Are Republicans or Democrats more anxious about the election? What new survey finds

If Americans could choose one word to describe their feelings about the 2024 race, it would be anxious, a new poll found.

The poll, conducted by YouGov on Sunday, asked 4,373 U.S. adults to choose one of 12 words that best describes how they feel about the presidential election. The top word chosen was “anxious,” with 31% of respondents saying that is the best word to describe how they feel.

With intense polarization, heightened fears of political violence and extremely close election polls, it makes sense that many Americans are on edge, but — according to the poll — some groups are even more anxious than others.

The poll found a slight partisan gap in those who said they were anxious about the presidential race. Thirty-six percent of Democrats said they felt anxious about the election, which is seven points higher than Republicans and independents, who both were at 29%, the poll found.

Drew Westen, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Emory University, told McClatchy News he thinks Republican anxiety is a little lower in part because some believe Trump is going to be inaugurated — irrespective of how the votes come out.

George Marcus, a political science professor at Williams College, told McClatchy News he thinks Republicans have less to be worried about because former President Donald Trump runs a familiar routine in his campaign.

According to Marcus, the two emotions that could give insight into who wins the race are enthusiasm and anger.

“For this election, whichever base is more enthusiastic or and more angry will have a higher turnout and likely win the election as a result,” he said.

While the same percentage of respondents for both parties reported being excited about the race, 3% of Democrats said they were angry — 1% higher than Republicans, according to results.

The poll also found a slight generational gap in groups that said they were anxious about the election. Thirty-seven percent of Boomers said they were anxious, compared to 26% of Generation Z and Millennials who said so.

Other feelings that resounded to respondents were optimistic, at 19% of respondents saying they felt this way, and scared, which was selected by 9% of respondents, according to the poll.

How important is this election?

A similar poll found that a majority of U.S. adults believe this election is the most important one in their lifetime.

Fifty-seven percent of adults polled said this election is ”much more important” compared to previous elections in their lifetime, with the highest majority of Boomers saying so at 78%.

Sixty-five percent of Generation X said this was the most important election, followed by Millennials at 43% , and Gen Z closely behind at 38%.