Despite this, I think the 2016 US presidential election deserves some specific analysis. A full breakdown of my predictions and their accuracy will occur at the end of the year (we are, after all, still awaiting the results of Michigan, pending a possible recount). This will include a discussion of an error I should, in the interest of not hiding my mistakes, point out at the earliest opportunity (i.e. now). Maine and Nebraska were stated to split their electoral college votes proportionally during my predictions. This is not the case; both states deliver two electoral college seats (representing their senators) on a winner-takes-all basis, and the rest by first-past-the-post in their congressional districts (representing their members of the house).
What I will be looking at here, instead, will be the large scale result that surprised me as much as the other pollsters relying on US polling data: the victory of Donald Trump. In the minds of some, this is a result of racist, sexist and generally hateful voters. For others this is a rejection of politics as usual and a desire for change. For yet more, this is a far stronger emotion--revenge upon those who have made America not-great. I'll be comparing these three proposed rationalisations against the results to see which fit the data.
RACISM
There are many metrics that can be used to estimate which US states are the most racist. The most popular have been by analysis of twitter posts and google searches (the latter having first been used in psephological analysis of Obama's electoral prospects), however these are unreliable for certain reasons (including access and use of internet due to varying demographics between states and the fact that many terms flagged as offensive have been reclaimed by minorities and used in a positive context). Instead I'll be using the FBI Hate Crimes Statistics 2015, which while also flawed (such as relying on crimes being reported) is somewhat more rigorous.STATE | POPULATION | AGENCIES | POPULATION REPORTED % | RACIAL HATE CRIMES | ||||||
TOTAL | EXAMINED | % EXAMINED | TOTAL | REPORTING | % REPORTING | REPORTED | CALCULATED | PER MILLION | ||
Alabama | 4,858,979 | 1,252,146 | 25.8% | 34 | 3 | 8.8% | 2.3% | 8 | 352 | 72.41 |
Alaska | 738,432 | 734,820 | 99.5% | 33 | 4 | 12.1% | 12.1% | 7 | 58 | 78.59 |
Arizona | 6,828,065 | 6,622,880 | 97.0% | 101 | 21 | 20.8% | 20.2% | 162 | 803 | 117.64 |
Arkansas | 2,978,204 | 2,754,543 | 92.5% | 279 | 4 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 3 | 226 | 75.97 |
California | 39,144,818 | 39,137,326 | 100.0% | 730 | 213 | 29.2% | 29.2% | 427 | 1464 | 37.39 |
Colorado | 5,456,574 | 5,445,853 | 99.8% | 234 | 42 | 17.9% | 17.9% | 65 | 363 | 66.50 |
Connecticut | 3,590,886 | 3,399,068 | 94.7% | 95 | 44 | 46.3% | 43.8% | 62 | 141 | 39.38 |
Delaware | 945,934 | 945,934 | 100.0% | 60 | 7 | 11.7% | 11.7% | 9 | 77 | 81.55 |
D. C. | 672,228 | 672,228 | 100.0% | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 23 | 23 | 34.21 |
Florida | 20,271,272 | 5,356,877 | 26.4% | 38 | 36 | 94.7% | 25.0% | 44 | 176 | 8.67 |
Georgia | 10,214,860 | 7,991,234 | 78.2% | 473 | 7 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 32 | 2764 | 270.58 |
Hawaii | 1,431,603 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | N/A | N/A |
Idaho | 1,654,930 | 1,654,475 | 100.0% | 112 | 19 | 17.0% | 17.0% | 14 | 83 | 49.88 |
Illinois | 12,859,995 | 12,501,008 | 97.2% | 741 | 43 | 5.8% | 5.6% | 59 | 1046 | 81.33 |
Indiana | 6,619,680 | 3,224,755 | 48.7% | 168 | 18 | 10.7% | 5.2% | 43 | 824 | 124.45 |
Iowa | 3,123,899 | 3,105,094 | 99.4% | 237 | 5 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 3 | 143 | 45.80 |
Kansas | 2,911,641 | 2,741,323 | 94.2% | 345 | 34 | 9.9% | 9.3% | 46 | 496 | 170.27 |
Kentucky | 4,425,092 | 4,402,368 | 99.5% | 403 | 83 | 20.6% | 20.5% | 113 | 551 | 124.63 |
Louisiana | 4,670,724 | 3,711,824 | 79.5% | 148 | 15 | 10.1% | 8.1% | 22 | 273 | 58.48 |
Maine | 1,329,328 | 1,329,328 | 100.0% | 184 | 14 | 7.6% | 7.6% | 16 | 210 | 158.19 |
Maryland | 6,006,401 | 6,006,401 | 100.0% | 154 | 11 | 7.1% | 7.1% | 22 | 308 | 51.28 |
Massachusetts | 6,794,422 | 6,566,279 | 96.6% | 342 | 85 | 24.9% | 24.0% | 198 | 824 | 121.33 |
Michigan | 9,922,576 | 9,834,270 | 99.1% | 617 | 127 | 20.6% | 20.4% | 198 | 971 | 97.81 |
