Democrat Elites Significantly More Willing to Cheat in Elections, New Survey Shows

WASHINGTON — A new Napolitan Institute/RMG Research survey has found that Democrat elites — defined as highly educated, high-income individuals living in urban or coastal areas — are far more willing than average voters to engage in or accept cheating to help their candidates win elections.

The poll reveals a stark divide: only 7% of the general electorate said they would be willing to cheat to ensure their preferred candidate wins. Among Democrat elites, that figure rises to 29% — more than four times higher.

The survey also found that Democrat elites were notably more likely to justify cheating by their own side if they believed it was necessary to prevent the opposing party from gaining power. This attitude was much less prevalent among rank-and-file Democrats and virtually nonexistent among Republicans.

The Napolitan Institute described the results as evidence of a growing contempt for ordinary voters and the democratic process among segments of the Democratic establishment. The poll highlights how educational attainment, income level, and geographic location correlate strongly with tolerance for bending or breaking election rules.

Conducted as part of ongoing research into American political attitudes, the survey underscores deepening fractures in public trust over election integrity. It comes amid continued federal reviews of 2020 election procedures in key states and heightened scrutiny of practices such as mail-in voting and ballot harvesting.

Republicans have long warned that elite-driven changes to election laws often prioritize partisan advantage over security and transparency. The findings add data to concerns that a portion of the Democratic leadership views traditional election safeguards as obstacles rather than protections.

The Napolitan Institute/RMG Research poll provides fresh insight into the widening cultural and class divide within the Democratic Party and American politics more broadly. The results suggest that attitudes toward election integrity remain deeply polarized along educational and socioeconomic lines.