A month after the 2024 presidential election, a new poll from Roanoke College reveals a stark divide among Virginia voters. The survey, conducted in late November, highlights a sharp contrast in political anxiety between Democrats and Republicans, as well as diverging opinions on the country’s future and the legacy of former President Donald Trump. These findings suggest a state with high levels of political polarization and uncertainty about what lies ahead for the nation.
One of the most striking takeaways from the Roanoke College poll is the significant shift in political anxiety across party lines. Senior Political Analyst Henry Wilson notes that the poll paints a picture of heightened emotional responses to the election results, with a clear distinction between Democrats and Republicans.
For Democrats, political anxiety surged dramatically after the election. In May 2024, before the election, the anxiety level for Democrats was at -10.39, suggesting a more balanced or even optimistic outlook. However, following the election, this anxiety spiked to 101.77, indicating a level of stress and unease comparable to what they felt during Donald Trump’s presidency.
On the other hand, Republicans, who had been highly anxious in the years following Trump’s departure from office, saw a significant decrease in their anxiety levels after the election. In May 2024, their anxiety level was at 166.59. However, by late November, this number had dropped dramatically to 13.52, reflecting a sense of relief and optimism following their party’s victory.
Wilson observes that these patterns are consistent with the general trend that voters tend to feel more anxious and unsettled when their party is out of power. “We do see a trend in which party just won the election or which party is in power,” Wilson explained. “The people are much more optimistic when their party is in power, even if there are really big things going on otherwise in the country.”
When asked whether they believe the best years of the country are ahead or behind, the results were nearly split. About 50% of respondents expressed optimism, saying they believe the best years are still ahead, while 47% felt that the country’s best years are behind it. This close division reflects the broader national sentiment of uncertainty and division, with voters feeling torn between hope for progress and concern over the country’s direction.
When asked to associate Trump with one of five words—Leader, Visionary, Disruptor, Fascist, or Criminal—respondents chose “Leader” most often, with 29% selecting it as the word that best described him. However, a significant portion of respondents also associated Trump with negative terms. “Criminal” came in second with 26%, followed by “Disruptor” (17%), “Fascist” (15%), and “Visionary” (10%).
“People seem to be in the ‘like him’ or ‘dislike him’ camp, ‘love him’ or ‘hate him’ camp, and they tend to stay in those camps,” Wilson said.
The poll found that 57% of respondents were happy that the election had concluded, signaling widespread fatigue with the campaign season.