Minnesota | 5,489,594 | 5,218,435 | 95.1% | 319 | 27 | 8.5% | 8.0% | 58 | 721 | 131.32 |
Mississippi | 2,992,333 | 763,830 | 25.5% | 43 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | N/A | N/A |
Missouri | 6,083,672 | 6,079,483 | 99.9% | 628 | 28 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 70 | 1571 | 258.25 |
Montana | 1,032,949 | 1,023,807 | 99.1% | 101 | 13 | 12.9% | 12.8% | 28 | 219 | 212.48 |
Nebraska | 1,896,190 | 1,821,196 | 96.0% | 227 | 3 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 10 | 788 | 415.48 |
Nevada | 2,890,845 | 2,890,845 | 100.0% | 53 | 6 | 11.3% | 11.3% | 36 | 318 | 110.00 |
New Hamp. | 1,330,608 | 1,267,715 | 95.3% | 168 | 9 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 8 | 157 | 117.80 |
New Jersey | 8,958,013 | 8,956,395 | 100.0% | 508 | 123 | 24.2% | 24.2% | 169 | 698 | 77.93 |
New Mexico | 2,085,109 | 574,972 | 27.6% | 18 | 2 | 11.1% | 3.1% | 8 | 261 | 125.22 |
New York | 19,795,791 | 19,766,342 | 99.9% | 575 | 60 | 10.4% | 10.4% | 136 | 1305 | 65.94 |
North Carolina | 10,042,802 | 10,041,690 | 100.0% | 532 | 52 | 9.8% | 9.8% | 106 | 1085 | 108.00 |
North Dakota | 756,927 | 756,927 | 100.0% | 112 | 19 | 17.0% | 17.0% | 29 | 171 | 225.84 |
Ohio | 11,613,423 | 9,781,677 | 84.2% | 595 | 109 | 18.3% | 15.4% | 309 | 2003 | 172.44 |
Oklahoma | 3,911,338 | 3,896,985 | 99.6% | 351 | 29 | 8.3% | 8.2% | 27 | 328 | 83.86 |
Oregon | 4,028,977 | 1,671,416 | 41.5% | 130 | 16 | 12.3% | 5.1% | 41 | 803 | 199.31 |
Pennsylvania | 12,802,503 | 12,550,581 | 98.0% | 1,436 | 26 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 40 | 2254 | 176.03 |
Rhode Island | 1,056,298 | 1,056,298 | 100.0% | 49 | 8 | 16.3% | 16.3% | 6 | 37 | 34.79 |
South Carolina | 4,896,146 | 4,826,241 | 98.6% | 436 | 40 | 9.2% | 9.0% | 44 | 487 | 99.37 |
South Dakota | 858,469 | 782,152 | 91.1% | 121 | 9 | 7.4% | 6.8% | 9 | 133 | 154.70 |
Tennessee | 6,600,299 | 6,600,299 | 100.0% | 463 | 61 | 13.2% | 13.2% | 157 | 1192 | 180.55 |
Texas | 27,469,114 | 27,390,337 | 99.7% | 1,026 | 62 | 6.0% | 6.0% | 107 | 1776 | 64.65 |
Utah | 2,995,919 | 2,966,781 | 99.0% | 133 | 22 | 16.5% | 16.4% | 29 | 177 | 59.09 |
Vermont | 626,042 | 626,042 | 100.0% | 90 | 5 | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5 | 90 | 143.76 |
Virginia | 8,382,993 | 8,380,278 | 100.0% | 414 | 58 | 14.0% | 14.0% | 108 | 771 | 91.99 |
Washington | 7,170,351 | 7,163,444 | 99.9% | 256 | 79 | 30.9% | 30.8% | 160 | 519 | 72.38 |
West Virginia | 1,844,128 | 1,494,503 | 81.0% | 229 | 12 | 5.2% | 4.2% | 28 | 659 | 357.53 |
Wisconsin | 5,771,337 | 5,580,752 | 96.7% | 395 | 25 | 6.3% | 6.1% | 27 | 441 | 76.44 |
Wyoming | 586,107 | 564,577 | 96.3% | 57 | 1 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2 | 118 | 201.92 |
With the exception of the 2015 state populations, derived from the US Census Bureau's population estimates (XLSX, CSV), all data is taken from the FBI report (specifically tables 12 and 13) or calculated therefrom:
- Population: % examined ('Population: examined'/'Population: total' x 100%)
- the proportion of the population covered by the FBI's research
- Agencies: % reporting ('Agencies: reporting'/'Agencies: total' x 100%)
- the proportion of affiliated agencies (which cover the population examined) providing data
- Population reported % ('Population: % examined' x 'Agencies: % reporting')
- the estimated proportion of the population for which data is available
- does not account for variation in agency size
- Racial hate crimes: calculated ('Racial hate crimes: reported' x 100%/'population reported %')
- number of hate crimes in each state, extrapolated from the estimated proportion of the population for which data is available
- does not account for variation in reporting practices
- Racial hate crimes: per million ('Racial hate crimes: calculated'/'Population total' x 1,000,000)
- number of hate crimes calculated to have occurred, per million people residing in the state
STATE | HATE CRIMES PER MILLION | TRUMP SUPPORT |
Alabama | 72.41 | 62.9% |
Alaska | 78.59 | 52.9% |
Arizona | 117.64 | 49.5% |
Arkansas | 75.97 | 60.4% |
California | 37.39 | 33.2% |
Colorado | 66.50 | 44.4% |
Connecticut | 39.38 | 41.7% |
Delaware | 81.55 | 41.9% |
District of Columbia | 34.21 | 4.1% |
Florida | 8.67 | 49.1% |
Georgia | 270.58 | 51.3% |
Hawaii | N/A | 30.1% |
