In an autumn poll conducted in October 2025, the Associated Press and NORC Center found that Americans are divided not only by party but by age in how they fear for their democratic life. Two political killings this year, the slaying of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, hang over the findings like a shared wound that different generations and parties read in different ways. Older adults, who remember episodes such as Kent State, tend to feel the threat most keenly, while younger adults express less alarm even as m
Younger Americans Less Worried About Political Violence and Free Speech Threats, AP-NORC Poll Finds
Political violence this year included the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah and the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in June.
Younger adults see the threat to free speech but worry less about who it hits
Mark
What's the headline here?
Mimi
Younger adults are much less worried about political violence than older ones. About 3 in 10 under 30 are highly concerned, versus about half of those 60 and older.
Mark
And free speech?
Mimi
Same pattern on worry about liberals' or conservatives' speech. But about half of adults overall see a major threat to free speech, and there's no age gap on that.
Luke
So young people aren't dismissing the threat. The poll only shows they're less personally worried about its effect on either camp.
Mimi
Right, and that reading is the poll's interpretation, not something respondents said directly.
Mark
What about the partisan split?
Mimi
About 6 in 10 Republicans worry about violence against conservatives, and 6 in 10 Democrats about violence against liberals. Concern for the other side is lower: 27% and 38%.
Luke
Why younger adults worry less isn't established. Max Anderson's comment is one 23-year-old's view, not an explanation.
Mark
And the Milligan quote?
Mimi
He said his worry about rights eased once Trump was elected. It shows how much the answers track who holds power.
Luke
It's one man, though. The poll has 1,289 adults and a 3.8-point margin, so smaller subgroups are shakier.
El Pulso
- Two political killings this year, including the June shooting of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, have sharpened anxiety about where political anger is heading.
- Adults 60 and older are roughly twice as likely as under-30s to be highly worried about political violence, with about half versus 3 in 10 expressing deep concern.
- Democrats and Republicans each fear violence chiefly against their own side, with about 6 in 10 in each party voicing high concern for their own camp and far fewer for the other.
- Concern about free speech is nearly universal among Democrats, while Republicans are far less likely to see a major threat, and the two sides are drifting further apart on what counts as endangered.
- Younger Americans see the threats but feel less personally at risk, and the gap in perceived danger shows no sign of narrowing, leaving the country split over whom to protect.
In an autumn poll conducted in October 2025, the Associated Press and NORC Center found that Americans are divided not only by party but by age in how they fear for their democratic life. Two political killings this year, the slaying of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, hang over the findings like a shared wound that different generations and parties read in different ways. Older adults, who remember episodes such as Kent State, tend to feel the threat most keenly, while younger adults express less alarm even as many of them still see danger in the country's direction. The result is a nation that agrees on little about who is in danger, and that disagreement may shape how it responds to the next crisis.
Ryan Striker, a music teacher in Manchester, New Hampshire, worries that political violence snowballs, with one act seeming to invite the next. He is a liberal independent who opposes President Donald Trump, and his unease is shared widely, though not equally across age groups, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The survey comes after two killings this year. In June, Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded; the Justice Department called it a calculated attack on elected officials and their families. In September, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University.
About 44% of adults are highly concerned about political violence against conservatives, and 41% say the same about liberals. Among adults 60 and older, about half are highly worried, compared with roughly 3 in 10 under 30. Tony DiGiovine, a 74-year-old Phoenix Democrat, remembers Kent State in 1970 and believes the military is not trained to patrol American streets, warning that something will go wrong.
Free speech shows the same divide. About half of adults see a major threat to free speech, but younger adults are far less personally worried about how limits affect conservatives. Party matters as much as age: about 6 in 10 Republicans fear for conservatives, while about 6 in 10 Democrats fear for liberals. Only about 3 in 10 Republicans see a major threat to free speech, compared with about two-thirds of Democrats.
The poll, of 1,289 adults surveyed October 9 to 13, suggests a country that disagrees about who is endangered, and the party and age divides are what to watch.
A music teacher in Manchester, New Hampshire, named Ryan Striker, 34, says political violence worries him because it can snowball: one act seems to invite the next. He is liberal, politically independent and opposes President Donald Trump. His concern is common, but it is not evenly shared across age groups, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The survey was taken against the backdrop of two killings this year. In June, Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot to death in their home. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded. The Justice Department described the attack as a calculated plan to inflict fear and violence on Minnesota elected officials and their families. In September, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead while speaking to an audience at Utah Valley University, which authorities also called an act of political violence.
Overall, 44% of U.S. adults say they are extremely or very concerned about political violence aimed at conservative figures or organizations. For violence aimed at liberal figures and groups, the number is 41%. The generational gap is wide. About half of adults 60 and older are highly concerned about violence against either side, compared with about 3 in 10 adults under 30.
Tony DiGiovine, 74, a Democrat, musician and retired electrical engineer in Phoenix, belongs to the older group. He recalled Kent State, where the National Guard shot and killed unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War in 1970. He said the Guard and the armed forces are not trained to patrol American streets, and that something is going to go wrong.
The same pattern appears on free speech. About 4 in 10 adults are highly concerned about limits on the speech of conservatives or liberals. Among those 60 and older, about half are highly concerned about conservatives' speech, versus about a quarter of those under 30. The gap for liberals is smaller but still substantial.
On fundamental rights, about half of adults see a major threat to freedom of speech and about 4 in 10 see one to freedom of the press. About 3 in 10 say the same of the right to vote and the right to bear arms. There was no age divide on whether free speech faces a major threat, which suggests younger adults see the threat but are less personally worried about its effect on liberals or conservatives. Voting is different: about 2 in 10 under-30s see a major threat, against about 4 in 10 of those 60 and older. Craig Tenhoff, 58, an independent from Simi Valley, California, said it is concerning that people stop talking and compromising and vilify opponents.
Party matters as much as age. About 6 in 10 Republicans are highly concerned about violence against conservatives, but only 27% say so about violence against liberals. About 6 in 10 Democrats are highly concerned about violence against liberals, while 38% say so about conservatives. Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are far likelier than moderates to worry about their own side. About a quarter of independents are highly concerned about violence in either direction.
Partisan gaps also show up on rights. About two-thirds of Democrats see a major threat to free speech and press freedom. Only about 3 in 10 Republicans say that of free speech and about 2 in 10 of the press. Jeff Milligan, a 72-year-old Republican from Logan, Ohio, said he used to worry more about threats to fundamental rights. Asked what changed, he said Trump was elected. Max Anderson, a 23-year-old college student in Fort Collins, Colorado, who is an independent and describes himself as liberal, worries about violence from across the spectrum. He said many people his age are not doing well, and extreme avenues of action can start to feel like a better option.
The poll surveyed 1,289 adults from Oct. 9 to 13 using NORC's AmeriSpeak Panel, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for adults overall. The numbers point to a country that agrees on little about who is endangered, and the divides by party and age are what to watch.
Citas Notables
I worry because anytime political violence happens, it seems like it can be a snowball effect.— Ryan Striker, 34, music teacher, Manchester, New Hampshire
I remember Kent State. I was around then.— Tony DiGiovine, 74, Phoenix
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