National Poll Shows Belief in Democracy is Strong, Silent Majority Fear Expressing Views, Rising Authoritarianism

On the cusp of America 250, the machinery of democracy appears functional, but democratic discourse is rapidly cooling and there’s growing concern about the rise of authoritarianism.

for immediate release: May 20, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new national poll on the health of democracy released today reveals a participation enigma. While a plurality of the population describes U.S. democracy as strong, there is a significant undercurrent of fear. Most Americans self-censor, hesitating to express political views due to fear of professional or social consequences.

The poll, commissioned by The Steady State and fielded by Lincoln Park Strategies shows GenZ and Trump voters are the most likely to view democracy in The United States as strong, with Democrats nearly three times more likely than Republicans to describe democracy as weak. Concern about a shift toward authoritarianism is high and remarkably consistent across demographics.

“In America’s 250th year, and as the critical 2026 midterms heat-up, this data reinforces the importance of civil discourse and ongoing efforts by groups like The Steady State, and our more than 400 former senior national security officials, to promote democracy, rule of law, and national security,” said Steven A. Cash, Executive Director, The Steady State. “These are values shared by most Americans, and we will do our part to generate awareness and civil debate about the importance of freedom of expression and American values.”

Nearly half (45%) say they are either extremely (28%) or very concerned (17%). An additional 20% are moderately concerned about the shift towards authoritarianism.

Data show a retreating public square. Americans are retreating to known and familiar silos for sharing and getting into discussion with family and friends versus in the community, at work, or on social media.

“250 years ago, the United States took its first step in becoming a new nation,” said Stefan Hankin, President of Lincoln Park Strategies. “While Founding Fathers did not create an inclusive democracy from the beginning, the next two centuries generally moved in the direction of expanding access and pushing back against authoritarian rule. The last decade has pushed back against this trend, and the American public is rightly concerned.” 

Methodology: 1,000 interviews among adults age 18+ were conducted from March 13-20, 2026 using an online survey. The results were weighted to ensure proportional responses. The Bayesian confidence interval for 1,000 interviews is 3.5, which is roughly equivalent to a margin of error of ±3.1 at the 95% confidence level.

About The Steady State

Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 400 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.

About Lincoln Park Strategies

Lincoln Park Strategies is a full-service public opinion research firm which provides a complete range of market research and messaging services for political, non-profit, corporate, and association clients. Lincoln Park Strategies has conducted research in all 50 states, and over 25 countries around the globe.

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