. Something’s going to go wrong.”
Younger Adults: A Different Reality
Younger generations, while acknowledging issues, often frame their concerns differently. Max Anderson, a 23-year-old college student and liberal independent from Fort Collins, Colorado, voiced concern about violence from across the political spectrum. He attributed some of this to a sense of widespread struggle among his peers. “I think a lot of people my age aren’t generally doing good right now,” Anderson noted. “So I think all of a sudden, those more extreme avenues of action just feel like a better option.”
The Independent Stance
Independents generally exhibit lower levels of high concern about political violence. Craig Tenhoff, 58, an independent from Simi Valley, California, articulated a worry about the erosion of civility in political discourse. “It’s concerning that we seem to be getting to the point where we stop talking, we stop compromising, and people vilify their opponents,” he observed.
The Partisan Split: Worry for ‘Our Side’
Beyond generational differences, the poll reveals a pronounced partisan divide, with Republicans and Democrats primarily concerned about violence directed at their own ideological allies.
Republicans and Conservative Concerns
Approximately 6 in 10 Republicans are highly concerned about political violence targeting conservative figures or organizations. In contrast, only 27% of Republicans express high concern about violence directed at liberal groups. This asymmetrical concern highlights a focus on perceived threats to their own political identity.
Democrats and Liberal Concerns
Similarly, about 6 in 10 Democrats are highly concerned about political violence aimed at liberal figures and organizations. Their concern for violence against conservatives is lower, at 38%. These partisan dynamics are even more pronounced among those at the extreme ends of the political spectrum, with conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats showing even greater concern for their respective sides.
The Trump Factor
The perception of threats can also shift based on the political climate and leadership. Jeff Milligan, a 72-year-old Republican from Logan, Ohio, shared that his concern about threats to fundamental rights diminished after the election of President Donald Trump. “President Trump was elected,” he stated as the reason for his change in perspective, implying a sense of security under a leader he supported.
What This Means for America’s Future
The findings of the AP-NORC poll present a nuanced picture of America’s political anxieties. The generational gap suggests that younger adults may view political conflict through a different lens, perhaps less burdened by historical traumas or more accustomed to online ideological battles. The partisan divide, meanwhile, highlights the ongoing challenge of fostering national unity and empathy across political lines, with each side primarily focused on threats to its own. Understanding these differing perspectives is crucial for addressing the underlying causes of political instability and promoting constructive dialogue in a rapidly evolving political environment.
The Polling Methodology
The AP-NORC poll was conducted using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. Further details on the political climate and specific assassinations can be found in related reporting by The Associated Press on Charlie Kirk and Democratic legislators.
