"Optimistic" vs. "afraid": Post-election poll shows huge difference among Americans' reactions
FILE-Supporters react to election results during an election night event for Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, D.C, on November 5, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Now that the election has ended, most people have mixed emotions as President-elect Donald Trump heads back to the White House to begin a second term next year.
Gallup conducted a poll between Nov. 6-20, the two-week period after Trump’s win, to get the reaction of Americans after the election.
The analytics and advisory company included eight emotions (surprised, proud, excited, relieved, devastated, afraid, angry, and optimistic) to ask people how they feel about Trump winning the election this year compared to their sentiments when he won in 2016.
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Approximately 50% of Americans say they are optimistic about the election results, and between 40% and 46% are relieved, excited, or proud. But 29% to 38% of Americans report feeling afraid, angry, or devastated.
According to the poll, majorities of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents describe their reaction to Donald Trump’s victory as optimistic (86%), relieved (85%), excited (76%) and proud (72%).
However, majorities of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents report feeling afraid (76%), angry (68%) and devastated (61%) about the election’s result.
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Gallup noted in their report that Democrats are more than twice as likely as Republicans to say they are surprised by the election outcome (59% vs. 27%). Meanwhile, few Democrats express any positive emotions, and very few Republicans express any negative ones regarding the election.
Separately, more than nine in 10 Americans say they will accept Trump as the legitimate president, including 99% of Republicans and Republican leaners and 84% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
Gallup last asked respondents this question after Trump’s 2016 election win, in which he won the Electoral College but not the popular vote. During that time, fewer Americans (84%) and Democrats (77%) said they would accept Trump than do so now.
In 2016, 75% of Americans were surprised by Trump’s win, compared with 41% today. Additionally, there are slightly more Americans now than in 2016 saying they are proud or excited.
According to Gallup, this year’s readings for relief, devastation, fear, and anger are similar to those in 2016, and optimism was not included in the 2016 poll.