(AURN News) — A strong majority of Americans say they are tired of political mudslinging, and new data suggests elected officials should take notice.
According to the Pew Research Center, 78% of U.S. adults believe elected officials should avoid using heated or aggressive language because it could encourage some people to commit violent acts.
Views are strong across party lines. Pew’s findings show that 75% of Republicans and Republican-leaning adults believe political leaders should avoid such rhetoric, compared to 83% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults.
Only 20% of Americans say elected officials should feel free to use heated language without worrying about potentially inciting violence.
The report also highlights a notable shift among Republicans. In 2019, 61% of Republicans and Republican leaners said political leaders should avoid heated rhetoric. That share has increased 14 points, reflecting growing concern about the potential consequences of aggressive political language.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Jamie Jackson:
