None of the conventional explanations for Trump’s victory stand up to scrutiny | Ben Davis
This election has blown a hole in the worldviews of both leftists and centrists. The pandemic may be a more important factor
Donald Trump has won, and most shockingly, he won the popular vote. Unlike in 2016, which could be explained as a rejection of Hillary Clinton concentrated in the crucial midwestern states, this year he won convincingly. He has increased his share of the vote, as a percentage of the overall national popular vote, in each of the three elections he has run in.
Who voted for Trump and why? Many analysts of all political stripes have ready-made explanations for what happened, explanations that usually conveniently reflect the exact beliefs of the analyst. Unfortunately for them, the most common narratives do not stand up to scrutiny. The election results have blown a hole in the worldview of both the center and the left.
Ben Davis works in political data in Washington DC
Continue reading...Topics
-
Will the Supreme Court Stand Up to Trump?
Top stories - The New York Times - 41 minutes ago -
Ben Jennings on Trump’s victory and a bleak outlook for the planet – cartoon
World - The Guardian - 5 days ago -
Trump’s Charity Toward None
Top stories - The New York Times - October 19 -
How Elon Musk stands to cash in on Trump's presidential victory
Business - CNBC - 5 days ago -
How the Guardian will stand up to four more years of Donald Trump
World - The Guardian - 6 days ago -
Now is Trump’s chance to stand up to Putin — what will his legacy be?
Politics - The Hill - 7 hours ago -
Trump’s victory sets up traps for central banks
World - Financial Times - 5 days ago -
Commanders cut former first-round pick Jamin Davis, leaving them with none from 2019-22 NFL drafts
Sports - CBS Sports - October 22 -
Trump's ribald remarks on Arnold Palmer draw scrutiny
Politics - The Hill - October 20
More from The Guardian
-
Trump announces Middle East envoy; advisers reportedly consider ‘warrior board’ to remove military leaders – live
World - The Guardian - 7 minutes ago -
Teenager in critical condition with Canada’s first human case of bird flu
World - The Guardian - 34 minutes ago -
Justin Welby to quit as archbishop of Canterbury over handling of abuse scandal
World - The Guardian - 3 hours ago -
Samantha Harvey’s ‘beautiful and ambitious’ Orbital wins Booker prize
World - The Guardian - 38 minutes ago -
Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to Pentagon leaks
World - The Guardian - 59 minutes ago
Latest in World
-
Trump announces Middle East envoy; advisers reportedly consider ‘warrior board’ to remove military leaders – live
World - The Guardian - 7 minutes ago -
A Diver and His Metal Detector Solved This Nearly 50-Year-Old Mystery
World - The New York Times - 16 minutes ago -
Israel Intensifies Strikes in Lebanon Amid Push for Cease-Fire
World - The New York Times - 24 minutes ago -
Middle East latest: US won't halt any weapons to Israel over Gaza humanitarian aid situation
World - ABC News - 25 minutes ago -
‘This is a book we need now’: Sara Collins on choosing this year’s Booker winner
World - The Guardian - 31 minutes ago