Idaho | 49.88 | 59.2% |
Illinois | 81.33 | 39.4% |
Indiana | 124.45 | 57.2% |
Iowa | 45.80 | 51.8% |
Kansas | 170.27 | 57.2% |
Kentucky | 124.63 | 62.5% |
Louisiana | 58.48 | 58.1% |
Maine | 158.19 | 45.2% |
Maryland | 51.28 | 60.5% |
Massachusetts | 121.33 | 33.5% |
Michigan | 97.81 | 47.6% |
Minnesota | 131.32 | 45.4% |
Mississippi | N/A | 39.7% |
Missouri | 258.25 | 57.1% |
Montana | 212.48 | 56.5% |
Nebraska | 415.48 | 60.3% |
Nevada | 110.00 | 45.5% |
New Hampshire | 117.80 | 47.3% |
New Jersey | 77.93 | 41.8% |
New Mexico | 125.22 | 40.0% |
New York | 65.94 | 37.5% |
North Carolina | 108.00 | 50.5% |
North Dakota | 225.84 | 64.1% |
Ohio | 172.44 | 52.1% |
Oklahoma | 83.86 | 65.3% |
Oregon | 199.31 | 41.1% |
Pennsylvania | 176.03 | 48.8% |
Rhode Island | 34.79 | 39.8% |
South Carolina | 99.37 | 54.9% |
South Dakota | 154.70 | 61.5% |
Tennessee | 180.55 | 61.1% |
Texas | 64.65 | 52.6% |
Utah | 59.09 | 46.6% |
Vermont | 143.76 | 32.6% |
Virginia | 91.99 | 45.0% |
Washington | 72.38 | 38.3% |
West Virginia | 357.53 | 68.7% |
Wisconsin | 76.44 | 47.9% |
Wyoming | 201.92 | 70.1% |
Pearson's Correlation | 0.41 |
While there is a low correlation between primary votes for Trump ~(+.41) there are some obvious outliers; in particular the least racist state by our metrics is Florida (which many may disagree with) yet this was famously won by Trump (though by less than 50% of the popular vote).
SEXISM
Sexism has largely been studies by the same means as racism in the past, particularly through twitter posts. Since the FBI also records hate crimes motivated by gender, it is possible to perform the same analysis as above. However, there is such limited data that this does not provide much useful data:STATE | POPULATION | AGENCIES | POPULATION REPORTED | RACIAL HATE CRIMES | ||||||
TOTAL | EXAMINED | % EXAMINED | TOTAL | REPORTING | % REPORTING | REPORTED | CALCULATED | PER MILLION | ||
Alabama | 4,858,979 | 1,252,146 | 25.8% | 34 | 3 | 8.8% | 2.3% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Alaska | 738,432 | 734,820 | 99.5% | 33 | 4 | 12.1% | 12.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Arizona | 6,828,065 | 6,622,880 | 97.0% | 101 | 21 | 20.8% | 20.2% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Arkansas | 2,978,204 | 2,754,543 | 92.5% | 279 | 4 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
California | 39,144,818 | 39,137,326 | 100.0% | 730 | 213 | 29.2% | 29.2% | 1 | 3 | 0.09 |
Colorado | 5,456,574 | 5,445,853 | 99.8% | 234 | 42 | 17.9% | 17.9% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Connecticut | 3,590,886 | 3,399,068 | 94.7% | 95 | 44 | 46.3% | 43.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Delaware | 945,934 | 945,934 | 100.0% | 60 | 7 | 11.7% | 11.7% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
D.C. | 672,228 | 672,228 | 100.0% | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Florida | 20,271,272 | 5,356,877 | 26.4% | 38 | 36 | 94.7% | 25.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Georgia | 10,214,860 | 7,991,234 | 78.2% | 473 | 7 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Hawaii | 1,431,603 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | N/A | N/A |
Idaho | 1,654,930 | 1,654,475 | 100.0% | 112 | 19 | 17.0% | 17.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Illinois | 12,859,995 | 12,501,008 | 97.2% | 741 | 43 | 5.8% | 5.6% | 1 | 18 | 1.38 |
Indiana | 6,619,680 | 3,224,755 | 48.7% | 168 | 18 | 10.7% | 5.2% | 1 | 19 | 2.89 |
Iowa | 3,123,899 | 3,105,094 | 99.4% | 237 | 5 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Kansas | 2,911,641 | 2,741,323 | 94.2% | 345 | 34 | 9.9% | 9.3% | 1 | 11 | 3.70 |
Kentucky | 4,425,092 | 4,402,368 | 99.5% | 403 | 83 | 20.6% | 20.5% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Louisiana | 4,670,724 | 3,711,824 | 79.5% | 148 | 15 | 10.1% | 8.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Maine | 1,329,328 | 1,329,328 | 100.0% | 184 | 14 | 7.6% | 7.6% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Maryland | 6,006,401 | 6,006,401 | 100.0% | 154 | 11 | 7.1% | 7.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Massachusetts | 6,794,422 | 6,566,279 | 96.6% | 342 | 85 | 24.9% | 24.0% | 15 | 62 | 9.19 |
Michigan | 9,922,576 | 9,834,270 | 99.1% | 617 | 127 | 20.6% | 20.4% | 1 | 5 | 0.49 |
