The Dimensions of the Public’s Reaction to January 6

• In Event: Domestic Political Violence, Arrests, and Public Attitudes

Abstract

The invasion of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, incited by Donald Trump and his allies, was a direct assault on American democracy, with repercussions continuing to this day. My paper will examine how, according to the hundreds of polls taken since January 6, the public has viewed the event, including whether it was justified, how it should be characterized, the degree of responsibility held by Trump and other actors, how its perpetrators should be held accountable, whether and how they should be sanctioned, whether the House committee’s investigation was appropriate and fair, and whether Trump should be charged with a crime. Many of the survey questions have been asked multiple times, making it possible to gauge the effects of the committee’s revelations and recommendations and other events, such as the 2022 midterm elections, as well as the passage of time, on the stability of aggregate opinions. Virtually all public reactions suggest extensive motivating reasoning, with responses strongly (but not completely) shaped by partisanship and even more so by attitudes towards Trump and his big lie of a stolen election. The configuration and evolution of opinion on questions raised by the event will provide important insights into the current state of popular support for democratic institutions.

Author

• Gary C. Jacobson, University of California, San Diego