Voter Coalitions

Question 1

what are voter coalitions

Answer 1

groups of voters that support a particular
candidate

Question 2

social background factors

Answer 2

Gender
Ethnicity
Religion

Question 3

how can candidates win an election

Answer 3

To win an election, candidates usually need to attract the support of a range of social groups to win. They need to attract a combination of different social groups.

Question 4

gender

Answer 4

14% point gender gap 2020
24% point gender gap 2016

Question 5

ethnicity/race

Answer 5

Both for white Americans and Black Americans political parties’ views on those issues (affirmative action, police brutality, white supremacy) influence how they vote – in the whole country, although particularly in the South

Question 6

back vote

Answer 6

95% in 2008 for Obama
93% in 2012 for Obama
87% in 2020 for Biden Harris

Question 7

Reasons why African Americans tend to vote Democrat

Answer 7

1. 1960s support for civil rights and desegregation
2. Continued support for equality and affirmative action
3. African American candidates and role models
4. African Americans are more likely to be poor – link with social class and Democrats support for working class

Question 8

what ethnicity is increasing

Answer 8

Latino vote is increasingly important
65% dems in 2020

Question 9

Why do most Hispanics tend to vote Democrat?

Answer 9

1. Immigration issue. Support for immigration, amnesty (Dem.) vs. tough border control, deportations (Rep.)
2. Democrat support for minority civil rights
3. Hispanics are more likely to be poor – linkwith social class and Democrats support for working class

Question 10

Why do some Hispanics tend to vote Republican?

Answer 10

Conservative (Catholic) views on social issues
Dislike of socialism (Cubans & Venezuelans in Florida)

Question 11

religion

Answer 11

Unlike in the UK, religion has always been an important factor distinguishing groups in society – and has always been a significant factor explaining voting behaviour

Question 12

when did religion start to become a major factor

Answer 12

since the 1980s and the rise of the religious
right.

Question 13

evangelical Christian voters

Answer 13

Many Evangelical Christian voters’ opinions on abortion and gay marriage are the most important when deciding their vote, they tend to vote republican. Republican candidates are forced to be more and more openly passionate about those issues to please their ‘base’
76% voted for trump in 2020

Question 14

why do evangelicals vote republican

Answer 14

Pro-life, Against abortion - Roe v. Wade 1973
Against gay marriage – Obergefell v Hodges 2015
Protect school prayers
In favour of public buildings displaying Christian symbols
For teaching of creationism, not evolution
Support for Israel

Question 15

social class

Answer 15

since the 1980s the boundaries between the social classes have become more blurred, in the UK. In the US social class has never been the single dominant voting behavior factor

Question 16

indicators for social class in the US

Answer 16

Income/Wealth
Education

Question 17

what is the trend in social class and VB

Answer 17

Higher income and highly educated groups tend to vote Republican
Lower income and less educated groups tend to vote Democrat

Question 18

African American vote for Obama 2008

Answer 18

95%

Question 19

Evangelical Christian vote for Trump 2020

Answer 19

76%

Question 20

Latino vote for Biden in 2020

Answer 20

65%

Question 21

gender gap in 2016 presidential elections

Answer 21

24%

Question 22

social class

Answer 22

In the US social class has never been the single dominant
voting behavior factor. Higher income and highly educated groups tend to vote Republican
Lower income and less educated groups tend to vote
Democrat
However, because other factors also matter, the picture
isn’t always so clear. e.g. wealthier black Americans still
tend to vote Democrat, and poor white Evangelical
Christians still Republican.

Question 23

why do working class people vote democrats

Answer 23

Democrats defend the interests of less wealthy
Americans: e.g. Affordable Care Act

Republicans defend the interests of wealthy Americans:
e.g. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2018

Question 24

Why did so many white working class voters, especially in
the Rust Belt, shift to Trump?

Answer 24

Trump opposition to NAFTA – many Rust Belt voters
have lost their jobs when factories moved, some to Mexico
(although also to China…) Believe that politics has not
benefitted them
In 2008 and 2012 Obama was the ‘change’ candidate.
In 2016 Trump was ‘change’ candidate, Clinton
the establishment candidate

Question 25

% of ppl who never attended college that vioted trump in 2020

Answer 25

51%