Ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, a survey of nearly 9,000 Houston-area residents reveals a sharp contrast between strong support for democratic ideals and dissatisfaction with how the American political system is presently working.
Key findings
- Nearly 7 in 10 residents agree that democracy is the best form of government, but roughly half express little to no satisfaction with how it currently functions in the United States. Fewer than 50% feel confident in the future of the nation's political system.
- Most residents report low satisfaction with the political, economic and justice systems, alongside low trust in all three branches of government.
- About 8 in 10 residents want to see societal change, either by reform (63%) or revolutionary action (15%).