Minnesota | 5,489,594 | 5,218,435 | 95.1% | 319 | 27 | 8.5% | 8.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Mississippi | 2,992,333 | 763,830 | 25.5% | 43 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | N/A | N/A |
Missouri | 6,083,672 | 6,079,483 | 99.9% | 628 | 28 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Montana | 1,032,949 | 1,023,807 | 99.1% | 101 | 13 | 12.9% | 12.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Nebraska | 1,896,190 | 1,821,196 | 96.0% | 227 | 3 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Nevada | 2,890,845 | 2,890,845 | 100.0% | 53 | 6 | 11.3% | 11.3% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
New Hamp. | 1,330,608 | 1,267,715 | 95.3% | 168 | 9 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
New Jersey | 8,958,013 | 8,956,395 | 100.0% | 508 | 123 | 24.2% | 24.2% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
New Mexico | 2,085,109 | 574,972 | 27.6% | 18 | 2 | 11.1% | 3.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
New York | 19,795,791 | 19,766,342 | 99.9% | 575 | 60 | 10.4% | 10.4% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
North Carolina | 10,042,802 | 10,041,690 | 100.0% | 532 | 52 | 9.8% | 9.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
North Dakota | 756,927 | 756,927 | 100.0% | 112 | 19 | 17.0% | 17.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Ohio | 11,613,423 | 9,781,677 | 84.2% | 595 | 109 | 18.3% | 15.4% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Oklahoma | 3,911,338 | 3,896,985 | 99.6% | 351 | 29 | 8.3% | 8.2% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Oregon | 4,028,977 | 1,671,416 | 41.5% | 130 | 16 | 12.3% | 5.1% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Pennsylvania | 12,802,503 | 12,550,581 | 98.0% | 1,436 | 26 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Rhode Island | 1,056,298 | 1,056,298 | 100.0% | 49 | 8 | 16.3% | 16.3% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
South Carolina | 4,896,146 | 4,826,241 | 98.6% | 436 | 40 | 9.2% | 9.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
South Dakota | 858,469 | 782,152 | 91.1% | 121 | 9 | 7.4% | 6.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Tennessee | 6,600,299 | 6,600,299 | 100.0% | 463 | 61 | 13.2% | 13.2% | 1 | 8 | 1.15 |
Texas | 27,469,114 | 27,390,337 | 99.7% | 1,026 | 62 | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 | 17 | 0.60 |
Utah | 2,995,919 | 2,966,781 | 99.0% | 133 | 22 | 16.5% | 16.4% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Vermont | 626,042 | 626,042 | 100.0% | 90 | 5 | 5.6% | 5.6% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Virginia | 8,382,993 | 8,380,278 | 100.0% | 414 | 58 | 14.0% | 14.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Washington | 7,170,351 | 7,163,444 | 99.9% | 256 | 79 | 30.9% | 30.8% | 3 | 10 | 1.36 |
West Virginia | 1,844,128 | 1,494,503 | 81.0% | 229 | 12 | 5.2% | 4.2% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Wisconsin | 5,771,337 | 5,580,752 | 96.7% | 395 | 25 | 6.3% | 6.1% | 1 | 16 | 2.83 |
Wyoming | 586,107 | 564,577 | 96.3% | 57 | 1 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
For the curious, there is a negligible negative correlation between this limited data and support for Trump (~-0.15).
Instead, I'll be using the rankings produced by WalletHub, which has combined a number of metrics more effectively than I could. For the large number of people that do not understand that the actual enemy of feminism is not men but the enforcement of gender roles, and that metrics that represent male disadvantage (e.g. incarceration rates and duration, length of working hours, child custody rates, life span etc.) are a direct result of these roles which, although disadvantaging men in these instances, have historically been enforced to limit female empowerment, allow me to point out that these metrics have been combined into this study even though the data is billed as regarding "women's equality". In other words, even though the majority of Trump's rhetoric relevant to the claim that Trump's support was supported by sexism has been directed against women, the inclusion of data highlighting examples of male disadvantage is relevant as it indicates more traditional, gender-role enforcing attitudes in the relevant states.
