The January 6th Capital Insurrection was and continues to be a defining moment in U.S. history and for democracy. Recently, the Defend Democracy Project and Public Policy Polling partnered together to conduct polling research to measure public sentiment on the January 6th Capital Insurrection Committee hearings, which were broadcasted live this past summer. The purpose of the January 6th committee hearings was to investigate and present unbiased facts and information to the American public about the causes of the riot. The poll conducted in Georgia by Defend Democracy Project and Public Policy Polling showed what Georgians have learned from the January 6th Select Committee hearings, and what Georgians believe are the ongoing threats to our democracy. 

The results found a majority of voters believe the investigation and its findings are important. 56% of voters, including 55% of independents surveyed, are also concerned with Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker continuing to deny the outcome of the 2020 election and advocating for states like Georgia to re-vote and jail election administrators. Across all seven states polled, voters demonstrated they were concerned about the attack on January 6th, in fact, 76% of Georgia voters claimed to have seen, heard, or read about the January 6th investigation. Nearly half (49%) of voters blame not only Donald Trump, but also members of the Republican Party who continue to support Trump.  Just 12% of voters consider Trump to be the only problem, 43% of independent voters think the problem is also with Trump loyalists in the Republican Party, while just 10% think the problem is only with Trump.

During a virtual press briefing hosted by the Defend Democracy Project, Communications Director, Nicole Haley, spoke about House Select Committee’s findings and stated: “The House Select Committee’s investigation has proven that Trump and MAGA Republicans are responsible for the attack on our country on January 6th and the ongoing conspiracy to take away our right to pick who leads us. It is clear that American people across the country know this too…Donald Trump and those complicit must be held accountable for their actions in the courts and at the ballot box in order to put a stop to the ongoing threat to our rights.”                                     

The polls also showed: 

Over half of voters support the investigation being done by the committee and believe it’s important to protect democracy. 

Over half of respondents want to see those responsible held accountable or prosecuted.

Over 60% of voters are concerned with Trump and his allies telling people there was voter fraud after repeatedly being told there was none. 

Over 60% are concerned with Trump threatening then-Vice President Pence to overturn the election, with a majority of independents being at least somewhat concerned.

In these states, a majority or near-majority of voters believe what happened on January 6th and the effort to overturn elections is a problem with members of the Republican party as a whole, not just Donald Trump. 

And in Wisconsin, a plurality of voters believe Republicans are more violent than Democrats.

View the full report here.