A new poll shows that residents of Mass. expect violence after 2024 elections

Nearly 50% of Massachusetts residents are disappointed by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump’s rematch in the 2024 election — which a majority say could likely lead to “major violence,” according to a new survey.

Polling group MassINC with GBH News and CommonWealth Beacon surveyed 1,002 Massachusetts residents during the month of March. Topics included state politics, the 2024 elections, the war in Gaza, abortion rights and sports betting.

The most common feelings about the election were disappointment, annoyance and anger, according to the poll. Nearly 75% of respondents believe that political tensions in the United States are either very serious or at a critical point.

The survey also asks about the main implications of the 2024 elections. More than 60% think it is very likely or somewhat likely that the elections will lead to major violence.

In 2021, supporters of Trump’s reelection marched through the capital to violently stop the counting of Electoral College votes that certified Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. More than 100 police officers were attacked and beaten during the riots from January 6.

Survey: Migrant crisis is Mass.’s most pressing problem

The survey also addressed the “biggest problem” facing Massachusetts today. By several percentage points, the top answer was the migrant and immigration crisis. The distribution of the question was as follows:

• Migrants/immigration 21%

• Inflation/cost of living 12%

• Taxes / government spending / social assistance 12%

• Politics (corruption, transparency, incompetence) 8%

• Infrastructure (roads, energy, etc.) 7%

• Economy (jobs, poverty, inequalities) 8%

• Public security (drugs, crime, violence) 5%

• Climate/environment 2%

• Discrimination/rights (race, LGBT, sexism) 2%

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency last summer as the state’s overcrowded emergency shelter system struggled to deal with the implications of her “right to shelter” law. . There are overflow sites across the state, housing migrants fleeing unstable countries, homeless families and pregnant women.

Boston.com readers overwhelmingly supported changing the Right to Housing Act last fall to limit the number of families in the system. Healey also recently implemented shelter stay limits.

Poll: 47% think US should end war in Gaza as soon as possible

Respondents were also asked whether they were following the situation in Gaza and whether they supported or opposed Israeli military action in that region. More than half said they followed it somewhat or very carefully, while 40% said they opposed Israel’s actions somewhat or strongly.

Just under half of those surveyed said “the United States should push Israeli leaders to end the war immediately.”

A growing number of Massachusetts politicians have called for a ceasefire in Gaza, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing criticism from U.S. leaders, including President Joe Biden and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.