Interestingly, the correlation is again negative, but low at ~0.30:
STATE | WALLETHUB SCORE | TRUMP SUPPORT |
Alabama | 50.61 | 62.9% |
Alaska | 72.46 | 52.9% |
Arizona | 57.31 | 49.5% |
Arkansas | 51.57 | 60.4% |
California | 69.1 | 33.2% |
Colorado | 57.37 | 44.4% |
Connecticut | 51.46 | 41.7% |
Delaware | 54.22 | 41.9% |
District of Columbia | N/A | 4.1% |
Florida | 55.73 | 49.1% |
Georgia | 44.46 | 51.3% |
Hawaii | 81.67 | 30.1% |
Idaho | 50.29 | 59.2% |
Illinois | 58.59 | 39.4% |
Indiana | 56.35 | 57.2% |
Iowa | 58.37 | 51.8% |
Kansas | 53.92 | 57.2% |
Kentucky | 47.49 | 62.5% |
Louisiana | 45.45 | 58.1% |
Maine | 69.49 | 45.2% |
Maryland | 65.09 | 60.5% |
Massachusetts | 58.65 | 33.5% |
Michigan | 55.5 | 47.6% |
Minnesota | 66.1 | 45.4% |
Mississippi | 46.89 | 39.7% |
Missouri | 59.22 | 57.1% |
Montana | 51.58 | 56.5% |
Nebraska | 57.86 | 60.3% |
Nevada | 58.05 | 45.5% |
New Hampshire | 66.4 | 47.3% |
New Jersey | 44.97 | 41.8% |
New Mexico | 58.33 | 40.0% |
New York | 63.32 | 37.5% |
North Carolina | 50.42 | 50.5% |
North Dakota | 61.37 | 64.1% |
Ohio | 48.83 | 52.1% |
Oklahoma | 48.3 | 65.3% |
Oregon | 60.18 | 41.1% |
Pennsylvania | 45.15 | 48.8% |
Rhode Island | 49.08 | 39.8% |
South Carolina | 45.8 | 54.9% |
South Dakota | 57.86 | 61.5% |
Tennessee | 52.8 | 61.1% |
Texas | 49.77 | 52.6% |
Utah | 33.7 | 46.6% |
Vermont | 68.16 | 32.6% |
Virginia | 48.67 | 45.0% |
Washington | 61.93 | 38.3% |
West Virginia | 59.72 | 68.7% |
Wisconsin | 62.75 | 47.9% |
Wyoming | 57.11 | 70.1% |
Pearson's Correlation | -0.30 |
POLITICAL DISCONTENT
Measuring voter discontent is difficult in the current election. Normally these votes emerge as protest votes or failure to vote. A higher 3rd party vote, for example, may indicate dissatisfaction with either candidate but (ignoring that dissatisfaction in this election was high in part due to Trump's candidacy) there is little to be learned by comparing Trump support with 3rd party results. Does a positive correlation indicate Trump is popular where voters are discontent? Or does a negative correlation indicate that he is absorbing the discontent vote?Two proxy measures of discontent present themselves: 3rd party voting and non-voting in 2012 (inherently assuming this discontent is not the result of the last 4 years and was present in that data) and 3rd party voting in each state's other federal races this November. Both are problematic, of course. The former assumes little or no change in almost half a decade. The latter ignores the possible swell of Trump voters who turned out to vote (and who normally would not) due to the fervent support the candidate produced but didn't care about other races and therefore deliberately "wasted" their vote. I have gone with the former for a number of reasons, including the nature of Senate elections that mean not all states have a candidate for us to consider, and the frequent absence of any third party candidate in many HoR seats.
STATE | 2012 TURNOUT | TRUMP SUPPORT | STATE | 3RD PARTY | TRUMP SUPPORT | |
Alabama | 58.60% | 62.9% | Alabama | 1.09% | 62.9% | |
Alaska | 58.70% | 52.9% | Alaska | 4.39% | 52.9% | |
Arizona | 52.60% | 49.5% | Arizona | 1.76% | 49.5% | |
Arkansas | 50.70% | 60.4% | Arkansas | 2.55% | 60.4% | |
California | 55.10% | 33.2% | California | 2.64% | 33.2% | |
Colorado | 69.90% | 44.4% | Colorado | 2.38% | 44.4% | |
Connecticut | 61.30% | 41.7% | Connecticut | 1.21% | 41.7% | |
Delaware | 62.30% | 41.9% | Delaware | 1.41% | 41.9% | |
District of Columbia | 61.50% | 4.1% | District of Columbia | 1.81% | 4.1% | |
Florida | 62.80% | 49.1% | Florida | 0.86% | 49.1% | |
Georgia | 59.00% | 51.3% | Georgia | 1.22% | 51.3% | |
Hawaii | 44.20% | 30.1% | Hawaii | 1.61% | 30.1% | |
Idaho | 59.80% | 59.2% | Idaho | 2.85% | 59.2% | |
Illinois | 58.90% | 39.4% | Illinois | 1.67% | 39.4% | |
Indiana | 55.20% | 57.2% | Indiana | 1.94% | 57.2% | |
Iowa | 70.30% | 51.8% | Iowa | 1.83% | 51.8% | |
Kansas | 56.90% | 57.2% | Kansas | 2.30% | 57.2% | |
Kentucky | 55.70% | 62.5% | Kentucky | 1.71% | 62.5% | |
Louisiana | 60.20% | 58.1% | Louisiana | 1.64% | 58.1% | |
Maine | 68.20% | 45.2% | Maine | 2.75% | 45.2% | |
Maryland | 66.60% | 60.5% | Maryland | 2.13% | 60.5% | |
Massachusetts | 65.90% | 33.5% | Massachusetts | 1.84% | 33.5% | |
Michigan | 64.70% | 47.6% | Michigan | 1.08% | 47.6% | |
Minnesota | 76.00% | 45.4% | Minnesota | 2.39% | 45.4% | |
Mississippi | 59.30% | 39.7% | Mississippi | 0.92% | 39.7% | |
Missouri | 62.20% | 57.1% | Missouri | 1.86% | 57.1% | |
