# Eight-in-ten Americans say the country's real leaders are likely unknown

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/eight-in-ten-americans-say-the-countrys-real-leaders-are-likely-unknown/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted April 9 to 15, 2025, 79% of Americans said it is at least somewhat likely that the people who really run the country are not known to voters. This includes 18% who said extremely likely, 27% who said very likely, and 34% who said somewhat likely.

About one in five said this is unlikely (21%), with 15% who said not too likely and 6% who said not at all likely.

## Topline

How likely is it that the people who really run the country are not known to the voters?

79% of Americans say the country's real leaders are likely unknown to voters.

Net findings combine adjacent response options from the same scale.

- Somewhat likely: 34.0%
- Very likely: 27.0%
- Extremely likely: 18.2%
- Not too likely: 15.1%
- Not at all likely: 5.8%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-04-09 → 2025-04-15
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: policy
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#belief-in-unknown-entities-running-the-country](https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#belief-in-unknown-entities-running-the-country)

## Citation

Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2025-026, fielded April 9-15, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#belief-in-unknown-entities-running-the-country](https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#belief-in-unknown-entities-running-the-country)