Democracy Dies in Darkness
The UnPopulist
By Thomas Shull
The UnPopulist, an independent publication, focuses on defending liberal democracy against authoritarianism both in the United States and globally.
Recent findings from the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism (ISMA), the publisher of The UnPopulist, reveal growing cynicism among voters who backed Kamala Harris for president. This change has become noticeable since 2024.
According to ISMA’s latest populism survey, the percentage of Harris supporters expressing distrust toward American elites has increased. In the survey conducted in August 2024 prior to the election, 59% of likely Harris voters strongly felt that at least one out of six American elites had harmed individuals like them for the elite’s “own selfish interests.” By June of this year, this sentiment had escalated to 69% among those who voted for her, marking a 10-point increase. This shift represents the only statistically significant change among the four populist attitudes that the survey monitors.