Montana | 62.50% | 56.5% | Montana | 2.95% | 56.5% | |
Nebraska | 60.30% | 60.3% | Nebraska | 2.17% | 60.3% | |
Nevada | 56.40% | 45.5% | Nevada | 1.96% | 45.5% | |
New Hampshire | 70.20% | 47.3% | New Hampshire | 1.62% | 47.3% | |
New Jersey | 61.50% | 41.8% | New Jersey | 1.03% | 41.8% | |
New Mexico | 54.60% | 40.0% | New Mexico | 4.17% | 40.0% | |
New York | 53.10% | 37.5% | New York | 1.48% | 37.5% | |
North Carolina | 64.80% | 50.5% | North Carolina | 1.26% | 50.5% | |
North Dakota | 59.80% | 64.1% | North Dakota | 2.99% | 64.1% | |
Ohio | 64.50% | 52.1% | Ohio | 1.64% | 52.1% | |
Oklahoma | 49.20% | 65.3% | Oklahoma | 0.00% | 65.3% | |
Oregon | 63.10% | 41.1% | Oregon | 3.61% | 41.1% | |
Pennsylvania | 59.50% | 48.8% | Pennsylvania | 1.44% | 48.8% | |
Rhode Island | 58.00% | 39.8% | Rhode Island | 2.06% | 39.8% | |
South Carolina | 56.30% | 54.9% | South Carolina | 1.35% | 54.9% | |
South Dakota | 59.30% | 61.5% | South Dakota | 2.24% | 61.5% | |
Tennessee | 51.90% | 61.1% | Tennessee | 1.44% | 61.1% | |
Texas | 49.60% | 52.6% | Texas | 1.45% | 52.6% | |
Utah | 55.50% | 46.6% | Utah | 2.46% | 46.6% | |
Vermont | 60.70% | 32.6% | Vermont | 2.46% | 32.6% | |
Virginia | 66.10% | 45.0% | Virginia | 1.56% | 45.0% | |
Washington | 64.80% | 38.3% | Washington | 2.55% | 38.3% | |
West Virginia | 46.30% | 68.7% | West Virginia | 2.16% | 68.7% | |
Wisconsin | 72.90% | 47.9% | Wisconsin | 1.28% | 47.9% | |
Wyoming | 58.60% | 70.1% | Wyoming | 3.54% | 70.1% | |
Pearson's Correlation | -0.17 | Pearson's Correlation | 0.03 |
Both non-voting and 3rd-party voting in 2012 show little correlation to support for Trump in 2016, though both nominally in the direction that would suggest Trump served as a vessel for protest votes: a slight negative correlation with 2012 voter turnout and slight positive correlation with 2012 3rd party results. For voter turnout, I'm using the eligible voter highest office data from the United States Electoral Project.
REVENGE OF ANTIGLOBALISTS
This last rationalisation is the one that is often cited in the media as the rise of "angry white men". This rationalisation, though largely ignored in the earlier campaign, is now the dominant focus of media attention. This rationalisation is often portrayed as white, middle-aged men--the pale, stale males--enraged at the rule of a Black President, furious at the prospect of a female one and livid at the shift of American culture towards one of inclusiveness and multiculturalism. However, there's another side to this view. One in which, despite their privilege, these men have faced genuine hardships. One in which their anger is not directed in violence against the non-white, non-male population which we considered earlier. This is a view that, in my opinion, was best explained by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore in clarity I could not hope to equal.In this view, all of this anger (if we accept that it is distinct from the racism and sexism analysed above) comes from financial hardship and the social effects it has had. Despite the disparity in real living conditions between White and Non-White on average, White men are angrier than Black and feel as though they were made a promise that was then ripped away from them. What matters isn't necessarily that these individuals are doing it tough, but that they feel they are doing it tough, or tougher than they are owed. For a long time America has persisted on the lie that if you work hard and deserve success you can achieve it. The dark corollary to this assertion, unchallenged and patriotically insisted upon, is that if you don't have success it's because you don't deserve it. And when that lack of success falls on minorities, that rationalisation follows easily. It also deprived any impetus for support to the underprivileged. even with minimum welfare, no socialised healthcare and poverty conditions that rival those found in third-world countries, it was easy to feel no obligation for government support. Now that poverty has come for the angry white men too; the ones who dreamed of better things, and the unfairness is revealed. But enough leftist socialist communist bleeding-heart liberal wishy-washy nonsense from me. How does Trump support correlate with job loss and redundancy from, among other things, competition in international manufacture?
Comparisons with state poverty rates and unemployment were negligible. The strongest correlation so far, at ~-0.57, demonstrates a moderate negative correlation between per capita income and support for Trump.
