In just two weeks, Americans will vote in a midterm election that may well decide what party controls Congress and the legislative agenda for the next two years.

But as Americans head into this democratic exercise, some observers wonder whether the country has become dissatisfied with democracy. Young Americans seem more willing to embrace nondemocratic modes of government, and traditionally disadvantaged minority groups less likely to find living in a democracy of absolute importance. Trust in political institutions and adherence to traditional democratic norms look to be in decline.

Our 2018 American Institutional Confidence Poll, sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Georgetown University’s Baker Center for Leadership & Governance, explores these issues. Conducted in June and July, our research finds a mixed picture — including attitudes toward democratic institutions that vary strongly by partisan identity. What might that say about our democratic future?