STATE | TRUMP SUPPORT | POVERTY LEVEL | UNEMPLOYMENT | INCOME PER CAPITA |
Alabama | 62.9% | 18.5% | 5.4% | $23,606 |
Alaska | 52.9% | 10.3% | 6.9% | $33,062 |
Arizona | 49.5% | 17.4% | 5.5% | $25,715 |
Arkansas | 60.4% | 19.1% | 4.0% | $22,883 |
California | 33.2% | 15.3% | 5.5% | $30,441 |
Colorado | 44.4% | 11.5% | 3.6% | $32,357 |
Connecticut | 41.7% | 10.5% | 5.4% | $39,373 |
Delaware | 41.9% | 12.4% | 4.3% | $30,488 |
District of Columbia | 4.1% | 17.3% | 6.1% | $45,877 |
Florida | 49.1% | 15.7% | 4.7% | $26,582 |
Georgia | 51.3% | 17.0% | 5.1% | $25,615 |
Hawaii | 30.1% | 10.6% | 3.3% | $29,736 |
Idaho | 59.2% | 15.1% | 3.8% | $23,938 |
Illinois | 39.4% | 13.6% | 5.5% | $30,417 |
Indiana | 57.2% | 14.5% | 4.5% | $25,140 |
Iowa | 51.8% | 12.2% | 4.2% | $28,361 |
Kansas | 57.2% | 13.0% | 4.4% | $27,870 |
Kentucky | 62.5% | 18.5% | 5.0% | $23,684 |
Louisiana | 58.1% | 19.6% | 6.4% | $24,800 |
Maine | 45.2% | 13.4% | 4.1% | $27,978 |
Maryland | 60.5% | 9.7% | 4.2% | $36,338 |
Massachusetts | 33.5% | 11.5% | 3.6% | $36,593 |
Michigan | 47.6% | 15.8% | 4.6% | $26,613 |
Minnesota | 45.4% | 10.2% | 4.0% | $32,638 |
Mississippi | 39.7% | 22.0% | 6.0% | $21,036 |
Missouri | 57.1% | 14.8% | 5.2% | $26,126 |
Montana | 56.5% | 14.6% | 4.3% | $25,989 |
Nebraska | 60.3% | 12.6% | 3.2% | $27,446 |
Nevada | 45.5% | 14.7% | 5.8% | $25,773 |
New Hampshire | 47.3% | 8.2% | 2.9% | $34,691 |
New Jersey | 41.8% | 10.8% | 5.3% | $37,288 |
New Mexico | 40.0% | 20.4% | 6.7% | $23,683 |
New York | 37.5% | 15.4% | 5.0% | $33,095 |
North Carolina | 50.5% | 16.4% | 4.7% | $25,774 |
North Dakota | 64.1% | 11.0% | 3.0% | $33,071 |
Ohio | 52.1% | 14.8% | 4.8% | $26,937 |
Oklahoma | 65.3% | 16.1% | 5.2% | $25,229 |
Oregon | 41.1% | 15.4% | 5.5% | $27,646 |
Pennsylvania | 48.8% | 13.2% | 5.7% | $29,220 |
Rhode Island | 39.8% | 13.9% | 5.6% | $30,830 |
South Carolina | 54.9% | 16.6% | 4.9% | $24,596 |
South Dakota | 61.5% | 13.7% | 2.9% | $26,959 |
Tennessee | 61.1% | 16.7% | 4.6% | $24,922 |
Texas | 52.6% | 15.9% | 4.8% | $27,125 |
Utah | 46.6% | 11.3% | 3.4% | $24,877 |
Vermont | 32.6% | 10.2% | 3.3% | $29,178 |
Virginia | 45.0% | 11.2% | 4.0% | $34,052 |
Washington | 38.3% | 12.2% | 5.6% | $31,841 |
West Virginia | 68.7% | 17.9% | 5.8% | $22,714 |
Wisconsin | 47.9% | 12.1% | 4.1% | $28,213 |
Wyoming | 70.1% | 11.1% | 5.3% | $29,698 |
Pearson's Correlation | 0.11 | -0.13 | -0.57 |
But all of these metrics are too blunt. Measures of general hardship in a state will generally include a large proportion of the Non-White population due to the historical inequality with which these groups were treated. Data from the US Census Bureau allows a state by state breakdown of poverty, unemployment and income for "white alone":
STATE | TRUMP SUPPORT | POVERTY LEVEL | UNEMPLOYMENT | INCOME PER CAPITA |
Alabama | 62.9% | 13.7% | 5.5% | $28,235 |
Alaska | 52.9% | 6.6% | 5.9% | $41,133 |
Arizona | 49.5% | 15.2% | 6.0% | $29,115 |
Arkansas | 60.4% | 15.5% | 4.9% | $25,864 |
California | 33.2% | 14.1% | 6.8% | $35,523 |
Colorado | 44.4% | 10.4% | 4.8% | $35,676 |
Connecticut | 41.7% | 7.9% | 5.6% | $44,134 |
Delaware | 41.9% | 9.6% | 5.5% | $34,522 |
District of Columbia | 4.1% | 7.1% | 3.1% | $81,474 |
Florida | 49.1% | 13.6% | 6.0% | $30,582 |
Georgia | 51.3% | 12.5% | 5.2% | $31,583 |
Hawaii | 30.1% | 10.1% | 5.3% | $40,010 |
Idaho | 59.2% | 14.4% | 5.1% | $24,935 |
Illinois | 39.4% | 10.1% | 5.2% | $35,754 |
Indiana | 57.2% | 12.2% | 5.0% | $27,907 |
Iowa | 51.8% | 10.7% | 3.6% | $29,973 |
Kansas | 57.2% | 11.2% | 4.2% | $30,533 |
Kentucky | 62.5% | 17.1% | 6.1% | $25,942 |
Louisiana | 58.1% | 13.2% | 5.5% | $30,792 |
Maine | 45.2% | 12.7% | 5.1% | $29,112 |
Maryland | 60.5% | 7.1% | 4.2% | $44,016 |
Massachusetts | 33.5% | 9.2% | 5.2% | $41,556 |
Michigan | 47.6% | 12.3% | 5.5% | $30,171 |
Minnesota | 45.4% | 7.8% | 3.5% | $35,930 |
Mississippi | 39.7% | 13.6% | 5.8% | $26,281 |
Missouri | 57.1% | 12.5% | 4.6% | $29,155 |
Montana | 56.5% | 12.7% | 3.9% | $29,352 |
Nebraska | 60.3% | 10.6% | 2.8% | $30,708 |
Nevada | 45.5% | 12.8% | 7.4% | $30,382 |
New Hampshire | 47.3% | 7.9% | 4.1% | $36,589 |
New Jersey | 41.8% | 8.2% | 5.6% | $41,743 |
New Mexico | 40.0% | 17.6% | 6.4% | $26,722 |
New York | 37.5% | 11.3% | 5.1% | $40,483 |
North Carolina | 50.5% | 12.7% | 5.4% | $30,430 |
North Dakota | 64.1% | 9.0% | 2.1% | $35,895 |
Ohio | 52.1% | 11.6% | 5.2% | $30,077 |
Oklahoma | 65.3% | 13.2% | 4.7% | $28,919 |
Oregon | 41.1% | 14.5% | 6.5% | $30,269 |
Pennsylvania | 48.8% | 10.3% | 5.2% | $32,865 |
Rhode Island | 39.8% | 10.9% | 5.2% | $34,749 |
South Carolina | 54.9% | 12.0% | 5.6% | $29,899 |
South Dakota | 61.5% | 9.6% | 2.9% | $30,461 |
Tennessee | 61.1% | 14.5% | 5.2% | $28,338 |
Texas | 52.6% | 14.8% | 5.2% | $30,067 |
Utah | 46.6% | 10.0% | 3.7% | $27,132 |
Vermont | 32.6% | 9.7% | 3.7% | $31,747 |
Virginia | 45.0% | 9.1% | 4.5% | $38,687 |
Washington | 38.3% | 11.0% | 5.6% | $35,872 |
West Virginia | 68.7% | 17.4% | 7.0% | $23,840 |
Wisconsin | 47.9% | 9.6% | 3.5% | $31,605 |
Wyoming | 70.1% | 10.8% | 4.6% | $32,735 |
Pearson's Correlation | 0.33 | -0.07 | -0.66 |
Focusing solely on white poverty levels sees the correlation in the data more than double to a point where it is only eclipsed by the racism and per-capita income metrics. However, at 0.33, this is only slightly stronger than the negative correlation between sexism and Trump support at 0.30, and no one is suggesting that Trump won on the back of feminist support.
Using only the White unemployment rates, the correlation becomes even more negligible.
However, there is (by psephological standards) a high negative correlation between white median wages and support for Trump. And while it's true that this merely points out the existence of a certain stereotype--the working class, White Trump voter--understanding voter demographics is important to understanding why Trump got elected contrary to all conventional wisdom. This was a section of the community that turned out to vote, and felt the need to stand up for something.
CONCLUSION
While much of this data operates as a proxy for some other social issue, such as racism or anger at economic leadership, It is important to realise that there are several reasons for Trump's support. A candidate does not get elected by a single demographic. Not solely by a racist element, or by disillusioned working class voters, or conspiracy theorists who think Hillary Clinton orchestrated World War I from her Russian space-dreadnaught. Of the various reasons studied two comparatively strong correlations emerged.For those who like to argue Trump supporters are not racist, it is worth noting that states prone to racial violence tend to be more pro-Trump. This should hardly need pointing out for a candidate endorsed by the Klan, but some not-insignificant part of Trump's supporter base comes from a xenophobia that has not been given a political vent as prominent or blatant as Trump before.
On the other hand, for those who, on the other hand, argue that all Trump supporters are hateful racists, it is noteworthy that being from a poor state, and particularly a state with a poor White population, is a better indicator of support for Trump than being from a state with more racially motivated Hate Crimes; some might, of course, argue that voting for Trump in and of itself should be a hate crime.
It is hard for some people to understand how anyone could support a candidate who has voiced the opinions Trump has and not inherently be a biggot. To these people I would suggest the voters need not agree with Trump's statements, only to rationalise them as 'speaking his mind', 'not what he meant', 'locker-room talk' and so forth. People who voted for Trump committed to one aspect or another of his personality or platform--as did Clinton supporters--and forgave the many flaws of their preferred candidate while exaggerating the other's.
There are, of course, many other factors--Trump's ability to seize the zeitgeist, Clinton's many issues with engaging voters, the vast free publicity news outlets offered Trump while underestimating his potential, Trump's ability to give vague and often contradictory promises worded so as to let each listener take what they liked and disregard the rest and so forth. But there are several reasons voters latched on to Trump, some good and some less so.
TL;DR: There is some evidence that Trump had support due to his racist statements. He also appealed to a class of disenfranchised voter with legitimate (though arguably misdirected) grievances against the current system to the extend that they'd happily burn the whole thing down. There would have been other reasons as well, but the portrayal of Trump supporters as rampant racists or as righteous rebels are both partially correct, and partially incorrect.
This post reminded me of these tweets, so I am sharing, because yeah voters are made of individuals, who vote for a number of reasons and we can't split the entirety of the US into two groups... (or even three or four by including 3rd party/non-voters). Complexity, yo.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/AnandWrites/status/798508144683024384 (particularly tweets 9-15)